"We can't make any more land!"
Today, we are going to meet two dynamic young women in an unusual profession.
Sophie has been working at CRA-W for a year. She has a Bachelor's degree in Agronomy and spent six years in Quality Assurance in the pharmaceutical industry. It was a solitary desk job that made her want to turn to the land.
Laurie is a farm girl with a lifelong passion for agriculture. After her Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, she had only one desire, namely a useful job supporting farmers. That's how she came to apply to CRA-W, where she has been working in the Sprayer Inspection Service for six years.
Both women obtained ISO 17020 (BELAC) accreditation to become Spray Inspectors for the FASFC. This involves training on the job, as well as in-service training and supervision for all types of machine.
"We know when the day begins, but we don't know when it will end."
The sprayer inspection season runs from 1 March to 30 November. Our two inspectors travel the length and breadth of Wallonia, from Comines to Eupen-Malmedy, right up to the borders of the Province of Luxembourg, checking every sprayer. Each device must be inspected every three years. Our inspectors' schedules are organised three months in advance by the Service Secretary, Nathalie Van De Walle. The team is fully staffed with three controllers and a deputy. Axel Mallotteaux recently joined the team and will soon be officially qualified as an inspector.
The day always begins with a check of the equipment. Then, one appointment follows another: sprayer testing (boom, nozzles, etc.), report preparation and, most importantly, explanation of the report and advice for the farmer. Testing can take 45 minutes, with between 12 and 20 tests per day, depending on the number of machines around the site and the number of inspectors present.
Our inspectors are out in the field for nine months, in all weathers: rain, wind, storms, heatwaves. One day a month is devoted to calibrating the testing equipment in the workshop and sorting out the van containing all the measuring instruments.
Laurie and Sophie are passionate about their work and particularly enjoy field work and being in contact with farmers.
Although our two inspectors describe their days with enthusiasm, there are constraints involved in this very special role, in addition to the challenges of working outdoors in all weathers.
With the testing season running from 1 March to 30 November, it is preferable for inspectors to take more time off during the winter months, to optimise the number of tests that can be carried out. However, holidays can be scheduled during the season, provided they are planned well in advance. Testing is always carried out by a minimum of two inspectors. If a testing day has to be cancelled, it must be rescheduled, requiring all the farmers scheduled for that day to wait for a new appointment.
Sophie and Laurie have plenty of work-related anecdotes.
Although sprayer testing has been in place for 30 years, some farmers are still reluctant, although they remain a minority.
Laurie recalls a memorable encounter at the Libramont trade fair, when a farmer who had initially protested against the modifications imposed on his sprayer came to see her to thank her. Once the adjustments had been made, he saw for himself that his machine worked much better.
"My dad, who is a farmer, is proud of the work his daughter does!"
Laurie takes her work very seriously. Sophie recognises that this is a rewarding job, as the aim is not to sanction farmers, but to support them to guarantee high-performance sprayers. The efficiency of these machines protects not only farmers - including economically - but also local residents and, ultimately, consumers.
Some of the work is also intellectually stimulating. Not only are technologies evolving - such as greenhouse sprayers and robotics - forcing testing to adapt, but there is also a constant search for the best advice to give farmers to optimise their machines. Laurie explains that she still sometimes contacts her mentor, Pascal Bienfait, who trained and coached her at the start of her career, for technical clarification.
"We need to be well-informed about our subject. As women, we have to constantly prove our skills."
Generally speaking, the days are full of positive exchanges and information sharing, which motivates our two inspectors. However, a farmer may react badly to one of their remarks, and this can affect their morale. At times like these, it is essential to stick together and support each other.
Sophie and Laurie recommend this profession to anyone with a passion for work rooted in the reality of agriculture.
Sophie emphasises that teamwork is essential, as they spend nine months of the year in close proximity. Their team is small within a large institution, and every day they work on a different site.
Work in the field is fast-paced, requiring good coordination. They have to be able to take turns and be interchangeable. Mutual assistance is essential to ensure that controls run smoothly and efficiently.
"What we love most of all is the contact with farmers and the feeling of being useful," say Laurie and Sophie. Every day is different, and over the miles and encounters, the two inspectors have forged a real bond.
