Tributes to agriculture scientist

Raymond Jones: highly regarded by Wales' farming community

An award-winning scientist who was known throughout Wales for his work in agriculture has died, aged 59.

Raymond Jones joined the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (Iger) in Aberystwyth in 1968 and worked as a senior manager developing grass for cattle.

Paying tribute, the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) said Mr Jones' death was a "tremendous loss" to farming.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday near Aberystwyth.

Mr Jones' work with Iger took him around the world, but in the 1970s he left briefly to work for the University of Wales Aberystwyth's agricultural college and for Invermay Agricultural Centre in New Zealand.

FUW director of policy Arwyn Owen said: "He could explain very complex terms so that they were readily understood by farmers.

'Worked tirelessly'

"This meant that farmers could adopt new techniques more efficiently and effectively."

An Iger spokeswoman said Mr Jones "worked tirelessly as an ambassador for the institute".

She added: "Raymond was a unique scientist and will be much missed by his many friends and colleagues within Iger and far beyond."

In 1996, Mr Jones became an Associate of the Royal Agricultural Society (ARAgS) for his contribution to agriculture.

He was elevated to a Fellow of the Agricultural Society (FRAgS) in 2001.