Farmers First | Issue 56 - Summer 2020

Issue 56 | Summer 2020 60th Anniversary Edition

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FRAM FARMERS WELCOMES NEW CEO ANDREW KNOWLES

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60 YEARS AND STILL GROWING! THE HISTORY OF FRAM FARMERS

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VEGETABLE PRODUCERS HARVEST THE POTENTIAL OF COOPERATION AND TEAM APPROACH

Now, for tomorrow

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T: 0330 024 0888 larking-gowen.co.uk

Tim Pratt, farm manager at Wantisden Farm

CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE

CELEBRATING THE POSITIVES First and foremost I sincerely hope this issue of Farmers First finds you well and healthy. 2020 is proving to be a year more challenging than could have ever been predicted and yet I continue to be amazed and inspired by how our staff and members have adapted to a new working environment.

Our dedicated team is very much working on your behalf, albeit remotely, and continuing to deliver the same topquality service. I want to take this opportunity to thank the whole team for their incredible efforts.

This year we mark our 60th Anniversary and, as many of you know, we had plans to celebrate this with all our members at an event in November.

Sadly, this has now been postponed, but we can all look forward to a new date of 6 November 2021 when we can come together safely, no doubt even more appreciative of what we have all

“... Fram Farmers has made some positive developments over recent weeks to ensure we provide you with the best products and service we possibly can.”

achieved. We will continue to keep all of you informed of news about this and other events that have been temporarily put on hold (see pages 4-5).

Despite the current pandemic, farming continues, and Fram Farmers has made some positive developments over recent weeks to ensure we provide you with the best products and service we possibly can.

I am delighted to welcome Andrew Knowles to the business as the newly appointed CEO. Andrew will start his role in July and the whole team look forward to working with him to grow our successful cooperative.

(See pages 4-5.)

I am also pleased to announce the new business services division of Fram Farmers, which will be headed up by Dan Cox, who joins us in June. Dan will develop and launch a new service within Fram Farmers, including energy management and renewables, environmental land management scheme consultancy and business planning projects.

On the centre pages you will find a 60th year timeline illustrating just how far the

Andrew Read, Chairman, Fram Farmers

cooperative has evolved and grown over the last six decades, and how we continue to innovate.

As well as recognising the achievements of our cooperative, this issue also focuses on our members and the innovation and enthusiasm they have within our industry. This includes talking to members who have trialled alternative cropping, some prominent vegetable growers in the east and an interview with an award-winning artisan cheesemaker member. We also hear thoughts from past board members.

In the spirit of a cooperative, we work together, and I want to emphasise this more than ever at this time. If you are finding current circumstances difficult, please do not hesitate to get in touch to see if we can help. There are also several charities that can offer valuable support to you at this time. It’s good to talk.

CONTENTS:

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 Fram Farmers on 01728 727700, or Juliette Tompkins at Kendalls PR and Marketing on 01502 475110.

If you would like to opt out of receiving Farmers First, please email mail@framfarmers.co.uk FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 56 - S U M M E R 2 0 2 0

News ..........................................................4-5 Fram Farmers Finance Scheme ....................6 White House Farm .........................................7 Fen Farm Dairy...............................................9 Private Medical Insurance...........................11 Alternative Crops..................................12-13 60 years of Fram Farmers....................14-15 Vegetable Producers............................16-17 Dennington Hall Farm..................................19 Building Materials ........................................21 Urease Inhibitors ..................................22-23 Agronomy Update .......................................24 Crown Milling...............................................25 3

NEWS

As a result of Covid-19, and after careful consideration, we have decided to postpone the Fram Farmers 60th Anniversary event until 6th November 2021.

NEW FRAM FARMERS BUSINESS SERVICES DIVISION

Our decision to postpone the event now, is due to the uncertainty of future social distancing regulations that may be in force later in the year. It is likely that some form of social distancing and/or restrictions on gatherings will still be in operation and it is difficult for us to judge just how many people, in general, will be reacting to any relaxed rules when they come.

We remain passionate about hosting this celebration but wish to do so in an environment that our members and guests feel safe and relaxed.

Tickets that have already been purchased will be refunded to members at the earliest opportunity.

We will ensure that our 2021 event will be a celebration to be proud of and we look forward to celebrating this with members.

FRAM FARMERS WELCOMES NEW CEO ANDREW KNOWLES We are delighted to welcome Andrew Knowles to Fram Farmers from the beginning of July as Fram Farmers CEO. Andrew brings a depth and breadth of agri-business knowledge to Fram Farmers and is well-positioned to serve members across all sectors of the industry.

As we celebrate 60 years, Fram Farmers is confident that Andrew will deliver further progress for members and that his leadership qualities and strategic experience will help to further develop what we have achieved over the past 6 decades.

With a degree in Agricultural Management, Mr Knowles has a long-standing career in agriculture, initially as a farm consultant working with arable businesses in East Anglia, before heading the technical, knowledge transfer and communication teams for AHDB Pork at a challenging time for the industry amid the Foot and Mouth outbreak.

In 2015, Andrew won the prestigious David Black Award, given to those who have made a significant and sustained contribution to the British Pig Industry. Since 2015 he has been Pig Marketing Director of ForFarmers, responsible for developing and executing the company’s European pig strategy.

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Andrew Knowles, commenting on his appointment, says, “I am looking forward to joining Fram Farmers, to work with the very dedicated and skilled team, passionate in serving its I members and delivering outstanding value and benefits to their businesses through longstanding relationships with suppliers and partners.”

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“As Fram Farmers celebrates its 60th year, its members and UK agriculture face a period of unprecedented change, which will bring challenges and opportunities,” he added. “I Iam very excited and motivated by the prospect of working with the board, team and membership, and leading Fram Farmers in the next phase of its development and * * * growth.”

Members will hear more from Andrew in the Autumn issue of Farmers First.

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We are delighted to welcome Daniel Cox to Fram Farmers at the end of June. He will be joining the senior management team, where he will develop and launch a new service within Fram Farmers, including energy management and renewables, environmental land management scheme consultancy and business planning projects.

In our 60th Anniversary year, we are continuing to invest in our memberowned cooperative, launching this new service, which will provide further benefit, expertise and savings to members.

Dan has extensive experience in working alongside farming businesses, supporting investments in technology, growth and diversification, as well as a proven track record in leadership. He has worked throughout East Anglia for a number of years, including six years at AF in Norfolk, leading business development, planning and rural funding programmes, and later overseeing commercial services.

Dan, commenting on his appointment, says “I am delighted to be joining Fram Farmers in what is likely to be one of the most challenging but exciting periods for the industry in a generation. Fram Farmers is in a unique position to be able to offer members a range of support mechanisms to identify and make the most of forthcoming opportunities, which will be the focus of my role.”

“I have been drawn by the commitment of members and the dedication of the board led by Andrew and Wendy, and I am excited to be working closely with the new CEO and the rest of the Fram team," he adds.

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NEWS

NEW FACES JOIN THE FRAM FARMERS BOARD Fram Farmers is pleased to welcome two new board members; Douglas Inglis and Robin Lawson. Having joined the board in March and November respectively, we provide an introduction below.

Douglas Inglis With a degree in Agriculture from Newcastle University, Douglas joined Velcourt Ltd as a trainee manager in 1979.

He was farm manager of 1200 hectares in Lincolnshire for five years with Velcourt Ltd, before moving to Suffolk in 1986 to manage a large arable business growing potatoes, carrots, sugar beet, onions and combinable crops.

Douglas became a director in 1992, when

Robin Lawson Robin Lawson currently works for his family farming business, Rattlerow Farms, an independent pig breeding operation.

Robin studied Economics and Business Management at Newcastle University, graduating in 2010. He spent 6 years working for Deloitte London in Corporate Finance Advisory where he worked for

he took on the responsibility for East Anglia and spent time in Eastern Europe running businesses and carrying out agronomy, taking on the responsibility for the South East in 2008.

During his time with Velcourt he has been responsible for purchasing fertiliser, setting up machinery hire deals and rebates from manufacturers, and the purchase of electricity and telecommunications.

Douglas now runs his own consultancy business, giving management and agronomy advice to a number of farming businesses, and is BASIS and FACTS qualified. clients across a number of industries including agriculture, shipping and chemical manufacturing; advising customers on M&A transactions, transfer pricing as well as financial and operational restructuring.

Having grown up on his family farm, working with the pigs at weekends and during holidays from a young age, he returned to the family business in 2015 in the role of General Manager.

He holds a full ACA qualification and is a member of the Institute for Chartered Accounts (ICAEW).

NEW ROLE AT FRAM FARMERS FOR JONO WOOLLATT Jono has become a familiar face at Fram Farmers, since joining the livestock team as trainee feed buyer last year, spending some of his time in the grain marketing department alongside his main role of procuring feedstuffs.

Now, with other staff changes afoot, Jono will be moving to the grain marketing department in his new role as graduate trainee farm trader, working alongside Barry Howard and others in the team to market members’ grain and monitor both pool and crop trade. He will also be taking on the coordination of crop samples and test results for pool tonnage and required crop trade contracts.

The changes may take longer to establish, with staff working remotely until the office returns to its usual format. Until then, Jono will continue to cover both roles, continuing to offer business and marketing support to the feed buying team where needed, to ensure members’ needs are met.

NEW STRUCTURE FOR NEXT GENERATION GROUP With a few recent staff changes and new board members, the structure of the Next Generation group committee welcomes some new faces. The group will now be chaired by Tim Gilbert, joined by arable specialist Catherine Coe and Jono Woollatt, who has recently moved from the livestock team to the grain trading team (see above). New board member Robin Lawson (see above) will also be joining the committee, bringing pig sector contacts and expertise to the group.

Although scheduled Next Gen events and visits have been cancelled for the rest of the year, we have provisionally booked our next farm walk in Walpole in November, which will provide an insight into renewable energy on farm, as well as events planned for next year.

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FRAM FARMERS

FINANCE SCHEME

FRAM FARMERS CHAIRMAN IS FIRST TO USE NEW FINANCE SCHEME FOR MACHINERY PURCHASE The Fram Farmers Finance Scheme, exclusive to members, was launched earlier this year to help members better manage capital and cash flow demands – see Spring 2020 issue of Farmers First for details.

The scheme has been developed in conjunction with Flexi-Funding, a Leedsbased and FCA authorised credit broker, and Hitachi Capital Business Finance, one of the UK’s leading asset finance lenders.

Andrew Read, Fram Farmers chairman and farmer-member, is the first to use this new scheme, having recently purchased a newly updated version of Weaving Machinery’s popular Sabre steel tine drill.

Fram Farmers has an established supplier partnership with Weaving Machinery, spanning many years, and having visited the Weaving factory to see the prototype with the scheme in mind, Andrew was offered a great deal, thanks to the Fram Farmers member discount agreement.

Working with Nick Hindle, Fram Farmers Financial Controller and Gordon Cummings, Fram Farmers Machinery Partnership Manager, Andrew placed his order for a new drill, having secured finance through the new finance initiative.

“I cannot stress enough how simple and efficient the process was, from start to finish.”

Gordon has worked closely with Weavings over many years and finalised the specifications of the order, while Nick made the introductions with Hitachi Capital Business Finance, enabling Andrew to explore the finance options, submit the application and agree payment terms.

Andrew Read, commenting on the arrangement, said “I cannot stress enough

how simple and efficient the process was, from start to finish. The drill arrived soon after full production commenced and payment terms were agreed, and it was fully installed by Weavings, then seamlessly picked up in one invoice.

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact the Fram Farmers office on 01728 727700, or email nick.hindle@framfarmers.co.uk.

“I have no doubt that this new finance scheme will provide a huge benefit to our members, and it really does demonstrate the power and efficiency of our cooperative providing a broad range of services and knowledgeable staff who all work closely together.”

Fram Farmers Finance is a trading style of Fram Farmers Limited authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a credit broker. Registered Office: Station Road, Framlingham, Suffolk, IP13 9EE. Fram Farmers Finance will act as an introducer to Flexi-Funding which is a trading style of Flexi Finance Limited authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a credit broker.

Finance is provided by Hitachi Capital Business Finance which is a trading style of Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The agreement may or may not be regulated under the consumer credit act, dependent on your circumstances. Subject to status and affordability.

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WHITE HOUSE FARM

MEMBER PROFILE

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP ...URGES FRAM FARMERS STALWART ROY STEWARD A farmer-owned and farmer-led cooperative is a great resource for farming enterprises of all sizes, and members must use it properly to realise its true benefits, urges former Fram Farmers board member and loyal stalwart, Roy Steward.

“Don’t just join for the sake of it,” says Mr Steward, from his East Suffolk farm in the village of Dennington, near Woodbridge.

“Members have access to so many resources at the end of a phone call, with high-calibre people employed to work on your behalf.”

Mr Steward believes the farmer-led focus and approach of Fram Farmers sets it apart from other cooperatives, and is proud of the make-up of the organisation, in which he played an important role for well over three decades.

“I may hold some kind of record, as I was a Fram Farmers board member for 33 years before stepping down a year ago last November,” explains Mr Steward. “In that time, I saw and enjoyed a lot of positive changes, but one thing did not alter - their commitment to farmers.

“Still today, the set-up of the Fram Farmers board is very heavily weighted to farmers, making up at least 70 per cent of the board, alongside other directors and agri-business professionals,” he adds.

Mr Steward believes this is instrumental in steering the direction of Fram Farmers, who have not lost focus on farming heritage and, specifically, the needs of members.

“Fram Farmers has been different to most cooperatives, many of whom have got more involved in other sectors. Everyone at Fram Farmers is involved in farming in one form or another, and all members are share-holders in the business,” he says.

“I know they are working on our behalf, and secure the best deals.”

This inclusive approach benefits the membership, and Mr Steward fully utilises the services at White House Farm. A partnership with his wife Julie and sons Samuel and Henry, the farm grows combinable crops including vining peas, OSR, winter wheat and sugar beet. Third of four sons, Jake, helps on the farm during harvest, teaching at Ipswich School the rest of the year. Mr Steward also has barley this year, and grows wheat seed crops for local seed company Walnes Seeds.

The farm is split between owned and rented land, including a couple of farm business tenancies (FBT), and the partnership also undertakes some contract farming, employing one-full time staff team member.

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“I am very loyal to Fram Farmers,” Mr Steward confirms, “We use it across all parts of the business. We know we have access to specialists with marketing expertise and group purchasing power.

“We just get on the phone. I don’t need to ask prices, I know they are working on our behalf, and secure the best deals,” he adds.

Mr Steward particularly highlights the benefits of the grain marketing department, providing a comprehensive marketing service for cereals, OSR and pulses. It provides the ability to maximise quality premiums and help members generate the best returns for their combinable crops. He adds, “An important factor to note here is that all grain sold through Farm Farmers is covered by credit insurance.”

White House Farms’ fleet of tractors and combines also come through Fram Farmers long-standing fleet deal with Case/IH, the largest of its kind in Europe.

It not only offers savings on the purchase of new equipment, but also provides the assurance of back-up through the Case/IH dealership network.

“We have this access to specialists across all parts of our business, so we make use of it, when we need it,” concludes Mr Steward. “Members must do the same, to see the full benefit of Fram Farmers.”

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FEN FARM DAIRY MEMBER PROFILE

FRAM MEMBER RALLIES SUPPORT FOR CHEESE MAKERS We talk to Fram Farmers member, Jonny Crickmore, who farms with his parents Graham and Francis and wife Dulcie at Fen Farm Dairy in Bungay, Suffolk, to discuss the current challenges of cheese marketing.

Recent times have brought the need for businesses to adapt to a new way of working and find creative ways in which to reach customers. This is particularly the case for food producers that found themselves, overnight, without an outlet through restaurants and cafes.

Fen Farm Dairy was a prime example of one such business. Having spent the past 7 years, successfully building up the production and marketing of their award winning cheese, Baron Bigod and Bungay butter, Jonny found himself with a mountain of cheese with no home.

“We have invested in infrastructure, grown a fantastic team of people, and sales were increasing 34-40% year on year, and then suddenly we had no market,” explains Jonny. “We had to furlough our staff on 20 March as we had no storage capacity for new production and no demand for existing stock.”

As Vice Chairman of the Specialist Cheesemakers Association, Jonny was all too aware of the devastating impact this was having on his fellow cheesemakers throughout the UK. “I knew I had a responsibility to the members, as well as all the team, to find new ways to sell our products.”

Jonny has always been an incredible advocate for the industry and proactive in promoting the dairy sector. This has led to national TV appearances and

opportunities to meet some influential and supportive individuals in the food media. Using these contacts, especially Jenny Linford, the food writer, as well as Jamie Oliver, Neals Yard Dairy, The Courtyard Dairy, Sheila Dillon, Cellarman Sam, Linda Duffin and Patrick McGuigan, he was in a great position to promote cheese in these new circumstances. It was a collaborative approach that wanted to encourage people to remember artisan cheesemakers, who by the very nature of the product, had already produced cheese and had it in store.

They used the farm’s story as an example to raise awareness for artisan cheese makers as a whole. Jonny adds, “Jamie Oliver did a huge call for help on his Instagram page. This caught the attention of editors and the power of PR basically kicked in.

“Due to people being stuck at home, many with much more time to pay attention to the media, this caught people’s attention and was amazingly effective.

“For our own business, we saw an immediate impact and knew we had to act and bring the team back into production. We also re-arranged our website, making the 1kg cheese wheel deal more prominent which was received well with customers.

FARM PROFILE • Fourth generation dairy farm • 300 Montbeliarde cows plus followers.

• Producing high quality milk from home-grown forage, the cows are averaging 8,000 litres/cow at 3.5% protein, 4% butterfat and are carriers of Kappa casein BB and the A2 gene.

• Farm size: 950 acres • Crops: Mazie, grass, winter wheat and fodder beet FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 56 - S U M M E R 2 0 2 0

“We had hundreds of boxes to sell, and the team wanted to track the success of the new campaign, so we set ourselves some weekly targets to hit.”

In week 1 and 2, after the media support for artisan cheesemakers began, they were close to their target. In week 3, they beat their targets and have continued to do so. The mountain of cheese has now been sold, and the team are back at full production.

“Managing supply and demand going forward is a challenge. At the minute things are crazy and we are making cheese like the Christmas rush. With Government plans looking to potentially open some restaurants from July, we are now looking at how to manage a ‘new normal’ of demand. It continues to be a learning curve as we adapt to a new trading pattern.”

However, one aspect that Jonny has been overwhelmed with is the support his business has received. “I accept we may see a drop in sales when the restaurants reopen, but I’m confident that we will establish new lines of business and new customers in the food service industry, as well as direct sales. I think this crisis has made people consider where their food comes from and appreciate the efforts of small, local independent businesses, many of which have shown great compassion to their local communities and offered a personal service, not available by larger businesses.”

See fenfarmdairy.co.uk for more information.

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SCRUTTON BLAND

PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE

PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE (PMI) SCHEME EXCLUSIVE TO FRAM FARMERS MEMBERS Building on our strong relationship with financial services provider Scrutton Bland, already delivering bespoke farm insurance services to our members, Fram Farmers also extends this partnership with the Private Medical Insurance (PMI) scheme.

All members will identify with the significant impact and disruption to the farm business caused by absenteeism of staff or family due to ill health and injury.

By partnering with the specialist agricultural insurance team at Scrutton Bland, this flexible and affordable private medical insurance package helps address concerns and acts as a welcome employee benefit.

Designed to cover the costs of private medical treatment for curable, short-term illnesses and injuries, PMI will usually cover in-patient and day-patient treatment as well as some out-patient care.

Scrutton Bland has worked with Aviva Health UK Ltd to create an exclusive PMI scheme, designed around the specific needs of Fram Farmers. The scheme can be tailored to meet individual needs, and can include both employees and family members.

The most obvious benefit of having PMI is access to prompt treatment when it suits, without having to worry about waiting on an NHS list.

The Scrutton Bland scheme also includes other valuable benefits including: • Access to a digital GP - Video consultations with NHS registered GPs, who can also administer repeat prescriptions. Some terms and conditions apply.

• 24-hour stress counselling hotline - For members aged 16 and over, experienced counsellors are there to listen and talk through any personal or professional concern.

• Cancer cover as standard - Providing support at every stage of cancer care.

Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy are all included, and the cover includes up to 10 years of monitoring post-cancer treatment.

• Specialist claims teams - In the event of making a claim, an informed and sympathetic person is on hand, with full knowledge of individual situations.

• Free PMI cover for second and subsequent children - Younger children are covered when PMI cover is taken out for one adult and an eldest child under 20.

• Discounted gym membership - Up to 25% off membership of a range of UK health and fitness clubs.

• Bespoke PMI cover - Every farm business is different, so the PMI scheme includes a range of options to choose from.

• Security of using an award-winning insurance provider - Aviva has won the Best Health Insurance Company award for the last ten years and last year won the Best Individual PMI Provider for the second year running.

The Scrutton Bland package is exclusive to Fram Farmers members and is not available elsewhere. In line with the cooperative aims of Fram Farmers, it is a group rated scheme, meaning premiums will be determined by the overall claims performance of the group. This means they may go up or down, each year.

To find out more about this new PMI scheme, Tim Bell and Ed Nottingham of Scrutton Bland’s agricultural insurance team, will be pleased to help.

Tim Bell Tim joined Scrutton Bland in 2013 and has worked in the financial services industry for over 35 years. As a Business Protection Consultant, Tim advises and provides solutions for all personal and business protection needs including Life Cover, Critical Illness, Key Person, Partnership or Shareholder Protection and Private Medical Insurance.

Ed Nottingham Ed has been with Scrutton Bland for almost 30 years and has a comprehensive knowledge of the agricultural insurance business sector in East Anglia. He is now a Director of Scrutton Bland Insurance Brokers Ltd and is based in Diss. Ed has also developed a special expertise in avian insurance, with particular reference to free range egg producers.

Contact Scrutton Bland for a free no obligation quote by emailing fram.insurance@scruttonbland.co.uk or call 01473 267000.

Scrutton Bland Group refers to Scrutton Bland LLP, Scrutton Bland Financial Services Limited, Scrutton Bland Insurance Brokers Limited and S Merrick Hill (Commercial) Limited.

Scrutton Bland Insurance Brokers Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our FCA number is 828934.

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ALTERNATIVE CROPS

SPOTTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALTERNATIVE CROPS In the 60th year of Fram Farmers, we celebrate the variety of farming businesses among our members with a look at three very different crops.

Linseed – David Boden, Middleton, Suffolk Another Suffolk farmer and Fram Farmers member trying out a new crop is David Boden. David, in partnership with his father, Brian, has swapped yellow for blue, adding linseed to the farm's regular crops of winter wheat, winter beans and rye grass for horse hay, in place of oilseed rape.

David had been wanting to find a replacement for oilseed rape that fitted better with the autumn workload at Trust Farm, between Yoxford and Leiston in Suffolk. “We've been struggling to get oilseed rape well enough established early in the drilling season,” he says, “so this year we're growing around 10ha of winter linseed, as it can be drilled later, ideally between 15 September and 10 October.

“We got one field drilled on 20 September, and that established well and looks great now. The second crop went in right at the end of the season when the ground was quite waterlogged, but

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it has recovered well considering it's on fairly heavy ground.

Linseed has a wiry tap root, so it dried the soil out well as soon as the rain edged off in the spring, and I think it will bring improvements to the soil structure.”

While yields are lower than those of oilseed rape, linseed commands a premium. If all goes well, the crop should provide a slightly better return. David is growing it on a buy back contract with specialist arable merchant Premium Crops, the main distributor for linseed in this country. With no processing facility in the UK, most seed is exported to France – Premium Crops works with French company Valorex – where it is pressed and the oil, high in omega 3, extracted for use in pet foods and animal feeds.

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ALTERNATIVE CROPS

PYO pumpkin patch and maze maize David and Bella Hall, Reydon, Suffolk

Speciality mushrooms - James Dodson, East Sussex

Come Halloween, golden globes of Magic Lantern, Harvest Moon Polar Bear and Jill Be Little will be lying in rows, ready for harvest. It won't be the farmers who gather them in, though: it's more fun for visitors to pick their own pumpkins.

Mushrooms are the alternative crop of choice for East Sussex farmer James Dodson. Long-time family member of Fram Farmers, James leases most of his land to agricultural contractor FGS Agri for arable crops, leaving him to focus on speciality gourmet edible and medicinal mushrooms.

David and Bella Hall, who bought Old Hall Farm, Reydon, in 1995, and have been members of Fram Farmers for almost as long, are used to welcoming the general public. They set up the Southwold Maize Maze, now an established visitor attraction, on their farm in 2005. Last spring they opened a café and, working closely with Suffolk Wildlife Trust, developed a series of walks through the Trust's Hen Reedbeds, a diverse wetland habitat created next to the farm in 1999. They also run a holiday let on the farm, and premises are rented to Mint Fitness, offering a range of exercise classes in a building next to the café.

“We were buying pumpkins in, but decided there was more money to be made, and it would be more fun for visitors, if they were able to pick their own,” says David. “We sowed 2000 pumpkin seeds by hand in mid-May, two to a hole, along with 500 gourd seeds, all sourced from Moles Seeds through Fram Farmers. The plants need very little input as the soil is light and sandy, and has high organic matter from the dairy herd that we ran until 2016. But they will need watering in hot and dry weather.”

While weeds in the pumpkin patch are kept in check by a large black membrane, they can build up in the maize, which is grown on the same 4ha plot each year. But control can be successful provided they are treated at an early stage. Muck is spread to keep fertility levels up, and the soil is regularly pH tested, with Needham Chalks, via Fram Farmers, applying lime when needed.

This year's maize was drilled at the end of April, using seed from KWS sourced through the cooperative. Bella produces a new, intricate design for each season, working closely with a surveyor who specialises in maize mazes. This is a labour-intensive job, marking out the maze design after the crop has germinated.

The Maize Maze will be open in October half term week, and the pumpkins sold in the run up to Halloween, from £1 for the smallest to £5 for a very large one.

With five years of home production under his belt and valuable insights gained from working on mushroom farms in Mexico and Japan, James is now scaling up production. He's begun growing his first round of shiitake mushrooms outdoors on logs – a traditional practice which produces better flavour, texture and size than when grown indoors – and construction is underway for indoor production of oyster and lion's mane mushrooms.

“Oysters can digest anything – “some growers use spent coffee grounds and cardboard.” he says. “We plan to use coffee grounds, too, but at the moment we're using wheat and barley straw, old cover crops and spent maize from the farm shoot, and I'm also experimenting with nettle stalks.

“Mushrooms are very good at 'closing the loop', recycling materials for a cash crop.”

The new building will provide a controlled setting for spawn production in one room and a fruiting facility, with higher humidity and a lower temperature, in another. Fram Farmers is taking care of sourcing and supplying materials for the building and associated infrastructure, and the project should be completed by the autumn. James will also begin to offer in-depth mushroom cultivation workshops from next year.

Meanwhile, outdoors, the shiitake are being grown in the shade of a small area of woodland, and the rest of the 3ha development will be used to grow alder and birch for future logs, alongside smallscale, high-value vegetable crops and perennial herbs.

“Once the waste material has been used to grow the mushrooms, it can be used Shiitake mushrooms as compost to improve soil health and growing from oak help grow vegetables and herbs, which this log would prowe will use in seasonal mushroom duce for 3-4 years products and food supplements. So it's a multi-stranded project, but for the first three years we'll focus on shiitake and oyster mushroom production.”

WE’RE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF FRAM FARMERS. KEEP GROWING.

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FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 56 - S U M M E R 2 0 2 0

Golden Horn wild strain of grey-blue oyster mushroom.

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TIMELINE

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF FRAM FARMERS Did you know‌ Many of the Fram Farmers staff have experienced, first-hand, a number of milestones on this timeline, with a third of staff serving between 10 and 40 years at Fram Farmers.

Here are some names you may recognise: Gary Pleasance, Mark Lambert, Ian Caley, Lorna Jenner-Akehurst, Julia Bryson, Lucy Lambert, Jill Oakes, Michaela Firth, Fiona Mayhew, Julie Podd, Marcus Payne, Katya Wilkinson, Becky Bower, Tracey Butler-Blue, Tim Styles, Colin Revell.

Early 1970s Framlingham Farmers has a history of innovation, being one of the earliest groups behind the early adoption of OSR in the UK as an effective break crop from continuous barley, as well as forming a cutting syndicate.

In the 1960s a board of farming founders had the foresight to recognise the benefits which farmers could achieve by pooling their purchasing power.

The group continued to grow and in 1977 moved to new offices on New Road in Framlingham. A further refurbishment of the site was completed nearly 20 years later in 1995 - pictured above is the grand opening event.

1960s

1970s & 80s Framlingham Farmers saw lots of opportunities to benefit their farmer members. The group recognised their wider purpose, incorporating many services likely to enhance farm profit.

1980s 1970s

1960s - Framlingham Farmers continued to grow with more and more local farmers recognising the benefits of cooperative purchasing.

Framlingham Farmers opened offices in Framlingham Market Hill employing their first ever full-time member of staff.

The group fostered a rapport with a number of smaller local machinery traders, increasing business for the traders and using the groups buying power to negotiate favourable terms on machinery parts and equipment.

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1973 - The formation of Town and Country Fuel With the sudden oil crisis that hit the world and OPEC deciding to limit production, prices soared, and supplies were cut back. There was a subsequent fuel shortage, and fuel was rationed. Town and country fuels was formed to ensure that farmers could keep operating.

Framlingham Farmers pioneered a new concept in agronomy during the late 1970s, when there was an upsurge of demand not just for independent agrochemical advice but also access to the most advanced wheat husbandry guidance.

FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 5 6 - S U M M E R 202 0

TIMELINE

1986 - FramTrade was created

by existing staff of the Fram Farmers buying division in order to create some additional revenue to support the existing Farm and carry Carrybusiness. business. farm Cash cash and In 1986 a separate company Framtrade Ltd ltd was Framtrade was formed. formed.

By 1990 it was trading Bird bird scaring devices and Cylinder scaring devices and cylinder LPG LPG agricultural sector. to to thethe agricultural sector.

1995 it expanded further into into the further 1995 it expanded In stockist and retail LPG market. the stockist and retail LPG Today Today it has over has over market. it hasit over 4,000 4000 customers on its who customers on its book book who also also purchase liquid fuels and purchase liquid fuels and bulk bulk LPG through company.

LPG through thethe company.

In 2015, Fram Farmers introduced an insurance and private health scheme for members.

2005 – Lewes Farmers in the south east and south west were the first likeminded buying group to merge with Framlingham Farmers. Soon, other buying groups started to recognise the benefits of the cooperative and Framlingham Farmers merged with Sevenside Farmers, as well as other farming groups in the north west region.

2000s

1990s

2020 Fram Farmers responded to enquires from members by developing a new input cost management scheme to help farm businesses overcome inevitable spikes in cash flow that occur throughout the year, as well as the Fram Farmers Finance Scheme, launched in May 2020.

2010s 2020 2020

2008 - Framlingham Farmers’ biggest merge was with a large buying group based in Essex and Cambridge called Atlas Agriculture (formally West Essex Farmers and Cambridge Farmers). Framlingham Farmers rebranded as Atlas Fram and the membership grew from 600 to 1,000.

Suffolk County Show Fram Farmers has an established relationship with the Suffolk Agricultural Association, exhibiting at the annual county show since the group was formed. Pictured above is the trade stand in the 1980s, and a photo of the stand in 2019, where the cooperative has won multiple awards for it’s educational and professional approach.

In July 2014, the cooperative rebranded to Fram Farmers Ltd.

2020 - Fram Farmers continues to evolve based on the needs of farmers today and what might be required in the future. Fram Farmers continues to operate as it did 60 years ago today as a true farmer owed cooperative.

In 1998, Fram Farmers formed a pig group which is still going today. It has organised overseas farm tours since 2001 for it’s members, including Europe, China, USA, Brazil and Australia.

2013 - As business grew, the Group was employing 32 members of staff and so needed to move into larger premises. The group acquired a new premises at Station Road Framlingham.

FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 56 - S U M M E R 2 0 2 0

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MEMBER PROFILES

HOME FARM AND WANTISDEN FARM

VEGETABLE PRODUCERS HARVEST THE POTENTIAL OF COOPERATION AND TEAM APPROACH How two different farm operations reap the benefits of Fram Farmers membership, and how this filters through all parts of their respective enterprises.

Access to the specialist support network afforded by Fram Farmers is allowing two vegetable farmers to streamline their activities and develop their respective farm operations, with the confidence of independent advice and the purchasing power of industry experts.

Home Farm, Nacton, Suffolk Farming 1,170 ha of high-quality agricultural land on the historic Orwell Park Estate on the north bank of the Orwell estuary near Ipswich, as well as a further 814 ha of contract partner farms, Home Farm Nacton director Andrew Williams is a firm advocate of the support provided through Fram Farmers membership.

As one of five directors and farm manager, Andrew has overall responsibility for the day

to day farm operations, a role that has evolved considerably since he came on board in 1997. Fram Farmers membership soon followed his appointment.

“Our needs came to a head following the construction of a new onion store on the farm, and we needed to sign up with a gas supplier,” explains Andrew. “Frankly, I didn’t want to be on the phone weighing up options, with so much to do out on the farm.”

Home Farm Nacton joined Fram Farmers in 1998, and immediately saw the benefits.

“It was clear Fram Farmers could negotiate much keener utilities prices, but we very soon realised the benefits extended far beyond this,” adds Andrew.

The farm, a patchwork of woodland, heath, grass and arable land, produces both organic and conventional vegetables, as well as cereal crops and 200 ha of sugar beet. In total, over thirty different crops are grown, and the farm benefits from the Fram Farmers team of specialists across all areas of its business.

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FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 5 6 - S U M M E R 202 0

HOME FARM AND WANTISDEN FARM MEMBER PROFILES additional farms, gives a total cropped area of 1,618 ha.

Cropping includes potatoes, onions, carrots, vining peas, swedes and parsnips. Wantisden also farms spring and winter cereals, OSR, sugar beet and maize, alongside a livestock enterprise including 200 Dorset Horn ewes, shorthorn and Angus cattle, and outdoor pigs on contract.

Both farms operate with a strong environmental focus, with one eye very much on the future, but without losing sight of a strong farming heritage.

Wantisden Farm, nr Woodbridge, Suffolk Less than 20 miles away, Tim Pratt, farm manager at Wantisden Farm, near Suffolk’s heritage coast and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, follows a similar philosophy.

“Wantisden has been a Fram Farmer member for over 15 years, and we have long recognised the benefits of having these experts on hand, at the end of a phone. They also understand our business; like anyone else we enjoy that personal touch.”

Wantisden Farm comprises 785 ha, of which 540 ha is cropped, the remainder split between woodland and fir belts, with some 65 ha of ELS permanent pasture and water. Contract farming three

“We are very focused on sustainability,” explains Home Farm’s Andrew. “We focus on high value crops, mainly early season crops which are harvested from May to July and followed by winter-harvested second crops. Potentially, we are planting and harvesting crops every day of the year, so we work the land hard, but we enhance the soil’s status by returning manures, compost and cover crops.”

The philosophy of maximising yields and returns whilst maintaining, developing and enhancing the environment is mirrored through Home Farm Nacton’s relationship with Fram Farmers.

“Working with Fram Farmers enables us to run a tighter, meaner operation,” says Andrew. “We can just pick up the phone and speak to somebody about our fertiliser, electricity, our building materials requirements, whatever it may be.

“Even if we had a dedicated specialist in the office on a full-time basis, they couldn’t be across all of these markets,”

COVID-19 – Crisis and Opportunities The COVID-19 crisis has understandably had impacts on the operations of the respective farm businesses, but both Tim and Andrew are optimistic and looking ahead to future opportunities.

Home Farm Nacton has been running a small-scale line through its mini packing plant operation, selling wholesale through its own brand in London. While only a very small percentage of production, Andrew sees opportunities.

“Supply chains have been shifting quite a bit, and this crisis is certainly opening the FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 56 - S U M M E R 2 0 2 0

potential as consumers are increasingly demanding traceable and locallysourced produce. We are already speaking to a supermarket about having our brand on their shelves,” he explains.

For Tim, it was a very different story, and he is hoping that an easing on social distancing measures will help a new arm to the business.

“Prior to lockdown, we had just opened our new glamping site, Wantisden Park, with luxury accommodation in lodges and pods overlooking ancient woodland and water. Building materials for the lodges had been sourced from Fram Farmers,” says Tim. “We are really looking forward to

he adds.

“Fram Farmers has the specific market knowledge across all farm inputs, combined with its buying power. It can get through doors and negotiate prices, that we, as an individual business, would not be able to entertain.”

At Wantisden Farm, Tim also makes full use of the farm input purchasing department, buying all fuel, electricity and agrochemicals through Fram Farmers.

Wantisden also benefits from Fram Farmers pool grain marketing service, delivering a safe method of marketing grain and generating the best returns.

“Whether it is for grain or electricity, they are the experts,” agrees Tim. “Fram Farmers has a much closer eye on volatile grain markets than we could ever have, taking away our risks and spreading our sales.”

For Tim, there are many parallels with Fram Farmers and the sister marketing companies that Wantisden Farm helped to establish, and now utilises to market its vegetable produce. Three Musketeers Ltd (3Ms) supplies fresh potatoes to UK and overseas markets, with Suffolk Produce Ltd specialising mainly in onions, carrots, parsnips and swedes.

“We are one of six family farms that combined to establish the two producer organisations, bringing in-house specialist marketing expertise to deal directly with our suppliers. It is a very similar concept, enabling the partner farms to concentrate on core activities, in a similar way that we benefit from our Fram Farmers membership,” he says. welcoming guests to this exciting new venture once the lockdown period eases and guidelines and safety allows.”

Whatever the future, both Tim and Andrew will be making use of Fram Farmers to continue to streamline their operations and drive business forward.

“There is just so much variety,” says Tim. “With invoices coming in via email straight into our Farmplan, it also really eases the paperwork, particularly for a business of our size.”

Andrew concludes, “Key for us is the level of support, across the board. It is reassuring to know there is somebody there every day, at the end of a phone, when you need them.”

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DENNINGTON HALL FARM MEMBER PROFILE

DENNINGTON HALL FARM Drawing on the heritage and foresight of a Fram Farmers pioneer to deliver a progressive 21st Century operation.

Staying true to founding principles is relevant in more ways than one for Dennington Hall Farms.

In this 60th anniversary year for Fram Farmers, it is apt to speak to someone with a direct connection with one of the innovative founding farmers, who had the great foresight and initiative to recognise the benefits of pooling resources and purchasing power, to achieve better results.

As both former Fram Farmers chairman, and son of Major George Rous, one of the original board of farmers responsible for forming what is today one of the UK’s leading farmer-owned cooperatives, Robert Rous is better placed than most to give an insight from both a member perspective, and from someone involved in periods of great development and change for Fram Farmers, and indeed the industry.

Farming 3,800 acres of heavy land, with 220 acres of woodland at Dennington Hall Farms, a few miles north of Framlingham, Mr Rous runs a largely arable farm with the main emphasis on combinable crops including wheat, oilseed rape and spring beans. Noncombinable crops include sugar beet, and from time to time, vining peas.

Dennington has been the home of the Rous family since at least 1320, inheriting Dennington Hall in the 15th century. Major George Rous created the family partnership in 1974, and today that partnership is made up of Robert Rous, his wife Teresa and their daughter Laura Rous.

Paraphrasing John F. Kennedy, Mr Rous explains, “It is fair to say it is still largely true that ‘the farmer buys everything at retail, and sells everything at wholesale’, so having somebody to do the ‘leg-work’, and negotiate on your behalf is a great benefit.

“These were the founding principles of Fram Farmers, and they are perhaps even more relevant today, as the concept was at inception.”

As one can imagine, Mr Rous is a firm advocate of the cooperative approach, making regular use of the farm input purchasing department, something he has done ever since returning to the family farm in 1979.

Sitting as chairman between 2005-2010, having also held the role of vice-chairman for the five preceding years, Mr Rous has overseen many developments both within Fram Farmers and the industry as a whole.

“At that time, independent agronomy was the new big thing, and Fram Farmers were really the first to lead the way,” continues Mr Rous.

“When my father was instrumental in setting up Fram Farmers and through the 1960s and 1970s, many farm cooperatives spawned, but most have now disappeared or changed their identity. Where Fram Framers has differed, is that it has always stayed true to its principles of openness and clarity,” says Robert.

The Fram Farmers crop inputs team is in regular contact with up to 45 agronomists, providing crucial updates on general trends in growing conditions and spray programmes.

“Fram Farmers has always stayed true to its principles of openness and clarity.”

“We still buy all of our agrochemicals and fertilisers through this route, getting the best possible advice on when to buy, and undoubtedly getting competitive rates,” Mr Rous adds. “But it is across the board, sourcing fuel, building materials and some machinery, as well as making use of the very good machinery hire service.”

Dennington Hall Farm utilises modern farm machinery and the latest satellite technology, but in a 19th century landscape, with average field size of 7 ha.

This reflects the environmental principles found across the farm, with some areas including wild bird, pollen and nectar mixes, bare fallow and grass.

FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 56 - S U M M E R 2 0 2 0

“While you may consider such a cooperative to be more beneficial to the smaller farm, in reality even the big farms are small-scale in the wider business community, so equally benefit from collaboration.

“I may do things slightly differently, as I like to speak directly to suppliers and discuss specific requirements, but I do so knowing that Fram Farmers specialists have already done the groundwork, and negotiated favourable rates,” he adds.

“I also like to keep my eye on the grain markets, but the pool marketing really takes the pressure off, with totally unbiased and impartial third-party pricing particularly helpful with our contract farming activities.

Today, as much as ever, Mr Rous draws on those founding principles that led to his father joining with his like-minded board members to form what is now Fram Farmers, 60 years on.

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BUILDING MATERIALS

EVERYTHING FROM PAINT TO FARM BUILDINGS… We talk to Nick Millar, Building Materials buyer at Fram Farmers, about the range of products on offer to members.

Last year Fram Farmers purchased over £6m worth of building materials from over 200 local, regional and national suppliers on behalf of members. Whether it Nick Millar is a length of timber or a bag of cement, Fram Farmers will compare prices for almost anything. Using an extensive list of suppliers the cooperative works hard to get members the most competitive price available.

With good weather and summer months ahead of us, many members will be looking at new building projects or simply maintaining farm infrastructure. “We want to encourage members to get in touch,” says Nick.

“We work with big national brands, such as Travis Perkins, Jewson and Screwfix as well as many regional and local companies, to make sure we get the most competitive prices possible.

“It can be anything from a concrete base, or fencing materials, to water tanks or even a new building.

“With time a precious commodity in farming, calling our office saves time and resources contacting numerous suppliers for quotes. With one phone call or email to the office, with a list of your project requirements, we can compare a network of suppliers to get you the best available price and arrange delivery for you on your behalf,” he explains.

“If you know where you want to make purchases, you can also place orders going straight to the supplier. Always remember to reference your member code for any orders placed directly with the supplier so they can book it to your Fram account. You can find a list of suppliers on the website.

“We already purchase significant amounts of products; however the benefit of the cooperative is the buying power we can achieve. Obviously the bigger the Gemma Oliver quantities we buy, the stronger position we are in to negotiate prices, so I encourage every member to get in touch when they are doing any building work. We can source almost any component you might need to complete your project.

“Members have commented on the convenience of the service and the savings made – both illustrate the advantages and value of Fram membership.

If you are unsure of what we can offer, please contact Gemma and Nick in the office to discuss your next project 01728 727718.

FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 56 - S U M M E R 2 0 2 0

Products available through Fram Farmers • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Timber & Joinery Bricks, Blocks & Cement Ready-Mix Concrete Sand, Stone & Asphalt Fencing & Livestock Equipment Plumbing, Drainage & Civils Electrical Wholesale Steel Concrete Panels Paint Roofing & Guttering Insulation Agricultural Buildings

And many more….

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FEATURE

UREASE INHIBITORS

AMMONIA EMISSIONS, LEGISLATION AND UREASE INHIBITORS – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Urea-based fertilisers are one of the major contributors to ammonia emissions, and restrictions being introduced across Europe, including in the UK, will have serious implications on their future use on farms, the Fram Farmers arable team explains. can anticipate legislation to follow, so farmers need to act now,” she adds.

“...we can anticipate legislation to follow, so farmers need to act now”

However, ammonia losses through volatilisation can Catherine Coe be reliably reduced by using urease inhibitors, with an average reduction of 78%.

“The UK government is legally obliged to reduce ammonia emissions by 16% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels, and we

“Urease inhibitors temporarily inhibit enzymes from converting urea into ammonia, until the urea has been

Several options are available to Fram Farmers members for liquid and solid fertiliser users, ensuring optimal nitrogen is available for crops, while minimising air pollution through ammonia loss.

We have summarised all the products on the market below, or for further information, please contact Catherine Coe or Annie Buckingham on 01728 727715.

EW

Introducing the

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NitraSol AdvaNShield

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range of liquid fertilisers.

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“Significant ammonia losses can occur after the application of urea-based fertilisers,” explains Arable Specialist, Catherine Coe.

sufficiently washed into the soil by rainfall or irrigation,” explains Catherine. “This presents a pragmatic way to reduce ammonia losses, ultimately benefiting farms costs as well as the environmental impact,” she adds.

N

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“Agriculture accounts for 88% of the UK’s total ammonia emissions, from manures, slurries and fertilisers,” says Annie Buckingham, Fram Farmers Fertiliser Buyer. Annie Buckingham

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UREASE INHIBITORS

FEATURE

ALZON® neo-N is the only integrated advanced urea product on the market in the UK and is manufactured by SKW Piesteritz in Germany.

ALZON® neo-N is a dual inhibitor product containing MPA (urease inhibitor) and 2-NPT (nitrogen stabiliser), so not only reduces ammonia losses through volatilisation, but also feeds the crop, in line with the plant’s nitrogen requirements.

This allows for reduced applications and, being produced on one line, is of consistent quality.

It is capable of spreading 36M with most fertiliser spreaders when calibrated. ALZON® neo-N will store for over 12 months without losing any of its active agents.

Piagran Pro contains a urease inhibitor (2NPT), which is integrated into the urea granule during manufacturing, rather than being applied at bagging point like similar products available.

Piagran Pro is for growers who are looking for an effective 46% urea product, minus the losses associated with volatilisation. Not only will this help to reduce environmental impact, it is a product that is providing more ammonium nutrition accurately and efficiently to the crop.

It is available in bulk and bags, providing application with a consistent spread pattern, even at the increasing bout widths seen in farming today.

The NitraSol AdvaNShield range of liquid fertilisers is a new product from Brineflow, launching in 2020.

Utilising proven Nutrisphere-NL technology from partners Verdesian Life Sciences, NitraSol AdvaNShield keeps nitrogen and yields where they belong by reducing the three opportunities where Nitrogen can be lost to the environment.

Trial work conducted by an independent organisation in Norfolk showed significant advantages over untreated liquid fertiliser including increased grain yield and straw yield, increases in total N uptake by the crops and an overall significant reduction in nitrate levels recovered from field drains over a 6 month period. NitraSol AdvaNShield will be available from distributors later this year.

Agrii Liqui-Safe is a unique Nitrification and Urease Inhibitor for Liquid Fertilisers. The product is environmentally friendly, with no detriment to soil and water life.

When mixed with liquid fertiliser, the product starts to target the 3 forms of N. With the largest proportion of N found in the Ammonium form, Liqui-Safe targets the Nitrification process. Due to its formulation, Liqui-Safe is compatible with all types of liquid fertiliser and enables the user to apply all of their Nitrogen in one application.

2019 trials demonstrated a 7.4% increase in yield compared to standard UAN and an increase in grain protein of 0.6%.

Origin’s OEN, with the power of NUTRISPHERE®, is a registered nitrogen stabiliser proven to reduce ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions and to significantly reduce leaching. Independent trial work conducted at the John Innes Centre showed that NUTRISPHERE® reduced nitrate losses by 45% compared to UAN. It is used globally on over 29 million hectares and is proven in the UK to deliver yields equivalent to AN at a lower cost per hectare. As well as N and NS grades, OEN is also available in a range of NPKs. NUTRISPHERE® is proven in European studies to improve soil bacteria and is a biodegradable product.

Origin’s SUSTAIN® is powered by AGROTAIN®, the original, most tried-andtested, globally established urease inhibitor (UI). In DEFRA’s NT26 project, AGROTAIN® reduced ammonia emissions by 70%.

Independent trials demonstrate that SUSTAIN® reduces nitrogen loss and consistently produces the same yield performance as AN. The high level of active ingredient within the brand (coated at 600ppm) is key to product integrity and transferring trial performance into farm practice.

For nearly a decade, SUSTAIN® has produced high yields and increased nitrogen use efficiency at a lower cost per ha than AN on farms across the UK.

BASF Limus is a urease inhibitor that improves the nitrogen use efficiency of urea-based fertilisers by reducing nitrogen losses caused by ammonia volatilisation. Produced by BASF, it is available in two forms, Limus protected urea and Limus Clear, a tank mix additive for liquid fertiliser. Extensive trials work by BASF has shown that Limus reduces ammonia emissions by up to 98%.

Available from Bartholomews, COFCO and Thomas Bell, Limus contains two active ingredients, NBPT and NPPT and is formulated with BASF patented polymer technology. Limus is the only urease inhibitor available with these two active ingredients, enabling it to bind to a wider variety of urease enzymes.

BASF trials found that, on average, Limus protected urea

increases yield by 5% compared to standard urea, and that Limus raises the yield performance of granular urea to the same level as ammonium nitrate, delivering equivalent yields.

FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 56 - S U M M E R 2 0 2 0

Yield benefit MOIC Limus Clear is a tank mix additive Site Essex +0.29 t/ha** +£36.15 that is fully compatible with all Leicestershire +0.17 t/ha** +£18.36 liquid fertiliser (straight N and NS Bedfordshire +0.57 t/ha** +£76.57 grades) and is available exclusively Cross-site analysis +0.24 t/ha** *Source ADAS/BASF, Limus Clear applied in 2 of the fertiliser from Frontier Agriculture. applications, n=3, wheat MCIC based on wheat at £150/T **Statistically significant Three UK growers put Limus Clear to the test last year, adding it to their final two liquid fertiliser applications in ‘ADAS Agronomics’ tramline trials and the ADAS analysis showed a clear yield benefit at all three sites, with the cross-site analysis showing a yield benefit of +0.24t/ha.

23

AGRONOMY UPDATE

INDEPENDENT AGRONOMIST PAUL SWEENEY ON THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS FACING OUR MEMBERS IN THE NORTH WEST Of course, farmers are never happy with the weather and agronomists are nearly as bad.

We’ve all heard, and often told, sorry tales of too wet and too dry but somehow it all turns out alright in the end. So, what’s new this time?

I don’t normally like to dwell on the negatives, but what we’ve had to contend with these last twelve months has been truly exceptional. Of course, nobody wants to be the softie that admits to anything like climate change but if this isn’t it, then it’s doing a pretty good impression of it.

As we stand now at the end of May, we’re on the edge of drought that is in the process of finishing off crops that never really got started. Like all such tales, it all started a

good while back, and did so with the complete opposite of drought. June to August 2019 was pretty wet and dreary and then rain set in good-style in September with a deluge that continued unabated until early March. Only 40% of our autumn sowings happened and most of that was in abysmal conditions. The driest spell of four days twice-over allowed brave souls on light land to puddle something into the ground only for it to be drowned before ever sprouting. When it did emerge, fields were full of gulleys, and headlands like the Somme. Somehow, winter just fizzled away without ever biting sub-zero; just wet.

Then in March, the sun came out and it turned dry, hooray! Not just dry but desert-dry; crisp high-pressure air devoid of any hint of moisture. The saturated soils dried so quickly that few farmers could keep up with the rate of desiccation. The over-wintered crops set like concrete and that’s how they sit today, twisted-up, shedding leaves, turning grey from blue

MA

and a few yellow from the rust.

Spring crops must surely be better? No chance. Dry March, dry April and now drier still in May, recording barely 10mm for the month. Spring barley hangs on a knifeedge, throwing up flag leaves and puny heads, barely a foot tall, shooting next week in death throws that will see pitiful yields.

Spring wheat (what little we have) is a little better, but I wouldn’t give it long. Spring oats (well, mostly winter oats sown in spring), look a little better. These are more drought-tolerant and haven’t come to grief yet – they are our only hope of anything acceptable, but I can’t see more than 2 t/acre on anything.

Can anything else go wrong? Well, not apart from potatoes being frosted two weeks ago, maize, beet and carrots being sand-blasted last week and now we’ve got heat to contend with and still no rain for another fortnight, by which time it’s nearly game over.

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FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 5 6 - S U M M E R 202 0

CROWN MILLING

MEMBER PROFILE

MEMBERS REAP BENEFITS OF COLLABORATION Working within the supply chain has always been at the core of the Fram Farmers cooperative philosophy. Here, we take a look at our long-term working relationship with Crown Milling in Norfolk.

The working relationship between Fram Farmers and Crown Milling has been running for over 20 years and gives Fram members access to the buying strengths of a large national business, as well as benefit from specialist advice from within the industry.

“This very much illustrates the key benefit of being in a cooperative. Every business enjoys an economy of scale, otherwise not accessible as an individual business.”

Barry Howard, Fram Farmers Commercial Manager Barry Howard, Fram Farmers Commercial Manager explains, “The collaboration with Crown Milling is unique, in that we work with them in two stages of the trading cycle. Wheat and barley are sold to Crown Milling from arable farmer members. They proceed to manufacture the raw materials into livestock rations and sell to Fram livestock farmer members. Effectively, it is a cycle of demand with members from both arable and livestock sectors benefiting from the relationship. As a group, in both trade transactions, members gain from the scale of product traded.

continue to be challenged, it gives members a financial advantage over nonmembers. Looking forward, I expect to see more farmers looking into joining the cooperative, which will improve our position even further.”

Richard Buck, Operations Director at Crown Milling agrees, “Farmers who collaborate will benefit from not only improved purchasing power, but they also gain from knowledge sharing, and access to specific expertise. This offers immediate financial improvements for their business, but also gives them clearer long term direction.

“At Crown we work with the Fram Farmers pig group and convene each quarter with representatives from Fram Farmers, independent nutritionists and Crown Milling. We discuss raw material markets, buying strategies and, of course, the quality and service of the diets that Crown provide. The benefits to the members with our arrangement is primarily improved risk management, providing more stable and visible prices.

“By presenting themselves as a considerable volume of feed, they give themselves the ability to build a raw material book. They are then able to buy the key raw materials individually if preferred, and this is important, as prices

“This very much illustrates the key benefit of being in a cooperative. Every business enjoys an economy of scale, otherwise not accessible as an individual business.

We see it in an ever growing range of products and services that we offer in the Fram portfolio, and as farm margins FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 56 - S U M M E R 2 0 2 0

can fluctuate significantly and with little notice. Outside of the group many members would have to buy all raw materials on one day and this can be a high risk strategy.

“Working as a group protects their business from market volatility, giving them a significant advantage in the marketplace. Add to that, the benefits of working with a team of individuals all specialising in their sector, each member is far better positioned to succeed in the future.”

About Crown Milling • Crown Milling is a division of Cranswick plc.

Cranswick was formed in the early 1970s by farmers in East Yorkshire to produce animal feed and has since evolved into a business which produces a range of high quality, predominantly fresh food, including fresh pork, poultry, convenience, mediterranean and gourmet products.

• Crown Milling, based in Kenninghall, Norfolk, are manufacturers of monogastric feed, supplying pig and poultry farms across East Anglia.

• Operating as both farmer and miller gives Crown first hand insight, helping them to support their customers, through sharing information and best practice, from nutritional advice to price risk management.

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WE UNDERSTAND:

BUT WE CAN HELP WITH THAT. ESTABLISHMENT RISK SHARE PROGRAMME Plant any InVigor ® WOSR hybrid this autumn, and if your crop

doesn’t establish by 31 October 2020, we’ll give you £30/ha* back.

To nd out more, visit basfrealresults.co.uk/osr/risk-share

*All claims must be submitted by 23:59 on 31.10.2020. Submissions made after this deadline will not be valid.

Applications which do not provide the necessary evidence will not qualify for a reimbursement. Failed elds must be re-drilled with an alternative crop or sprayed off and left fallow to qualify for the offer. Successful seed claims will be reimbursed £30/ha. The minimum claim area is 3ha. For full terms and conditions visit https://basfrealresults.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/. InVigor is a registered Trade Mark of BASF.

DID YOU KNOW…?

REBATE SCHEMES We have rebate schemes with Case IH, Amazone, Spearhead, Claydon, Alpego, and Gem Sprayers, and have exclusive parts discounts and rebates with Grimme, Weaving, and Agrifac.

‘Think Fram’

FLEET TERMS You can save £1000s by unlocking fleet terms on new vehicle purchases. Cars, pick-ups, and 4x4s from ALL major manufacturers.

DIRECT ACCOUNT We now have a direct account with Collinson Silos and Feeding Solutions, please contact the livestock department for quotes.

PREFERENTIAL TERMS We have preferential terms on sugar beet seed.

If you are thinking of purchasing anything, ‘Think Fram’ and see if we can help - 01728 727700.

SupaCova Pro Re-usable cover that lasts at least 5 years. Protects from physical damage and gives effective all-over weighting. Provides strong protection from UV.

Gravel Bags Eliminate tyres for an easier and safer environment

Silostop Orange Oxygen barrier film 45 micron.

Strong & stretchy, stops surface spoilage and increases aerobic stability

www.silostop.com FARMERSFIRST I S S U E 56 - S U M M E R 2 0 2 0

SILAGE PROTECTION SYSTEM

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