Agronomy Training Ltd.
Directors Simon Goodger and Chris Tolley work closely with the wider team to deliver the training courses offered by Agronomy Training Ltd. The profiles below provide background information on key members of the team and the experience they bring to our programmes.
Simon Goodger grew up on his family’s farm in the Norfolk Fens before moving to Lincolnshire in 1981, where he built a career in agricultural education. He has been delivering BASIS & FACTS courses for more than 30 years, initially through his long association with the University of Lincoln. In 2023, Simon partnered with Chris Tolley to establish Agronomy Training Ltd, working closely with the University to provide a wide range of short courses for professionals across the agricultural sector. When not working, Simon spends lot of time in his garden trying, often unsuccessfully, to grow vegetables for the family. In the summer he can be found north of the border, indulging his passion for the Edinburgh Fringe.
Chris Tolley grew up on his family’s farm in Leicestershire and is currently tenant with his father. The heavy clay soils support a rotation including cereals, oilseed rape and grass for hay supplying the local equine market. Alongside the farming business, Chris works as an independent agronomist across Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire supporting 20 clients. He advises on over 7,500 acres of combinable crops, grass, forage maize, sugar beet, fodder beet, potatoes and pumpkins. He was one of the first agronomists to achieve the BASIS Diploma in Agronomy and since 2008 he has been working with Simon Goodger delivering BASIS and FACTS courses. Married with two daughters, when not working Chris enjoys spending time with his family and is an active member of Leicestershire Orienteering Club.
Ben Hipperson is the fourth generation to manage his family’s farm in West Norfolk. The farm’s soils are predominantly sandy clay loam, but range from heavy clays to blow‑away sands, allowing a diverse rotation that includes cereals, oilseed rape, linseed, peas and sugar beet. The business also runs a successful hay enterprise supplying the local equine market. Away from farming Ben enjoys time with his young family and participates in paddle boarding and skiing as often as he can. Ben is BASIS & FACTS qualified and acquired his Diploma in Agronomy in 2025. Ben has been delivering lectures for us since 2022 working mainly across the BASIS Foundation Award & BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection -Arable courses
Charles Anyan farms near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire on predominantly sandy clay loam soils, with a rotation that includes cereals, oilseed rape, beans and maize. Away from the farm, Charles is an ambassador for The Farming Community Network, using marathon running to raise funds and help break the stigma surrounding mental health. He is also a committed supporter of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, having chaired the Lincolnshire Farming Conference and stewarding at the Lincolnshire Show every year. Charles is BASIS and FACTS qualified and has been delivering lectures for Agronomy Training Ltd since 2023, working mainly across the BASIS Foundation Award and BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection – Arable courses with his key focus being legislation
Toby Simpson is an arable farmer in Cambridgeshire, growing cereals, beans and oilseed rape on predominantly clay loam soils. He is also a Nuffield Farming Scholar for which his topic was exploring catch and cover cropping opportunities in UK arable agriculture. This allowed Toby the opportunity to spend eight weeks travelling around North America, Europe and Scandinavia. Off the farm he enjoys running very slowly over long distances. BASIS & FACTS qualified, Toby delivers lectures for us on the FACTS course.