Plant disease risk and grower–agronomist perceptions and relationships: An analysis of the UK potato and wheat sectors

Plant diseases can impact on crop yields and disrupt food supply chains. It is surprising, therefore, that a detailed analysis of key actor responses to disease risk has not been undertaken. This paper examines grower and agronomist perceptions, and their relationships, in the management of plant disease in two UK arable sectors: wheat and potatoes. Applying social science concepts of risk, trust and agricultural knowledges, interviews were conducted with 30 growers and 10 agronomists in Lincolnshire (Eastern England) and Herefordshire (West Midlands). A majority of growers had a broad fungicide spray programme for their crops, rather than a formal plan, and this was guided by their previous experiences and advice from agronomists. For agronomists, flexible spray programmes were also seen as essential, based on knowledge of the local area, disease pressure and prevailing weather patterns. Neither growers nor agronomists rely solely on scientific knowledge (risk as analysis) in their decision-making and intuitive responses (risk as feeling) also play an important role in plant disease management. The influence of agronomists varies from almost complete grower dependence to occasional use and verification. However, the knowledge exchange encounters between growers and agronomists are increasingly interactive and reflect personality and the accumulation of trust between them rather than factors such as farm size, farm type, area and the age of the farmer.

► An innovative study on grower–agronomist perceptions of plant disease risk.
► Application of concepts of risk, trust and agricultural knowledges.
► Fungicide spray programmes are not based solely on scientific knowledge.
► Programmes also reflect local conditions and intuitive responses by growers/agronomists.
► Relationships between growers and agronomists are based on personality and trust.