Farmers First Issue 50 - Winter 2018-19

MACHINERY SPECIAL

Issue 50 | Winter 2018/19

AWARD-WINNING FAMILY IS CONSTANTLY INNOVATING Innovation is at the heart of the Howie family’s business, which exports its Wicks Manor branded meat products as far afield as the Far East.

Having started their cooperative involvement with the former West Essex Farmers, the family now source a wide range of inputs through Fram Farmers. As if celebrating their 50th anniversary as a farming family at Wicks Manor in Essex wasn’t enough, in January 2018 Howie & Sons LLP were nominated for the Sourced Locally Producer of the Year Awards, a celebration of local farmers, growers and producers from across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.

Just two months later, the business became the East of England Co-op's Producer of the

Are you looking for a variety with…

The Howie family (left to right): Dougie, Hamish, Robert, Bertie, Mary, Imogen, Fergus, Rupert and Jacob

Year, a real achievement because these awards are voted for by the retailer’s customers.

During 2018 the family also collaborated with the East of England Co-op on ‘The Great Sausage Mash Up’, giving sausage fans the chance to create a unique new pork sausage flavour. The winning sausage, Pork and Honey, was sold exclusively in selected Co-op stores.

Clearly, the Howie family know how to produce great tasting, high quality pork and because  Continued on page 4

Incredibly high yields Market opportunities for brewing and distilling

Laureate spring barley is here!

MBC Approval

6668 Laureate Banner 185x50mm.indd 1

05/11/2018 17:09

Serving the Eastern Region for 90 Years

Budget Changes Encourage Investment A number of measures contained in October’s budget were designed to increase investment made by UK businesses and aimed at raising the UK’s international competitiveness.

Farmers anticipating expenditure on new commercial buildings or a large outlay on machinery, may find Chancellor Hammond’s changes both interesting and useful Writes Jeannette Hume

Let’s look first at the Structures and Buildings Allowance. Both the Industrial Buildings Allowance and Agricultural Buildings Allowance were abolished in 2011. So, for the last 7-years the UK has not had any relief for building commercial structures.

The budget two months ago introduced a new Structures and Buildings Allowance (SBA) for new non-residential structures. This relief is designed to encourage investment in the construction of new structures and buildings and the improvement of existing ones. The relief will be given at a flat rate of two percent over a 50-year period and will be available on all commercial structures including offices, retail and wholesale premises, walls, bridges, tunnels, factories and warehouses.

Whiting & Partners offers core accounting services with specialist expertise in: • • • • • • • •

Agriculture Construction Contractors Manufacturing Property Retail Road Haulage Technology

Capital expenditure on renovations or conversions of existing commercial structures or buildings will also qualify for the relief which will apply to both businesses chargeable to Income Tax and companies chargeable to Corporation Tax. Although SBA expenditure will not qualify for Annual Investment Allowances (AIA) it will continue to be possible to claim on integral features and fittings of a structure as expenditure on which capital allowances are available at a higher rate including AIAs. These can give 100% relief for such costs in the first year. Therefore, it will be important to obtain from the contractors completing the project, an accurate split of costs between the building work and the fixtures where immediate tax relief for part of the construction outlay would be beneficial.

Relief is only available where all the contracts for the physical construction works were entered into on or after October 29, 2018. It can include the costs of any demolition and land alterations necessary for construction. Claims an only be made when the building first comes into use. If the building is subsequently sold, this will not result in a balancing adjustment, instead the purchaser takes over the remainder the 50-year period.

Bury St Edmunds Office Greenwood House, Skyliner Way, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. IP32 7GY Telephone: 01284 752313 bury@whitingandpartners.co.uk Information on which this article is based is correct at the time of publishing. Any updates are available on our website whitingandpartners.co.uk

Turning to the Annual Investment Allowance which will run alongside this new relief.

The AIA is to be increased to £1 million for two years from January 1 2019, aiming to increase investment in new plant and machinery. If at all possible, it may be worth delaying purchases of expensive plant and machinery until after this date to take advantage of this increased relief.

whitingandpartners.co.uk Bury St. Edmunds | Ely | King’s Lynn | March | Mildenhall | Peterborough | Ramsey | St. Ives | St. Neots | Wisbech

CEO COMMENT

3

FRAM FARMERS’ THREE-YEAR BUSINESS PLAN IS NOW OPERATIONAL Richard Anscombe, Chief Executive Fram Farmers had a very good financial year to 30 June 2018, achieving our highest-ever annual turnover, £196 million (2017: £184 million). Importantly, this figure included organic (non-inflationary) growth of 8%, reflecting the fact that members trusted us with an increasing percentage of their business.

Your Society also recorded a surplus of £201,000, the largest for many years.

Combined with the profit from Framtrade Ltd, our wholly-owned retail subsidiary which supplies oil and gas products to over 4,000 members of the public, the surplus helps us to attract, train and retain the best people. It also enables us to invest in the best IT systems and continue to develop our services.

Fram Farmers attracts successful, forwardthinking farming businesses who derive significant benefits from membership. The Directors of Fram Farmers appreciate that choppy waters lie ahead as we approach Brexit and have considered the future for agriculture in detail. Appreciating that members need the comfort and security of belonging to a cooperative which is dynamic, pro-active and

they can trust absolutely, we have agreed a three-year business plan.

Our primary goal is to increase member commitment, not to achieve growth for growth’s sake, but because it is ultimately in our members' best interests. Greater and earlier commitment provides higher volumes and valuable information which allows us to work with suppliers and help them plan their production and distribution, so increasing our ability to negotiate better deals on your behalf.

The supply chain will be affected by Brexit as farm incomes fall and current input prices become unsustainable, so we are aligning ourselves with key suppliers who see value in working with us to create shared value. In a world where suppliers and end-customers will become ever-larger, with information a key currency, Fram Farmers will have an increasing role, not just in purchasing inputs and marketing outputs, but as a trusted source of business-critical information and advice.

To continually improve we must employ bestin-class staff who are widely respected, have excellent market knowledge and insight, plus good negotiating skills. We must also ensure they receive ongoing training to keep their knowledge current.

Continuing our investment in sector-leading Information Technology (IT) systems will also be vital in allowing us to deliver more real-time, business-critical information to your office-based

systems and mobile devices, enabling you to manage your business and relationship with Fram Farmers more efficiently, when it bests suits you, out in the field or in the farm office.

We continue to benchmark our prices against others. Going forward we will generate more real-time business critical information and advice, then share that with you. Fram Farmers is not a ‘comparison site’ and invests a great deal of expertise and resources in generating information. So to protect the competitiveness and integrity of our operation, and the interests of other members, this must not be disclosed to any third party.

The Next Generation, broadly those under 40 years of age, are critical to the future of our members’ businesses and of Fram Farmers; we will increase the resources we put into understanding their requirements and aspirations. We will also investigate ways of bringing members together to improve the efficiency and profitability of their businesses, such as sharing labour/ machinery or combining rotations.

Fram Farmers has never been an organisation to shout about what we do, but now is a good time to raise our profile and make more farming businesses aware of our considerable achievements. Partly this will be achieved through a communications campaign covering all platforms, so expect to see more about Fram Farmers very soon.

Fram Farmers took a stand for the first time at the 2018 South West Dairy Event, held at Shepton Mallett on 3 October. We were represented by (left to right) Becky Bower (Business development manager South), Tom Mountain (Machinery Buyer), Jodie Allen (Livestock Specialist) and Gordon Cummings (Strategic Partnerships Manager - Machinery). They were very pleased to welcome a good number of members to the stand and were particularly impressed by how far some had travelled, from Norfolk, Suffolk, Gloucester, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Wales. It was a good opportunity to catch up with some of Fram Farmers’ key suppliers.

Fram Farmers, Station Road, Framlingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 9EE Tel 01728 727700 Every precaution has been taken to ensure that the material published in Farmers First is accurate at the time of printing. For further details about anything featured in this edition please call Sophie Clarke at Fram Farmers on 01728 727700, or Julian Cooksley and Charles Macdowell at Land Communication on 01473 353613.

Extensive Range Metric & Imperial High Tensile & Stainless

4 NEWS: MEMBER PROFILE - HOWIES & SONS, WICKS MANOR FARMS, ESSEX

three on our pig unit and the others in our processing plant, so the sales focus must be on large volumes and regular markets.

“Several high-profile food scares have made commercial buyers recognise the importance of shorter, more transparent supply chains in protecting their own brand values. The retail environment is becoming increasingly difficult at present and very price sensitive, so our focus is on the food service sector and export markets.

Brexit is a big issue, but as pig producers we are very positive as the UK currently imports 60% of the pork consumed here.

“The downside is the risk to labour supply.

Many of our staff are from Eastern Europe and have a strong work ethic, but it’s become a struggle to attract them. Combine that with very low unemployment and I think that we will see big wage inflation, which will make it more difficult for businesses like ours. On the plus side, the lower exchange rate means that our exports are 10% are cheaper than two years ago, which helps us to sell more.”  Continued from page 1 their pigs are fed crops which are grown and milled on the family farm they can confidently tell customers what’s in these delicious products.

“Our pigs are born and bred, farmed and fed on the Wicks Manor Farm, or sourced from local East Anglian farms. We need 150 to 200 per week and currently produce 100 on our own unit, so we work with others who operate to our standards and we are increasing our output,” explains Fergus Howie. Managing Director of Wicks Manor’s pig production and meat processing operations, Fergus oversees a thriving business and works alongside his parents, Robert and Mary, together with brother Hamish who manages the family’s 4,400-acre arable operation.

CREATING A BRAND The picture has not always been quite so rosy, far from it in fact. When Fergus returned from University in 2000 the pig operation was suffering because the price had fallen to £25 per head. It was apparent that producing more would not create economies of scale but simply increase losses, so the pig unit had to close or get closer to the consumer and be able to set prices. It would then be up to consumers whether they wanted to pay. Selling through farmers markets and local shops helped to create brand awareness. It wasn’t easy but served its purpose and in 2005 the business began supplying the multiples. Now Wicks Manor products can be found in Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, ASDA, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op.

“The supermarkets have been very good to deal with,” Fergus states. “The 1990s were all about ‘organic’ food but by the new millennium it was all about locally-sourced produce and supermarkets were keen to be involved. As a local supplier we happened to be in the right place at the right time. The fact that our pork

products are prepared in the farm butchery, to our unique recipes, using only the best ingredients, was a big selling point.”

GETTING INTO EXPORTS “Since 2013 the real growth has come from exports. We attended a few overseas trade shows to test the market at a time when consumers in the Middle and Far East were becoming concerned over food sourced from China. They liked what we were doing and these markets now take 25% of our output as frozen, which keeps our production lines working efficiently.

“Although we have a farm shop, an on-line shop and sell locally, we’re not geared up to supply consumers directly on a large scale because our focus is on business-to-business.

We employ 42 staff, five on the arable side,

NEWS: MEMBER PROFILE – MIKE SHAPLAND, JAMES FOSKETT FARMS, SUFFOLK 5

MIKE IS FARMERS WEEKLY’S 2018 FARM MANAGER OF THE YEAR All of us at Fram Farmers congratulate Mike Shapland, Farm Manager and Director at James Foskett Farms Ltd in East Suffolk, on winning the prestigious 2018 Farmers Weekly Farm Manager of the Year Award.

Mike Shapland, Farm Manager, James Foskett Farms Ltd. James Foskett Farms went into organic production in 2009 after being encouraged to do so by customers of their conventional crops, and because they could see a good market for the type of vegetables they wanted to grow.

Mike has been instrumental in increasing the organic enterprise, which now includes 500 acres producing a range of crops.

AIMING FOR GROWTH

2018 was particularly challenging because the hot, dry weather meant that the moisture deficit exceeded the ability to extract and apply water.

An email from Farmers Weekly asking whether he would like to apply was the first Mike Shapland knew that he’d been nominated for the Award by Charlie Trembarth, Head of Seed Sales and Agronomy at East Suffolk Produce.

In May, Mike was named one of three finalists and on 4 June three judges visited James Foskett Farms for an in-depth interview: Susie Horne from Farmers Weekly, Charles Matts of Brixworth Farming and 2017 winner Chris Baylis from Lincolnshire.

Amongst many attributes they identified Mike’s excellent staff management, including his ability to recognise talent, promote internally and delegate. They also noted his innovative

nature, demonstrated by his willingness to adapt existing machinery, invest in the latest technology and try new crops. Mike was praised for his strong financial acumen, good understanding of risk and markets, expansion of organics to satisfy increasing demand, his role in overseeing significant investment in crop storage and extensive use of benchmarking.

A doctor’s son, Mike grew up in the countryside and spent much of his time working on farms.

Having gained a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1993, he worked for Strutt & Parker’s Newbury and Salisbury offices, then spent 13 years with the Cooperative Group managing farm businesses in Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire and Cheshire, followed by a spell as an independent consultant in Russia, Poland, Bulgaria and the UK.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL Mike joined James Foskett Farms, a wellestablished family farming business, in August 2010. His hallmark attention to detail is an essential quality in this highly complex operation which has been growing crops in the Deben Valley for over 60 years. All cereals are marketed through Fram Farmers/ ADM either on a spot basis or using the pools, which ensures quick movement at harvest and provides the comfort of knowing that grain is insured against bad debt.

Attracting and retaining good staff is essential, so Mike invests significant time and effort to ensure that they feel happy, safe and secure.

Despite significant expansion in recent years, and the uncertainties over Brexit’s impact on overseas labour, he aims to increase turnover by another 25%-30% over the next five years, including further development of the organic business and steady growth in the potato sector.

Delighted with his Farm Manager of the Year Award, Mike states: “The Award ceremony in London was much larger and far grander than I imagined. It was a very memorable evening and I was so pleased to have the opportunity to share it with my partner Laura, my parents, and with James and Belinda Foskett.”

FARM FACTS 2,600 acres Crops: Seed and ware potatoes Onions Sugar beet Carrots Organic crops: Potatoes Onions Carrots Sweetcorn Butternut squash Beetroot Courgettes 20 full-time 60 seasonal

Monolith for black-grass.

Because even at post-emergence, every percent counts.

When it comes to black-grass management, it’s important to take every opportunity to reduce populations and seed return. Small changes can boost your black-grass control programme and make the difference to your final yields.

Our post-emergence herbicide, Monolith, can provide 10% uplift in black-grass control in the spring compared to Atlantis® WG.

What does 10% more black-grass control look like? *1 No post-em. applied =

Atlantis WG =

Monolith =

heads/m2 remained

heads/m2 remained

heads/m2 remained

1.9 t / ha yield benefit vs no post-em. applied

0.3 t / ha yield benefit vs Atlantis WG

272 100 70

Based on 29 replicated trials*2, using Monolith, rather than Atlantis WG, could result in

+£56

/ha

in difficult situations with 270 black-grass heads/m2 This is based on the 2 Nov 2018 Gleadell futures price for feed wheat for March 2019 at £173.80/t (0.3 t = £56)

30 fewer heads/m 2 remained over 29 trials after using Monolith compared to using Atlantis WG*2

Discover how to get improved black-grass control this spring by visiting: cropscience.bayer.co.uk/monolith

30,000,000 fewer seeds per ha going back into the seed bank

Based on an average of 100 seeds per black-grass head *3

*1 *2 *3

AHDB Project Report No. 560 July 2016, Sustaining winter cropping under threat from herbicide resistant black-grass.

29 replicated Bayer trials in 2012-2018. Average population when no post-em. applied = 272 heads/m2.

Rothamsted Black-grass Technical Publication 2013 (S. Moss) Monolith contains mesosulfuron and propoxycarbazone. Atlantis WG contains mesosulfuron and iodosulfuron.

Monolith and Atlantis are registered Trade Marks of Bayer. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. Pay attention to the risk indications and follow the safety precautions on the label. For further information, including contact details, visit www.cropscience.bayer.co.uk or call 0808 1969522. © Bayer CropScience Limited 2018

MACHINERY: STAFF PROFILE – GORDON CUMMINGS

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP MANAGER IS A KEY NEW ROLE After seven years he moved to Peacock & Binnington, one of the premier agricultural machinery dealers in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, as Sales Manager at the company’s Louth depot, before joining Claas UK as East Midlands Territory Manager. Gordon remained with Claas for 21 years, latterly as General Manager of its retail business, Eastern Harvesters (Marsh and Seward), where he was responsible for an annual turnover of over £50 million.

In 2012, Gordon joined Louth Tractors to revitalise the business, which was achieved, following which he spent three years with spare parts, tools and agricultural components supplier Kramp UK, being the leading Account Manager every year.

The newly created role of Strategic Partnership Manager is a key part of Fram Farmers’ business plan and is in the capable hands of Gordon Cummings, a well-known and respected figure within the agricultural machinery sector.

With over 40 years’ experience, Gordon is charged with maintaining and developing our existing partnerships with leading machinery and vehicle manufacturers, and using his extensive contacts to develop new collaborations to generate further significant savings and benefits for members. He states: “Post-Brexit, Government support for the agricultural sector will change and controlling production costs will become increasingly important for UK farms. The role of a true members’ cooperative, collectively purchasing inputs on behalf of our members, can only increase.

“Machinery is a key input for all farming businesses and accounts for a significant proportion of overall costs, so my role is to help members to achieve the best-possible value for money when purchasing new machinery and services. My aim is to increase the range and scope of strategic partnerships with manufacturers, as well as developing new initiatives so that we can offer even greater choice and value.”

VALUABLE EXPERIENCE Born and raised in Suffolk, Gordon started his career as a buyer for a builders’ merchant in Suffolk before joining farm machinery manufacturer Shelbourne Reynolds Engineering Ltd at Stanton as a buyer, then becoming their first salesman.

Case IH and Claydon Drills are two manufacturers in the Fram Farmers machinery scheme

Seeking a new challenge, in October 2018 Gordon accepted an approach from Fram Farmers and as part of his new role has set himself the goal of meeting as many members and suppliers as possible.

Richard Anscombe, Chief Executive, adds: “Machinery is something that all of our members need and forms a very significant proportion of their expenditure. The Top 25% of farms in the Farm Business Survey are where they are largely because they have significantly lower labour and machinery costs. By taking much of the burden of purchasing and administration off our members’ shoulders, Fram Farmers help them to save significantly on labour and administration costs, and now we are increasing our focus on helping to reduce machinery costs too.”

Gordon operates nationally and can be contacted directly on 07776 664030

7

8 MACHINERY: VEHICLES

OUR NEW VEHICLE SCHEME WILL SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY Fram Farmers’ longstanding partnership with nationwide vehicle sourcing specialists TysonCooper has just been expanded to provide members with access to even more attractive fleet terms.

Regardless of where you live, you can now benefit from the best deals on a wider range of cars, pick-ups and vans, delivered through the outlet of your choice, with discounts passed on in full and no additional charges. It’s simple, easy and designed solely to help you.

Vehicles can be one of the largest expenses and risks for any business; sourcing them through the usual dealership route can be time consuming, frustrating, inconvenient and demanding. Fram Farmers can help you avoid all that through our partnership with TysonCooper, who specialise in delivering exclusive discounts and offers across a wide range of cars, double-cab pickups and vans for personal and business use. Like everything else that Fram Farmers does, the service is completely independent, fully transparent and focused entirely on providing you with the best solution.

Founded in 2008 with over 35 years of experience within the motor trade, TysonCooper guarantee to take the pain out of purchasing your next new vehicle. Their in-house experts have an in-depth knowledge, work with all the major manufacturers/dealers in the UK and have comprehensive insider information on vehicle specifications, deals and discounts.

Mountain, Fram Farmers’ Machinery Buyer.

“You can rely on them for completely impartial advice, accurate delivery times and ultimately vehicles that will work for you with, if required, a finance deal that makes sense. From enquiry to delivery, they take care of every detail, keep you informed, and look after you at every stage of the process, ensuring that you’re not left with any nasty surprises. This comprehensive service not only provides you with access to the very best deals but also a complimentary fleet health check covering all aspects of operating and managing vehicles/ drivers, should you need it.”

SERIOUS SAVINGS How much you save will depend on the make and model, but will almost certainly be much, much higher than any dealer could offer because they have only their margin/volume discounts to work with and huge overheads in the form of premises, stock and staff.

TysonCooper has no showroom, no stock and is rewarded through a manufacturer’s discount based on a small margin, high volume approach.

In most cases the significant discounts which they negotiate can be applied to outright purchases as well as all funding methods, including hire purchase, personal contract hire,

personal contract purchase, business contract hire and finance lease.

UNIQUE FINANCE DEALS If you want to finance your purchase, TysonCooper have access to preferential rates and payment options that you won’t get from main dealerships. If you have a part exchange, TysonCooper can value your existing vehicle at their office in Suffolk or use digital images and specifications that you provide. Their Keyfor-Key delivery service enables your current vehicle to be taken in part-exchange against a new vehicle anywhere in the UK. Purchasing a new vehicle should be pleasurable, but can be stressful, daunting and very time-consuming. One call to TysonCooper will save time, take away all the hassle, get you expert advice and the very best deal, whatever your requirements and budget. Just tell them that you are a Fram Farmers member, discuss your requirements and talk through any existing quotes you may have. They will source the solution that best suits your needs and quote you one price - the best price.

With all that sorted, why not arrange insurance cover through Fram Farmers for even greater savings?

Call TysonCooper on 01473 372020, email sales@tysoncooper.com or visit www.tysoncooper.comw

“The key point is that TysonCooper have no vested interest in selling one make, model or individual vehicle from stock,” emphasises Tom

Whether you are looking for one vehicle or a fleet, choose from:

MACHINERY: SUPPLIER UPDATE - VEHICLES

9

WHAT’S ON YOUR WISH LIST FOR YOUR NEXT NEW VEHICLE? You can now aim higher with the all-new Fram Farmers vehicle discount programme brought to you by TysonCooper.

Additional discounts and exclusive offers have been negotiated across a wide range of manufacturers on cars, vans and pick-ups, for both business and personal use.

LANDROVER Often deemed to be the default choice amongst farmers, we are delighted to confirm that additional discounts have been negotiated across the entire Land Rover range - everything from the Discovery Sport to the Range Rover Autobiography attracts an exclusive discount in addition to the dealer allowance secured by TysonCooper.

Every one of Land Rover’s models are what other manufacturers aspire to emulate, giving you an even better choice of vehicles. This is exactly what we are finding with the latest additions to the SUV range from Volvo.

VOLVO The introduction of the XC90 was the first step in this direction for Volvo and although not as capable perhaps as the Discovery 5 off-road, it has found many conquest customers who were attracted by the refined drive, superb looks, significantly improved interior quality, market leading technology and safety features.

PEUGEOT It’s not just the premium manufacturers supporting their SUVs and crossovers. The Peugeot 3008 and 5008 have been attracting awards across Europe, and when fitted with Grip Control are as capable as most 4x4s on the road.

With improved fuel efficiency together with an exclusive Fram Farmers discount, Peugeot offers a great all package worth considering if a midrange SUV is the preferred vehicle for you!

The scheme doesn’t just cater for cars.

Recognising that Members have a diverse array of requirements, exclusive discounts have been negotiated across a wide range of vans and double cab pick-ups.

VANS If you need a van or light commercial you can choose from Ford, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Vauxhall and Mercedes-Benz. All models up to 3.5 tonnes are available and these include chassis cab conversions in addition to panel vans and double-cab type vans. The scheme also provides discounts on 4x4 commercial vehicles from Land Rover and Mitsubishi.

OFFICIAL ON THE ROAD PRICE SPECIALLY NEGOTIATED MANUFACTURER DISCOUNT FORandFRAMFARMERS MEMBERS a whole range of accessories to create

Since then the XC60, and more recently XC40, have seen a whole new generation of Volvo buyers choosing the Swedish manufacturer, placing them firmly on the choice list of those looking for a premium SUV.

Call upon the experts at TysonCooper to talk the perfect truck. If neither of these fit the bill, you through the options and provide help in the scheme also provides discounts on Ford respect of van, usage, towing, specifications Ranger and Toyota Hi-lux models. and any specialist body fitments or racking DEALERSHIP DISCOUNT systems to make sure you get the exact If you’re looking for something more premium, vehicle for your requirements.

Mercedes-Benz are joining the scheme with PRICE A FRAM MEMBER PAYS an exclusive Member offer on the all new DOUBLE CAB PICK-UPS X-Class range for the very first time.

Whether your preference is Land Rover, Volvo or another premium brand – or if you’re just not quite sure, TysonCooper are on hand to talk you through the exclusive Fram Farmers discounts and provide some unbiased assistance to help you decide.

No farmers’ discount programme would be complete without a comprehensive offering on double cab pick-ups. Choose from the everpopular Nissan Navara or Mitsubishi L200, which are as capable on the road as across the fields, with exclusive Member discounts

Whatever your pick-up requirements, speak to TysonCooper who can answer any questions to help you decide which pick-up is right for you.

Want to know more? Contact the team on 01473 372020 or email them at sales@ tysoncooper.com. Alternatively head over to their website to find out more: www.tysoncooper.com.

THIS IS GROUND CONTROL

ASTROKerb

ASTROKerb is the most powerful dual-action weed control in oil seed rape.

Like Kerb Flo 500, it is exceptional against blackgrass with an added effective action against hard to control broad-leaved weeds, such as poppy and mayweed.

The innovative chemistry behind ASTROKerb combines residual with contact activity to control problematic weeds in winter oilseed rape. It is dual-action weed control that’s out of this world.

™

@dowagrouk

uk.dowagro.com

UKHotline@dow.com

USE PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCT SAFELY. Always read the label and product information before use. For further information including warning phrases and symbols refer to labels.

Dow AgroSciences Limited, CPC2, Capital Park, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB21 5XE. Tel: +44 (0) 1462 457272. ®TM Trademark of the Dow Chemical Company (Dow) or an affiliated company of Dow. Technical Hotline: 0800 689 8899. E-mail: UKHotline@dow.com ASTROKerb contains aminopyralid and propyzamide.

MACHINERY: SUPPLIER UPDATE – FUELS AND LUBRICANTS

11

HELPING YOUR FARM PREPARE FOR WINTER Make smarter fuel choices As the new year looms, there is a real opportunity for the agricultural industry to reassess its traditional reliance on diesel, improve its HSE credentials and make a lasting difference to air quality.

Shell GTL Fuel is a cleaner-burning alternative to diesel, proven to immediately lower levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) for improved local air quality. It is also free of unwanted components such as sulphur, metals, and aromatics, making it non-toxic and less harmful to the environment and the farming workforce.

Farmers face different challenges throughout the year when it comes to operating and maintaining agricultural equipment, and winter is no exception. When the cold sets in, it’s vital that farmers have made preparations to keep their farm moving, even in harsh conditions.

So how can farms get ready for the deep freeze and avoid costly disruption caused by winter weather?  DON'T FREEZE UP When the cold weather sets in, your fuel supply could be at risk of forming wax crystals that can clog up your engine or even prevent your machinery from starting at all. Adding Anti-Wax, which co-crystallises with the fuel wax crystals to change their shape and make them smaller, allows engine operation at colder temperatures than the original fuel specification.

 PROTECT YOUR MACHINERY IN STORAGE Ensuring vehicles and machinery are well maintained is essential to running an efficient farm - and this is never more important than when your equipment is in winter storage.

Effective lubrication is key to keeping machinery protected when it’s not in use for extended periods of time, such as the winter off-season.

Despite this, a study by Shell Lubricants revealed that only 29% of farmers surveyed understand how effective lubrication offers protection against wear and tear which can lead to cost savings.

To improve the cold flow and handling properties of your fuel, Anti-Wax additive is best added to your supply while temperatures are above six degrees Celsius and before signs of waxing start to appear.

The reality is, if machinery is left unlubricated during the cold, wet, winter months, metal surfaces can become corroded and the resulting rust can affect the functionality of equipment.

This results in costly repairs or replacement of expensive parts and components to get machinery up and running again once winter is over.

During extreme weather, coolant systems can freeze, putting engines at risk of overheating. To keep your machinery moving, take a moment to top-up the anti-freeze in your machinery to ensure optimal engine performance throughout the winter months.

Investing in high-performance lubricants can deliver long-term cost of ownership savings by immediately protecting against wear and tear, resulting in extended equipment life, increased uptime between maintenance periods and less spend on spare parts.

In many cases, taking steps to reduce emissions can be costly and disruptive - particularly when it requires upgrades to machinery and storage solutions to accommodate the switch. One of the major benefits of Shell GTL Fuel is that it can be used in existing heavy-duty and light-duty diesel engines without the need for engine modifications, new infrastructure or vehicle investment. The fuel’s winter grade of 18°C is also especially beneficial when making the switch in the build up to winter preparation, minimising the risk of waxing and improving cold flow properties during cold weather.

Having the right fuel, lubricants and additives - and a reliable supply of them - is essential to the smooth operation of farms during the quieter winter season. To ensure your farm never runs short of fuel, Certas Energy offers delivery all year round from each of its 150 depots and 900 tankers across the UK. More than just a fuel supplier, Certas Energy is committed to keeping farming equipment and machinery running throughout the year. To find out more about how Certas Energy’s highperformance fuels, heating oils, lubricants and storage and dispensing tanks can help keep farms moving all year round, please visit www.certasenergy.co.uk.

Certas Energy is committed to helping the farming community and Fram Farmers with reliable fuel supply, storage and management solutions all year round - to find out how we can help with winter preparation, please contact the Fram Farmers Fuel Team on 01728 727714.

12

NEXT GENERATION: MEMBER PROFILE – MATT REDMAN AGRICULTURE, BEDFORDSHIRE

INNOVATION IS THE KEY FOR NEXT GENERATION MEMBER “We’re always looking for more rented land,” Matt states. “We offer a fully-tailored service, working closely with them and their, or our, agronomist, from planning to harvesting. We can also look after store management and loading.”

Low disturbance or direct drilling is now a big part of the business.

Farming is one of the most difficult industries in which to become established, which makes Matt Redman’s achievements a real success story.

Matt Redman realised early on that the family farm in Bedfordshire would not support another family member, so began contracting before he went to Harper Adams University by taking on gardening work locally.

When he graduated in 2010 Matt worked as a farm foreman for two years, but he had always wanted his own business and achieving the BASIS qualification was an important step.

That accomplished, Matt purchased a sprayer in 2012 and began contracting for his own family and other farms in the Bedford area as Matt Redman Agriculture.

“Fram Farmers make my life much easier.”

With Avadex becoming increasingly popular for managing grass weeds, particularly blackgrass, Matt purchased a tractor and 24m spreader.

He focussed on this niche and within two years had two outfits spreading over 10,000 acres.

The business has continued to grow and more recently entered farming.

Being a columnist in Farmers Weekly, winning the 2014 Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year Award, attending agronomy days, being active on social media and a member of the National Association of Agricultural Contractors has brought numerous contacts.

TAKING ON A TENANCY

Spreading Avadex is still an important part of Matt’s business, either at 24m using a lightweight tractor fitted with wide tyres and GPS auto-steer or a 32m/36m applicator mounted on a Bateman RB35, while a 24/30/32/36m trailed applicator is being fabricated for 2019. The business also runs a John Deere 840i trailed sprayer, offers liquid fertiliser application and a chemical store management service.

“We cater for a wide range of growing systems, from direct drilling to minimal tillage or full ploughbased systems,” Matt states. “Low disturbance or direct drilling with our 6m John Deere 750a has become increasingly popular with farmers who want to try it. We hope to add a tine drill to give additional flexibility and capacity.”

Matt’s business also provides vegetation maintenance services and has a commercial contract to maintain 9,000 miles of roadside verges.

One of Matt’s goals was to be farming and operating his own combine by the age of 30.

He is a great example of what can be achieved and is an inspiration to others.

“Contracting was a good way of getting out there, seeing how others farm and generating ideas,” Matt states. “In 2017 I took on the tenancy of the 500-acre Oldfield Farm at Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire, which is owned by the County Council. That provided an excellent start - I’ve expanded to 700 acres and recently took on a 600-acre stubble-tostubble contract.”

Matt then joined Fram Farmers. He says: “Being a member allows me to leave the purchasing of inputs to experts and focus on farming and contracting. Most of my time is spent in the field, so having just one monthly invoice saves time and stress. In a nutshell, it makes my life much easier.

Matt Redman Agriculture on 07845 667331

Your Nationwide Training Specialist

NEXT GENERATION: AWAY DAY REPORT

13

DEFINING THE FUTURE IN A SINGLE DAY Identifying the key factors which will influence agriculture over the next 10 years, painting a picture of the future and identifying what farmers will require were amongst the topics which Members of Fram Farmers’ Next Generation Group considered at an Away Day entitled ‘Defining the future in a single day’.

Held at the Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf and Spa in Essex on 16 November, this interactive, wide-ranging event, chaired by Duncan Rawson, a 2005 Nuffield Scholar who specialises in business strategy, business planning and change management, also looked at the future role of Fram Farmers.

There is a growing belief that farming is on the edge of a technical revolution, driven by data, new technology and innovation. At the same time, there is huge uncertainty over Brexit and

the likelihood that structural change within the industry will be necessary to ensure the future success, profitability and loyalty of UK farmers.

At an exciting time for the next generation of industry leaders and drivers of structural change, Fram Farmers has a valuable role in helping members to understand, manage and take advantage of change. The views from this event will help steer the strategic direction of the cooperative and ensure that its financial structure remains sound over the long-term.

FERTILISER POOLS PROVIDE TANGIBLE BENEFITS New season Ammonium Nitrate (AN) prices started considerably higher than anticipated at the start of 2018 and by the end of October the difference between the season’s maximum and minimum price was already over £80/t, while Urea prices had ranged by over £100/t.

Annie Buckingham, Fertiliser Buyer

By October we had already been able to secure product from CF Fertilisers as far ahead as January delivery, which suggested that product was in tight supply and markets were very volatile.

In such situations Fram Farmers’ Fertiliser Pools provide a safe way to minimise the risk, and by the end of October members who ordered in this way had saved an average of £5/t on UK AN and £30/t on Urea. Our official pool results will be available in February 2019.

There are many advantages to purchasing fertiliser through Fram Farmers. We offer a full portfolio, providing an extensive choice of solid and liquid products. Several staff are FACTS qualified and highly experienced, which enables us to provide

in-depth market knowledge combined with completely independent and unbiased advice.

To improve efficiency and further benefit members, we now deal more directly with manufacturers, and are increasingly using planned purchasing and combined ordering to achieve even more competitive terms.

Fram Farmers’ fertiliser pools should form part of a well-structured approach to procuring inputs as

they allow you to purchase at favourable prices and manage risk. This is particularly important because markets have changed considerably in recent years and price volatility is now much greater, making purchase timings critical.

The fertiliser market is very trade orientated and with large fluctuations in currency as well as oil prices, it has been very difficult for any farming business to judge the best time to order. Fram Farmers are constantly involved in the markets and that allows members to take a more managed approach to purchasing this significant input, while saving time by eliminating the need to shop around for the best prices.

Participating in the pools is very easy. In April we will send out commitment forms and all you need to do is fill in the address for delivery, details of the tonnage of each product, tick a delivery month and sign the contract. We’ll take it from there.

Annie Buckingham, Fertiliser Buyer call 01728 727715 or email annie.buckingham@framfarmers.co.uk

Growing progress + =

+

Corteva Agriscience™ is the newly formed agriculture division of DowDuPont.

Right now, the people you already know are working alongside one another delivering crop protection solutions and best-in-class seeds, combined with an existing product portfolio you already trust - all from one source.

Our joined-up science promises an incredibly strong pipeline of new chemistry.

Together, our expanded expertise puts innovation at the heart of everything we do, ensuring UK farming’s growing progress for generations to come.

Discover more at corteva.co.uk ,®,SM Trademarks and service marks of Dow AgroSciences, DuPont or Pioneer, and their affiliated companies or their respective owners.

TM

ARABLE: MEMBER PROFILE - HOPE FARM, FOLKESTONE

15

local District Council was looking to start a kerbside collection service, so we worked with them to establish a 3,000-tonne trial.”

Its success saw the project expand to 5,000 tonnes, then 8,000 tonnes, 12,000 tonnes and 35,000-tonnes in March 2017. Hope Farm Limited, of which Doug’s mother and father are also directors, now contributes as much to the family’s income as farming.

Green waste arrives in a variety of vehicles, from dustcarts to compacted skips and every tonne attracts a gate fee paid by Councils and contractors. Approximately half of what comes in goes out as compost, a total of 16,000 tonnes in 2017, 75% of it spread at Hope Farm, the remainder sold to local farms.

COMPOSTING HELPS KENT FARM DIVERSIFY

Transforming green garden waste into a valuable soil improver for use on their own farm and sale to others provides the Taylor family with a valuable diversification at Hope Farm, Folkestone.

Doug Taylor is the third generation to farm there, his grandfather having moved from Suffolk in 1950. Today, J Taylor & Son farms 1,100 acres of combinable crops from Folkestone to Dover and across to Etchinghill on the North Downs.

The quality of the intake material varies enormously, but as farmers the Taylors are determined to ensure that the compost they produce is free of litter and employ a team of six full-time staff on this task.

A 360° excavator then feeds green waste into a high-speed shredder which pulverises it, the aim being to break or bruise every cell so bacteria can break it down quickly and effectively. The material then goes into 60m x 6m x 3m windrows where the temperature reaches 60°C within a week. The steaming material is turned regularly and after eightweeks sterile compost is passed through a rotary screen. Any material larger than 35mm is separated, shredded and re-processed.

“We’re not trying to produce potting-grade compost”

The area’s hilly terrain and a 100-cow limit on herd size saw Doug’s father, Michael, come out of dairying in 2000, which left the family looking for an alternative to the manure that had benefitted the sandy soils for 30 years.

“We simply clean and sanitise green waste quickly, as it will break down fully in the field,” Doug states. “When we started composting, it was a cost to the farm which we considered worthwhile because it benefited our crops.

Now, it is a profitable, stand-alone business which benefits our entire operation.”

MANURE ALTERNATIVE “We began using manure in the 1980s,” Doug explains. “When it was no longer available we needed an alternative and looked into composting green waste for our own use. Our

PREPARED FOR THE FIELD

Doug Taylor

Compost's many benefits FARM FACTS

The Courtyard Partnership, a firm of independent soil management specialists, compared an area on the farm that has deliberately never had compost, just bagged N, P and K, with the remainder which has. Where compost has been used regularly it has replaced bagged P and K entirely, worm numbers are much higher and soil indices much improved, with a range of further benefits.

The differences are clearly visible in NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) images.

Combinable crops 1,100 acres Grassland/woodland 200 acres Winter wheat Winter barley Oilseed rape Winter oats Spring oats Spring beans

SOIL ANALYSIS COMPARISON OVER 12 YEARS Field Name

Soil pH

Index

mg/I (Available)

P

K

Mg

P

K

Mg

Triangle (Compost)

7.9

3

4

3

40.8 580

111

Triangle (No Compost)

7.8

2

2+

1

20.6 226

36

When others won’t

NITRAM WILL Successful Yields. Secured Performance. Simple Application.

Find out how Nitram Will help your farm. www.cffertilisers.co.uk

ARABLE: SUPPLIER UPDATE - CROP PROTECTION 17

BLACK-GRASS NEEDS CULTURAL CONTROLS PLUS THE BEST CHEMISTRY Matthew Keane is BASF’s local Agronomy Manager for Suffolk, and lives on part of his wife’s family farm in Dereham, Norfolk. In his role Matt looks after the county of Suffolk where he has farming contacts from his previous role working as a Development Agronomist for BASF. The role itself is a varied one but revolves around giving farmers and agronomists technical advice and support, based on BASF’s wide product portfolio.

“In areas with high black-grass pressure in the region, my first advice was to hold off drilling to those who were keen to get going. Cultural controls are as important as ever, and a delayed drilling date was key to having a major impact on black-grass populations. When used together, cultural controls and the very best chemistry are equally important in achieving effective control of black-grass.

“I’ve found Crystal to be a proven and consistent performer in this market for some time. This was reinforced by the results from a local farm trial last season where changes to the cultural control decisions, taken in conjunction with a robust

herbicide programme based around full rate Crystal pre-emergence, led to excellent control levels which were far superior to those previously achieved” With so many products to choose from, it’s important to be guided towards the one which is best for your individual situation. Having local knowledge of the area, weather conditions and prominent weeds, Matt is well placed to give you the right information.

The BASF technical helpline is also a great source of information, which can prove invaluable when making choices where you are trying something new and need a bit more background information.

Matthew Keane During the time that Matt has been an Agronomy Manager he’s been able to offer practical and technical advice based on 15 years’ experience with BASF, and his background in agricultural trials, to maximise crop potential throughout the season.

The region that Matt covers means that he has exposure to a diverse range of crops and soil types which invariably means he experiences some of the widest drilling (and subsequent work) windows of all. As Matt comments: “Following an exceptionally warm and dry summer, harvest has been one of the earliest and easiest we have seen for a long time; but the nature of the varied soil types has meant there has been a wide range of yield and quality across all crops. The early finish to harvest has allowed timely cultivations and the opportunity to start early on stale seedbeds.

Working closely with Fram Farmers

During his first year as an Agronomy Manager for BASF, Matt has worked closely with Fram Farmers to ensure members have the right support from BASF. This included hosting the Fram Farmers Variety Trials day on a very hot and sunny 27th June. By kind permission of James Forrest, over 200 famers and agronomists came to visit BASF’s demonstration site at Mowness Hall farm to look at 32 different wheat varieties overlaid with various fungicide treatments; members were also given their first look at the new Fungicide product Revysol.

Matt says: “The event was really busy, and Fram Farmers did an excellent job mobilising their members. It was great to see so many clients from Apex Agronomy, Prime Agriculture and Walnes Seeds who also provided an impartial view of each variety.

The day was a great success and next year’s event is already being planned. We look forward to continuing our support for Fram Farmers and for you as members - look out for the new date which will be announced soon.

If you would like to contact Matt for any queries on BASF products, please call 07901 611115 and Matt will be delighted to help you.

18

BUILDING MATERIALS: ELECTRICITY - BUYER’S REPORT

ELECTRICITY MARKETS REMAIN VERY VOLATILE Julia Bryson, Electricity Buyer

Electricity is a major expense for many of our members and currently we purchase approximately £8 million of this key input on behalf of over 3,500 farm sites, which enables us to do so at low margins.

but for the current contract this has increased to over £65 per MWh. The main reasons for the rise were the 70% rise in the cost of gas and a 400% increase in the Carbon Tax element due to increased demand for coal. Additionally, there was no fall in demand during the summer due to extreme high temperatures in the UK, Europe and Asia, while there has been a reduction in UK gas storage and wind generation. An ongoing increase in non-commodity costs charged against site consumption continues to add further cost.

The combined effect of these factors has seen wholesale energy prices rise by approximately 66% and markets continue to be very volatile, although the 2019 contract is now slowly beginning to trade below the above rates.

Ways to save We actively encourage members with smart meters to use Intelligent Analytics (IA), a free on-line service from Npower, to assist in monitoring usage and potentially identify where energy can be saved by switching off or shifting usage to the cheaper rate. As part of your electricity contract with us your current meter will automatically be exchanged for a smart meter to help identify savings, but we also suggest that you investigate how renewables, such as solar panels or wind turbines, could provide income.

Fram Farmers constantly monitor wholesale energy prices via various platforms; due to the continued growth of our portfolio we negotiate competitive unit rates. We also assist with smooth transfers when switching electricity from your current provider to our supplier, as well as new connections, disconnections/deenergisations, change of occupancy, meter relocation and invoice queries. We have a new smart sheet system which reminds members to provide meter readings monthly, which we process on your behalf via access to our supplier’s system.

We have been able to lock-in prices for one year from 1st October 2018, but for the first time in ten years there has been a major increase in the cost. Our last ‘Non-Half-Hourly’ contract was secured in 2016 at £37 per MWh,

For further details, contact Julia Bryson, Electricity Buyer, on 01728 727700

01359 259 259

Building & Agricultural Merchants

Galvanised Gates

Livestock Wire Fencing

PRECAST AGRICULTURAL SOLUTIONS

Diesel Storage Solutions

Livestock Water Troughs

www.clarkesofwalsham.co.uk Clarkes of Walsham Limited The Street • Walsham-le-Willows • Bury St Edmunds • IP31 3BA Monday - Friday: 7.30am - 5.15pm Saturday: 8am - 4pm

Clarkes of Walsham at Jimmy's Farm Pannington Hall Lane • Wherstead • Ipswich • IP9 2AR

Our range of precast concrete products include: L WALLS | LIVESTOCK BUILDINGS | T WALLS SILAGE PANELS | ROCKET WALLS | EASI-BLOC GRAIN AND CROP STORAGE | SLURRY STORES CATTLE SLATS | WATER TROUGHS KATIE McGORTY 07976 921 585 KMCGORTY@FPMCCANN.CO.UK FPMCCANN.CO.UK/AGRICULTURE

Open 7 Days a week

FRAM_Farmer_Ad_130x93mm_160318.indd 1

06/08/2018 15:58

BUILDING MATERIALS: MEMBER PROFILE, HOUGHTON HALL, NORFOLK 19

BUILDING A NORFOLK ESTATE’S BRAND NEW DAIRY ENTERPRISE

The new dairy at Houghton Hall in Norfolk is the latest stage in the evolution of this well-known estate.

Farming run five other block-calving dairy units around the UK on either a rental basis, management or contract farming agreement.

Construction work started in October 2017 and throughout the process Houghton Hall’s Buildings Manager Stuart Lingwood and Charlie Crotty worked closely with builders Ceres Group, many of the materials used being ordered through Fram Farmers. The project was completed in February 2018 and the first cows milked the following month.

cooperative specifically for the set-up and takedown of the recent ‘Damien Hirst at Houghton Hall’ exhibition.

Charlie Crotty Establishing a new dairy enterprise is rare, but that’s exactly what has happened at the Houghton Estate. Like the Cholmondeley Estate in Cheshire, also owned by the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, Houghton is a member of Fram Farmers.

Comprising 1,821ha, with an effective farmed area of 1,255ha, it had no history in dairying but became involved because grass and muck are fundamental to the organic system which Lord Cholmondley initiated in 1998. The conversion process took place in tranches and was completed in 2016.

The new dairy enterprise was conceived in 2017, the decision made easier because Lord Cholmondeley had commenced in-hand organic dairy farming on his estate in Cheshire that year and knew what was involved. The chosen breed was the Jersey, as the Arla organic manufacturing milk contract, in place at both estates, rewards the high fat and protein they produce.

Houghton Hall’s Buildings Manager Stuart Lingwood (left) and Nick Millar, Fram Farmers’ Buildings Materials Buyer, inside the new dairy.

PROVIDING MATERIALS AND INPUTS Houghton Hall purchases a wide range of inputs and services through Fram Farmers, including fuel, electricity and building materials, and hires John Deere tractors and JCB telescopic handlers. Houghton also hired towers, loaders and temporary roadways through the

“Some larger quantities of materials, such as 500m3 of concrete, were ordered through Fram Farmers and I discussed our requirements with Nick Millar (Building Materials Buyer).

Many other materials and smaller items were purchased directly from local suppliers or local branches of national suppliers on our Fram Farmers account.

“I like the way that Fram Farmers sent me the various quotes from different potential suppliers so that I could check them against our design specification; it highlighted the savings we were making. Saving 50p on a bag of cement might not sound much, but small amounts soon add up to one big saving, which helped us to stay on time and on budget.”

DIVERSIFYING INTO DAIRYING Houghton operates a very diverse organic business with in-hand dairy, beef, sheep and arable, plus let irrigated vegetables, let pigs and chickens. Situated in the centre of the estate, the new dairy is surrounded by organic pasture.

“It was conceived two years ago, with dairy cows purchased from Denmark, Ireland and the UK in 2017. The herd includes 400 autumncalving Jerseys, but the target is 550 by the end of 2019,” states Charlie Crotty, a Director of Evolution Farming, which has a management agreement with the estate and provides most of the labour to the farm business. Evolution

Cows are brought in twice daily and enter the collecting yard before moving into the 56m-long dairy shed, which incorporates a simple, cost-effective, high-capacity 50/100 Milfos parlour installed by Norfolk-based Mill Dairy Services. Milk is collected every other day by Arla, processed at its dairy in Buckinghamshire and ends its journey at McDonalds restaurants.

Aa

hh

h...

Are you looking for a variety with‌ Incredibly high yields Market opportunities for brewing and distilling MBC Approval

Laureate spring barley is here!

Syngenta UK Ltd. Registered in England No. 849037.

CPC4 Capital Park, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB21 5XE. Tel: +44 (0) 1223 883400 Technical Enquiries: +44 (0) 800 1696058 Email: customer.services@syngenta.com Website: www.syngenta.co.uk