SENIOR AGRONOMIST | Pieter-Ernst Coetzee
SERVING FARMERS WITH HANDS IN THE GROUND
PIETER-ERNST COETZEE
SENIOR AGRONOMIST
SERVING FARMERS WITH HANDS IN THE GROUND
PROFILE
SERVING FARMERS WITH HANDS IN THE GROUND
My passion to learn to has always been my compass, but becoming and academic was not for me. You see, agronomy and soil science has become more than just a science to me. It’s become a hobby that is skilled, that offers a service and that adds benefit to my clients and the company I work for.
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To the company it’s about making that SALE,
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To the farmer it’s about long-term PRODUCTIVITY,
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To me, it’s about aligning their objectives in a way where both achieve SUSTAINABLILITY and long-term NET PROFITABILITY.
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Being a Precision Agricultural Specialist is about listening; not to respond but to understand the need or the problem. It’s about providing a service that manages uncertainty by looking at the bigger picture. It’s a responsibility is to reduce the risk to both the company I work for as well as my client, the farmer. It requires knowledge that goes further than the assumption than an increase in fertilizer sales is equal to an increase in yield.
As a Precision Agricultural Specialist, it’s about developing a skillful solution that is based on a strong understanding of a farmer’s soil health practices and how it relates to a potential that sustains the ever-increasing world population; well after the application of a fertilizer.
TECHNICAL SALES ADVISER - SOUTHERN AFRICA,
Tessenderlo Kerley International
February 2018 – Current
JOB DESCRIPTION
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Contribute to the development of an appropriate and refined sales strategy for the South African region; translating to tactical and operational actions.
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Development and implementation of unique selling propositions and differentiators by using knowledge of the market and its competitors.
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Building and maintaining a network of technical contacts.
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Contribute to design and execute field trials in the region to promote the benefits of related products.
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Facilitate and follow up regularly on demonstration trials
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Provide education, training and technical support to (potential) customers (distributors, blender and growers.
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Work closely with selected distributors to find mutually beneficial solutions on sales volumes and merging, in order to propose and implement local distributor agreements.
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Stimulate products sales; using local marketing and promotional materials and events.
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Maintain and update an action plan, accountable for administrative tasks, market and business data capturing.
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Provide input for demand forecasting and advise on demand planning.
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Identify technical solutions to customer difficulties.
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Provide direct support via training activities in line with the agreed sales and market action plans.
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Coordinate with the Sale Manager and Regional Agronomist in order to deliver appropriate and accurate technical support.
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Ensure the highest level of products stewardship on all products including product risk liabilities.
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Gather and analysing market intelligence; as to comprehend the competitive landscape.
TROONSTRAAT 130 RUE DU TRÔNE
1050 BRUSSELS
BELGIUM
T: +32 2 639 19 65 (BELGIUM)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TESSENDERLO KERLEY INTERNATIONAL KINDLY FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW:
W: www.cropvitality.com
WORK EXPERIENCE
The what, where and who
I’m constantly taking on new and interesting projects that help me build my personal brand. From industry-related tasks to unusual and sporadic opportunities, each experience I’ve had has turned me into who I am today.
SENIOR SOIL SCIENTIST,
Omnia Holdings
March 2013 – August 2017
JOB DESCRIPTION
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I have developed my academic skills in Agronomy and Soil Science into a practical set of skills and methodology that offered to my client’s strategic service and/or solutions taking into account plant and soil health along with plant nutrition.
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I have used the same knowledge and set of skills as a strategic training tool in which regional agronomist and sales representatives are taught to consider fertilization as a sustainable concept of both soil and plant. During that times I have conducted field experiments in South Africa (Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Kwazulu Natal), Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe, building up my expertise and using it as a marketing tool with which to promote Omnia's vision of plant nutrition.
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To develop a strategic technical support service to the farmer that incorporates advanced strategies that sustain net-profitability whilst promoting healthy soil and plant management practices on the farm.
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TECHNICAL TOOLS
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Soil sampling - using GPS guidance and grid sampling
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Soil and plant interpretations - using chemical lab results.
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Crop inspections – to identify possible risks
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Ag-Leader Precision Technology - used for fertilizer recommendations and risk management.
JUNIOR AGROMETEOROLOGY LECTURER AND RESEARCHER, University of the Free State
January 2011 - December 2012
JOB DESCRIPTION
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Determination of Agronomic-Use-Efficiency and Nutrient-use-Efficiency,
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Within various soil mediums,
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With the aim to report on agronomic deliverables,
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Through data collection of agronomic parameters such as:
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Crop, Cultivar, planting densities, fertilization, cultivation and pest management practises
EDUCATION
Learning and Living
PHILOSOPHIAE DOCTOR (P.hD) SOIL CHEMISTRY,
University of the free state.
In Progress
THESIS TITLE
Phosphorus phase equilibrium kinetics and sorption dynamics as influenced by ortho and polyphosphorus sources in key South African cropped soils.
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OBJECTIVE
This research will contribute to the generation of appropriate P source and P application rate recommendations within the crop management program for key South African soil types.
BACCALAUREUS SCIENTIAE AGRICULTURAE HONORES (B.Sc.Agric.Hons.) AGRONOMY,
University of the Free State.
January 2010 – December 2010 (Obtained)
RESEARCH TOPIC
Evaluation of the relative agronomic efficiency of nitrophosphate with wheat as test crop in a greenhouse trial.
BACCALAUREUS SCIENTIAE AGRICULTURAE (B.Sc.Agric.) AGRONOMY AND AGROMETEOROLOGY,
University of the Free State.
January 2006 – December 2009 (Obtained)
COURSE WORK INCLUDED
Plant Health Management, Principles Of Plant Health Control, Agricultural Marketing, Sustainable Soil And Water Management, Agriculture Statistical Analysis, Weed Control, Research Methodology, Crop Production Under Protection, Operational Agrometeorology, Synoptic And Dynamic Meteorology, Physical Meteorology, Farm Planning And Management, Soil Ecology, Statistical Analysis And The Economic Management Of Resources, Advance Computer Practice.
RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS
Knowledge is meant to be shared
South African Journal of Plant and Soil,
April 2016.
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN SOURCE ON AERIAL AND SUBSOIL PARAMETERS OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) DURING EARLY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
ABSTRACT
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In South Africa, maize is often produced on highly weathered the nutrient requirements of maize is especially important during early vegetative growth and development, particularly when produced on highly weathered soils with low organic matter contents. Therefore, the growth response of maize to different nitrogen (N) sources viz. limestone ammonium nitrate and urea, phosphorus (P) sources viz. monoammonium phosphate, nitrophosphate and ammonium polyphosphate, as well as P application levels viz. 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg ha−1 during early growth were evaluated. In pot trials with a sandy loam topsoil, aerial and subsoil plant parameters were measured to evaluate the effect of treatment and treatment combinations of P and N fertilisers on the vegetative growth and development of maize during the first five weeks after emergence. Plants treated with limestone ammonium nitrate had significantly greater plant parameter measurements compared with urea, primarily ascribed to immediate availability after application in addition to ease of uptake. Monoammonium phosphate and nitrophosphate (orthophosphate sources) yielded significantly greater aerial measurements compared with ammonium polyphosphate (polyphosphate source). Differences in subsoil plant parameter results for P source were not that clear. Aerial and subsoil plant parameter measurements were overall significantly greater with P applied at 40 kg ha−1 than the majority of lesser application rates.
South African Journal of Plant and Soil,
October 2016.
EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN SOURCES ON ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION AND UPTAKE BY MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) DURING EARLY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
ABSTRACT
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In South Africa, maize is often produced on highly weathered soils with low organic matter contents. These soils are unable to supply sufficient nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) for sustainable maize production, resulting in the use of fertilizer sources containing either N or P. In some instances, however, the efficiency of these sources may be questioned. In a glasshouse pot experiment, young maize aerial plant material was analysed to evaluate the effect of band-applied N sources, P sources and P application rates on the quantitative nutrient concentration, as well as uptake of several nutrients. With the exception of K uptake, all parameters were significantly affected by the main effects only. Nutrient concentration measurements were inconsistent for N sources. Both nutrient concentration and uptake were greater with the application of the orthophosphate sources monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and nitrophosphate (NP) compared to the polyphosphate source ammonium polyphosphate (APP). The 40 kg P ha-1 application enhanced the uptake of N, P, Ca, S and B. No applications of P lead to increased N, Mg, Cu and Zn concentrations.
AFFILIATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Organizational Affiliation
REGISTERED AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIST 400261/15,
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|| SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL FOR NATURAL SCIENTIFIC PRFESSIONALS, 2015
BACKGROUND
The South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) is the legislated regulatory body for Natural Science Professionals in South Africa.
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SACNASP recognizes and registers natural scientific practitioners and fosters the ethical practise and training of the natural scientific professions.
Achievement
PROFESSIONAL SELLING SKILLS,
|| ACHIEVE GLOBAL, 2015
TOPICS COVERED
Needs Satisfaction Selling Process, Customer Needs, Resolving Customer
Concerns, Customer Support, Customer Scepticism, Connective Skills and Addressing Indifferences.
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GOAL
To make informed, mutually beneficial decisions
Achievement
POWER SPEAKING,
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|| THE VOICE CLINIC, 2015
TOPICS COVERED
Effective Voice Production, Creating a Professional Image using Dynamic Body Language, Energy and Enthusiasm, Speech Construction, Skills of Perception, Personal Presentation Styles and Development, Listening Techniques, Quick Thinking, Self-Selling Skills.
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GOAL
Professional Communication Skills Developments
PROFICIENCIES
Knowledge and expertise
SKILLS
FOCUS AREA
Proficient and hands-On in all aspects of Sales, Plant and Soil Health and the Economics of Marketable Yield.
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EXTENDED SKILLS
Soil Science and Soil Management | Crop Science and Crop Research | Geographical Information Systems Modeling | Fertilizer Input and Correction Programs | Market Research | Product Marketing | Agricultural Sciences and Economics | Mathematical and Analytical Skills | Administration and Finance Facilitation
COMPUTER
PROFICIENCY
TECHNICAL TOOLS
ssToolbox Farm-Works
Farm Crawler
Ag-Leader
SST-Summit
MICROSOFT OFFICE 365
Word
Excel
Outlook
One Drive
Publisher
PowerPoint
LANGUAGE
PROFICIENCY
ENGLISH
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Fluent
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AFRIKAANS
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Native
REFERENCES
To those who helped carve us . . .
MR GEERT GYSELINCK
BUSINESS UNIT DIRECTOR AND GLOBAL COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
TESSENDERLO KERLEY INTERNATIONAL
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Web
www.linkedin.com/in/geert-gyselinck-8b2596
geert.gyselinck@tessenderlo.com
Call
+32 2 639 19 65 (BELGIUM)
MS VENESSA MOODLEY
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COMMERCIAL MANAGER,
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FERTILIZER INTERNATIONAL,
OMNIA HOLDINGS LIMITED
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Web
Call
+27 82 608 3350
MS YOLANDIE KRUGER
DIRECTOR,
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DINAMUS AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY
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Web
www.linkedin.com/in/ykruger/?ppe=1
Call
+27 27 601 9323
MR ROEAN WESSELS
PRINCIPLE SUMMER CROP PLANT BREEDER,
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SENSAKO (PTY)LTD
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Web
Call
+27 82 388 0311