FARMERS
FIRST
Issue 41 – Autumn 2016
BUILDINGS Special Inside
MACHINERY SCHEME KEY BENEFIT FOR LONG-TERM CASE IH FANS The significant additional rebates to which members who purchase new Case IH equipment are entitled through the Fram Farmers Machinery Scheme is a key attraction for a fourth-generation farming family. They purchased one of the earliest Axial-Flow combines to be sold in the UK. Case IH machinery has long been a favourite of the Ford family at Red House Farm, South Green in Suffolk. Having operated Claas combines until 1978, they replaced a Dominator 96 with an AxialFlow 1440, the farm’s first hydrostatic combine, and have never looked back. Randolph Ford was impressed by its simple, logical design, ease of use and maintenance, together with very low losses. That led to the purchase of numerous Axial-Flow models over the years and while each has been an improvement, the reasons why he purchased the original still play a part in the family’s choice today. The latest arrived just before harvest, a new 22’ Axial-Flow 6140 equipped with the optional Cross Flow grain cleaning system which compensates for sieve overload on side-slopes via side strokes
Brothers Christopher, Trevor and Stephen Ford work together on the family farm
on the upper sieve. The fields around Red House Farm are relatively flat, but the family still feel it is an advantage. Case IH revised all Axial-Flow 140 series
combines for 2016, the 6140 using a new 8.7-litre 400hp Stage IV FPT engine and two-range transmission, with on-the-go switching between low and high ranges. Continued on page 5
DEALS DON‘T GET ANY BIGGER Only available until 30 September 2016. Includes special high specs and the Fram Farmers rebate.
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2
FARMING IN THE CLOUD Writes Richard Alecock In the weeks after fallout from the EU Referendum, amid political upheaval with cabinet resignations and fresh appointments, government has ploughed steadily on releasing more details around an acronym, which is becoming increasingly familiar to farmers and their advisers. MTD – ‘Making Tax Digital’ heralds a new process that represents one of the biggest changes in the tax system for many years. MTD has the four following headings as the principle drivers. It’s intended to be: • Simple, clear and personalised. • Have individual client digital tax accounts • Pre-populated by HMRC • Linked accounting software to the digital accounts The plan is that, by 2018, businesses will be required to report both their Income Tax and National Insurance to HMRC on a quarterly basis. Accounting periods starting after April 6th, 2018 will have to adopt new procedures if they are not already in place. No doubt rules will develop over time but by 2020 HMRC will have moved taxpayers to a fully digital process. Now, clearly agriculture has its own intricacies but MTD opens the door for farmers to assess and get their heads into the Cloud as options available to the industry are increasing rapidly. Cloud accounting programs continue to come to the market with Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, Hardnet and Farmplan adapting their software systems in anticipation.
As accountants and business advisers we have been positioning ourselves since the now ex-Chancellor, George Osborne announced ‘Making Tax Digital’ in 2015. We specialise in selecting and setting up the best Cloud accounting solutions for our clients, including the provision of ongoing support. As the Government moves the MTD project forward, advisers having the facility to remotely access their clients’ data that will facilitate compliance with the emerging fresh legislation may be desirable. The target date has been set for quarterly tax reporting and although we may not yet have reached the discussion stage, four consultations are taking place. It would be very dangerous to rely on a U-turn and early thought needs to be given to the logistics of how quarterly reporting will be accommodated. Remote access by advisers to accounts software appears essential and the early adoption of any new accounting systems will enable teething issues to be resolved before quarterly interaction with HM Revenue & Customs is imposed. Richard Alecock T: 01638 712267 E: richardalecock@whitingandpartners.co.uk
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CEO Comment 3
INNOVATION IS MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER If there is one word which sums up Fram Farmers, it is ‘innovative’, which the Oxford Dictionary defines as ‘introducing new ideas; original and creative thinking’. Innovation sets us apart and can be seen throughout our cooperative. With agriculture facing new challenges and uncertainty following ‘Brexit’, farming businesses must focus on further increasing efficiency, and there’s no better ally than Fram Farmers to help you achieve that.
POSITIVE FEEDBACK
Members’ feedback to the new-look purchasing team has been very positive. Arable Inputs Manager Laura Buckingham has made great strides in securing key inputs at more favourable prices, while Mark Vice, General Agricultural Inputs Manager, has brought more fuel suppliers on board, reduced delivery lead times and improved prices. Forward buying of fuel is another area of real innovation, and will become more widely used. Crop Marketing has delivered another record year, reflecting the benefits of our strong relationship with ADM Direct, whose knowledge of agricultural commodity markets is invaluable. The Livestock Department continues to grow, reflecting the added value it delivers to farming businesses. Members of the new Tamar Group in the South West, for example, are already benefiting from significant savings on major inputs, including feed and veterinary medicines, not forgetting electricity, the savings on which alone can cover their Fram Farmers fees! Members increasingly recognise the benefits of being part of a strong cooperative and are entrusting us with more of their business. During the year ended 30 June we recorded a 1% increase in invoices processed. We constantly strive to improve our own efficiency and the interface with members’ offices. The new OCR (Optical Character Recognition) system, for example, will provide even greater value and efficiency. Fram Farmers Insurance has far exceeded expectations, with over 70
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members enjoying significantly lower premiums and improved cover.
FOSTERING INNOVATION
An important initiative to mention is AgriTech East (www.agritech-east.co.uk), an organisation which is stimulating innovation and development in agri-tech by brokering collaborations and encouraging knowledge transfer throughout the agri-food supply chain. As a stakeholder group member I see the value it brings to our sector, so if you have an innovative idea but are unsure how to take it forward, let me know and I will put you in touch with people who can make it a commercial reality. You might like to hear about a couple of inspirational events which are coming up. On 8 November we visit Aspall Cyder, an excellent example of a rural, family business at the forefront of innovation. The following day, the Welcome Centre, Cambridge is the venue for a conference entitled ‘Innovation for an agricultural revolution’, which will provide valuable
insight into the future direction of agriculture. We recently concluded the sale of our previous offices in New Road, Framlingham where the cooperative had been based since 1977. In 2013 we purchased much larger offices in Station Road for less than half the £1.2 million it cost to build in 1996. Although we invested over £100,000 to configure the building to our specific requirements, the nett cost has been just £40,000, a fraction of what it would have cost to upgrade New Road, which would still have been a far-from-ideal location for an industry-leading farmers’ cooperative. If you have not been to a Fram Farmers AGM recently, watch out for details of this year’s event on 15 November, which will feature presentations by Lloyds Bank looking at ‘Brexit and what it means for farmers’, the other on the bank’s approach to lending to agriculture. Richard Anscombe, Chief Executive, Fram Farmers
We were delighted to host the many members who visited our stand at this year’s Cereals show in Cambridgeshire.
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 any of the information featured in this edition please call Ashley Gilman at Fram Farmers on 01728 727700, or Charles Macdowell at Land Communication on 01473 353613.
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Machinery Scheme: Member Profile – Ford family, Suffolk 5 Continued from page 1
Axial-Flow 140 series combines can now also be ordered with rubber tracks on the front axle to improve traction and flotation in difficult conditions and simplify transport. Other key changes include a halving in concave section size to ease handling, with six threshing sections rather than three, each weighing approximately 18kg. Beneath them a new six-auger grain transfer bed replaces the former five-auger unit.
LATEST IN A LINE
The Ford’s new 6140 is the latest in a long line of Axial-Flow models which they have purchased over the years, replacing their previous 20’ 6088, which was itself preceded by a 2366, 2166, 1660 and their second-ever Axial-Flow, a 1460, which took over from the original 1440 in the early 1980s. In addition, they operate two Case IH Puma 160 CVX tractors and a Maxxum 110, with an additional one hired at harvest. “As far as tractors and combines are concerned we are totally Case IH and have depended on them for 40 years. We all like that they are easy to use and the CVX transmission is popular with everyone who has driven it. When I first tried it I just didn’t want anything else because it makes driving so easy and comfortable,” says 43-year-old Stephen Ford, who works alongside his two brothers on the farm their grandfather bought in the 1920s. What was a 130-acre holding then was subsequently expanded to over 900 acres by their father Randolph. Red House Farm traditionally focused on pig production but now encompasses three enterprises, each managed separately by one of the brothers as part of the overall business. While Trevor, 45, looks after the 450-sow pig breeding herd and 8,000 progeny, Chris, 38, manages the 48,000-hen free range egg unit and Stephen takes care of the arable land. This year, 420 acres of winter wheat are supported by 200 acres of OSR, 55 of winter barley and 65 of sugar beet, with 28 acres of greening. With so much livestock on the farm, the farm produces around 1,200 tonnes of chicken manure and 700 tonnes from the sows, which is spread on all the fields, so soil indices are high even though no ‘bagged’ P & K has been applied for years. Members of Fram Farmers since the 1970s, the Fords store all of the grain they produce and sell it when they feel the market is favourable, preferring to buy compound feed for the pigs and chickens because it makes financial sense when all costs are considered. OSR is marketed through the Fram Farmers pools to achieve a good average price and benefit from the association with ADM Direct.
The farm operates two Case IH Puma 165 CVX tractors
A CONTINUING ALLEGIANCE The Fords moved away from using Ford tractors when Randolph bought their first International, an 85hp 946, from Framlingham Tractors, the local dealer at the time. The allegiance has continued. “Case IH products are reliable and the service which we receive from Ernest Doe Power is fantastic. We always have them do the servicing to ensure that everything is in prime condition, but if we have a problem one of their technicians is out very quickly and they would even send out a replacement should we need it,” Stephen adds. When it comes to combines, the Fords generally change every four years, which they regard as the optimum time from a financial viewpoint. Having harvested around 700 acres of combinable crops each season, after just under 3,000 acres
the combine remains in excellent condition and is worth good money. “The Axial-Flow is definitely becoming more popular,” Stephen adds. “There are a number in this area, and several farms locally bought one this year.” Fram Farmers operates fleet partnership arrangements with a number of leading agricultural machinery manufacturers, including Case IH, Amazone, Spearhead Machinery and Claydon Drills, together with vehicle manufacturers such as Ford, Land Rover, Nissan and Toyota, enabling members to benefit from savings which can run to thousands of pounds. Preferential terms are available on a wide range of products and spares. For further information, contact Jemma Neesham or Tom Mountain at Fram Farmers.
The Fords’ Axial-Flow 6140 is the latest in a long line of such models dating back to 1978.
6 Purchasing Updates
FUEL INITIATIVES CUT VOLATILITY
Mark Vice, General Agricultural Inputs Manager
Fuel is a major area for Fram Farmers, and we purchase around 45 million litres per year on behalf of members, mostly gas oil, including EN590 grade which many manufacturers now insist on. We also purchase kerosene, derv and petrol, together with additives for fuel, including Agas and heating. We receive daily prices from 22 different suppliers across our four main geographic areas, but because we deal with all major suppliers, we can
arrange delivery to virtually anywhere in the country from 500 litres, through to individually price-negotiated full tankers. Recent member council feedback from both the North West and East Anglia on our daily price negotiations has been very positive. Following recent supplier discussions we have achieved price savings of up to 1.2ppl and, in the North West, delivery lead times are now the shortest Fram Farmers have ever had. Over the last couple of months we have improved the quantity and quality of suppliers across regions to be able to provide an improved overall member service. On the back of this hard work we are also able to provide very competitive full-load prices on Gas Oil and Derv. We run forward buying schemes in which members can book a specific volume of fuel at a fixed price, and in some cases we have bought a large volume, often over four million litres, against committed orders from Members. This is an area that we are looking to increase and evolve so that members can know and fix their fuel costs to avoid the volatility which has characterised the market in recent years. This year’s forward buy involves over 100 members, with a commitment to
purchase 4.3 million litres, almost 10 per cent of our total annual fuel purchasing volume, and before harvest they had already called off two million litres. We are currently evaluating a new pool-type fuel buying scheme which might play an increasing role in the way we purchase fuel in the future, if this initial trial is judged to be successful by those who are taking part, with a commitment of 1.4 million litres. The aim behind it is to help member businesses reduce the impact of unexpected developments in the underlying market, as well as protect themselves from the potential impact of one-off events such as the unexpected ‘Brexit’ vote, which has had a significant impact on the value of Sterling and consequently in the price of oil, which is traded in US Dollars. If you would like to talk more about the fuel needs of your farming business, please contact me, Mark Vice, on 01728 727714.
Purchasing Updates 7
SAVINGS THROUGH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Nick Hindle, Financial Controller
Since April, statements have been delivered direct to your email inbox, either in a single PDF document containing both the statement and invoice, or as an email link - preferred by those in areas with a slower internet connection. Apart from being a much faster, more convenient way of getting this vital information to you, it also means that it can easily be saved to your network, documents can be retrieved much more
quickly, as well as avoiding the need to store paperwork. It also means that you only need to receive an invoice once, instead of multiple times in some instances. Currently, 20 per cent of members have opted for paperless statements, the saving in printing, staffing and postage allowing us to reduce annual membership cost for those businesses by £55, from £450 to £395. If you wish to ‘opt in’ to paperless transactions part-way through the membership year, we will refund the annual saving on a pro-rata basis. To stop receiving paper invoices and statements, simply click on the ‘do not receive paper statements section’ of your Members web page. However, you can still access statements via your Member’s web page, which will contain your historical statements, and has the ability to send files to multiple recipients. A survey of members highlighted that 60% of farming businesses use either Sage, Farmplan or Landmark accounting systems to open the new CFF (Common File Format) files. In the New Year we will be providing Members with CSV (Comma Separated Values) files, containing line detail of their invoices, which allow you to upload the data directly into your
office accounting systems in a tablestructured form rather than having to re-key all the information, saving a great deal of time, effort and cost. These include details such as supplier, invoice number, invoice date, line description, goods value, VAT value and gross value. Full instructions on how to use these types of file are available on the members’ area of the Fram Farmers website, but if you still have any questions please speak to Fiona Mayhew at the Fram Farmers office. The next step in the development of our IT processes is that we are currently evaluating an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system. Hopefully we should be able to go live with this technology in the New Year
8 Crop Establishment
NORTH WEST DRILLING DEMONSTRATION YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS The North West Drilling Demonstration Day, which was held on 23 March at Gore House Farm, Great Altcar in Lancashire by kind permission of Simon and Lisa Edwards, set out to compare different methods of establishing spring-sown malting barley after the establishment of a cover crop. Supported by Case IH UK, Claydon Drills, Amazone and John Bownes, the day was overcast with a biting-cold wind blowing across the site. Although the cover crop had been sprayed off with glyphosate seven days before the event, it had been well grazed by geese for much of the winter and early spring.
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*OFFER VALID UNTIL 30TH SEPTEMBER 2016. Other models with different specification or hp available. Ts and Cs apply. Finance is subject to status (credit approval). This is not a contractual offer and is subject to changes in prices, supply terms, law or interest rates and may be withdrawn at the discretion of CNH Industrial Capital. Farmall trade in value £17,500. Maxxum trade in value £22,000. Picture for illustrative purposes only.
So much so that host Simon Edwards remarked that the greatest value of the cover crop had been providing the many thousands of geese that pass through the farm with a palatable option which had helped protect his winter wheat. The 6m linkage-mounted hybrid Claydon drill was fast, but to the uninitiated eye appeared to leave an untidy finish. The 316mm-spaced coulters are all independent of each other and follow the leading tine, which creates a strip of tilled soil into which the boot coulter releases two bands of seed. The 6m trailed Amazone Cayena 6001 was also fast, and with its three banks of 36 rigid coulters at 166mm spacing disturbed more soil, which, when combined with the set of heavy press tyres that followed, left a more conventional seed bed. The drill is capable of delivering fertiliser down the spout, but this option was not used on the day. The Amazone 3m AD-P disc coulter drill, with a 125mm coulter spacing, was working in combination with an Amazone power harrow. The plot had been ploughed the day before and replicated standard practice on the farm. The drill did some work direct into the sprayed off cover crop and due to the peaty, high organic matter soil produced an even, consolidated drilled seed bed. Jonathan Jackson, Fram Farmers’ Business Development Manager for the North West and Midlands, revisited the site six weeks later, on 25 May, prior to which the weather had been very wet and cold with a lot of frosts. The main differences at that point were that where the AD-P had been used on ploughed land the resulting cover crop had the greatest ground cover, due to narrower rows and earlier availability of mineralised nutrient from soil movement. The Amazone Cayena had the next best crop cover, but showed a little unevenness in terms of plant maturity, which could possibly be put down to depth of seed placement and the effect of frost.
Crop Establishment 9
different drills. The plough and AD–P combination had produced by far the greatest number of ears, which were relatively even but on the smaller side. The Cayena’s was second but the ears reflected the crop cover findings, with a wide variation in ear sizes and maturity. The Claydon had the lowest number of ears, but each of these seemed larger, while the evenness of maturity and size looked good.
In terms of weed populations, the Claydon plot had the smallest number, as would be expected with the lowest amount of soil disturbance. The AD-P combi drill into ploughing had the highest weed population, with a strong flush of broadleaf and grass weeds. When the North West farm walk revisited the field plots on the 6 July, all the crops were in ear, and the host farm had taken ear counts for the
Simon Evans, the host farmer was confident that his current plough and combi system would have a significant yield advantage over the two quicker direct systems come harvest. However, the combine’s yield map will determine the final results. This issue of Farmers First went to press before the crops had been harvested, but we will report on the outcome in our next issue.
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Liberator is a registered Trade Mark of Bayer. Liberator contains flufenacet and diflufenican. 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, please visit www.bayercropscience.co.uk or call Bayer Assist on 0845 6092266 (calls cost 5p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge) or 01223 226644. © Bayer CropScience Limited 2016.
Variety Day, Norfolk 11
SUPPLIERS AND MEMBERS TURN OUT TO SUPPORT FRAM FARMERS VARIETY DAY
There was plenty for members to see and hear about at the second Fram Farmers Variety Day, which was held in Norfolk on 6th July.
More than one hundred members from across East Anglia took advantage of the opportunity to study the latest varieties from the KWS Winter Wheat portfolio in a field situation at the second annual Fram Farmers Variety Day. In addition to Trinity and Lily, the event showcased other varieties from the company’s winter wheat stable, specifically Siskin, Barrel, Basset, Silverstone, Crispin, Zyatt and Kerrin, together with its oilseed rape, hybrid rye and barley varieties. The event was held at Upper Vaunces Farm, Pulham St Mary courtesy of D. C. West Farms, which joined our cooperative last year. Farming 1,200ha of owned and contract farmed land, including wheat, barley, oilseed rape, spring beans and parsley, Duncan West says that his fleet which includes Quadtrac 535 and Puma 165 tractors has been recently added to with an Axial-Flow combine, making use of the Case IH rebate. In addition to this comprehensive insight into the KWS portfolio, visitors were able to walk through BASF’s fungicide trials to see the impact of product choice and application timings, while fertiliser
manufacturer Yara highlighted its nitrogen and sulphur trials which were designed to optimise yield and quality. This popular event was supported by a number of other Fram Farmers suppliers, many of whom have worked with us and served our members for more than 25 years. Amongst them was mobile seed cleaning specialist Premier Seeds. Processing farm saved seed to very high standards, this family-run company provides a high quality service for cereal growers throughout East Anglia. Director Jenny Stollery points out that their services are growing in popularity, not only due to the substantial cost savings when compared to buying in EC certified seed, but because the whole farm saved seed operation is kept ‘on-farm’ and only the very best quality seed is selected for dressing, under the grower’s supervision. She also emphasises that mobile seed processing gives growers greater control, ensuring that seed is processed and ready on farm when required, with flexibility in terms of the choice of treatments which can be applied.
George Hepburn from Soil Fertility Services speaks to members from a pit which was dug to highlight the importance of good soil structure
Other exhibitors included Certas Energy, the largest independent fuel and lubricants distributor in the UK, which drew attention to the fantastic deals which are available to members on Shell and Gulf products. Ilex EnviroSciences, specialists in crop nutrients and bio-stimulants for crop health, vigour and yield, were also exhibiting, along with Fieldens, the independent tyre/wheel supplier and Honda Power Equipment dealer. UK-based precision crop production company SOYL was demonstrating its new iSOYLscout app that is designed to make the recording, monitoring and review of infield problems and variations much easier. Free to use, it works on iPhones and iPads and enables features and problems to be logged while the user is actually in the field. With farmers now tending to keep equipment longer, Pan-Anglia’s representative Tony Rook was on hand to show members the company’s new Dutch openers for drills, as well as a selection of other parts from the company’s massive range. Another company attracting great interest was Soil Fertility Services, which helps farmers to improve their soils using highly-effective bio-logical methods. George Hepburn, who covers the South and East Regions, says that all farmers should carry a spade and take time to dig down into the soil profile, as it will be very revealing. He points out that the less you move soil the better in terms of soil biology, but says farmers often carry out too many tillage operations which use up time, fuel and wearing metal without providing any advantage in terms of crop performance. He also emphasised the importance of soil testing and having the knowledge to interpret those results into actions which benefit production.
Steve Dennis from BASF highlighted the importance of spray timings in controlling crop diseases
12 BUILDING: Member Profile – Burroughs family, Norfolk
NORFOLK FAMILY COMMITS LONG-TERM TO DAIRYING
The Burroughs family’s have invested in a new state-of-the-art dairy, for which Fram Farmers supplied many of the materials.
The Burroughs family have invested in a new state-of-the-art dairy, for which Fram Farmers supplied many of the materials. At a time when many dairy farmers were thinking of leaving the industry, E.S Burroughs & Son at Aldeby, Norfolk were planning a new £1.25 million complex. Two and a half years later, they have just started milking the 200 pedigree British Friesians in their Oakalby Herd using a
facility which provides the potential for significant future expansion and the next generation with a long-term future on the family farm. “The new dairy was a long time in the making, but we are seeing the benefits. It has given us our lives back in terms of workload, as milking takes two hours in the morning and afternoon compared with twice that before. The cows also benefit, because they are in and out much more
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quickly and far less stressed,” states David Burroughs, who farms with his sister, Margaret Vale. The fourth generation are now involved in the business and have their separate enterprises. David’s son Jamie looks after the milking operation and Margaret’s husband Graham works with their daughter Andrea who manages the heifer rearing. Lindsay, David’s daughter assists Margaret with administration, the 12,000hen free range unit and sells raw milk and eggs at local farmers’ markets. Oaklands Farm extends to 1100 acres, including wheat, barley, oilseed rape and seed potatoes, plus maize and grass for the cows and their offspring. Milk is produced for Muller, while the family also bottle their own raw, un-pasturised milk which can be purchased from the office at the holiday homes they run, alongside pasturised milk, locally-produced ice cream, cream and yogurts. The business’s eight luxury holiday lets are managed by David’s wife, Joanna. The Burroughs have been involved in dairying since David and Margaret’s father bought the farm in the 1940s and started with 20 cows. The business was predominantly arable by the 1970s, but has progressively returned to grassland,
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BUILDING: Member Profile – Burroughs family, Norfolk 13 the remaining 480 arable acres being contract farmed to enable the family to focus on their dairy and free-range egg enterprises. Oaklands Farm started with 70 cows during the 1970s and two decades later was expanded to 140 on a greenfield site close to the River Waveney. With 400 acres of marshes, it is now a grazing herd based on the New Zealand system. The business joined Fram Farmers in 2015 and since then the cooperative has become an essential part of their farming operation.
IN THE BLOOD
“Cows have always been in our family’s blood,” David explains. “Jamie, Lindsay and Andrea always wanted to work with cows and without their interest Margaret and I would have left dairying years ago. In 2013 we reached a crossroads where investment was required which neither of us would have justified, but as a family we decided to expand the dairy operation. “We decided to put in the infrastructure for a 600-cow herd, including fences and roadways, a 200-cow cubicle house and 54-point Dairymaster Swiftflo rotary parlour, putting the herd on a sound footing for future generations.” “It was a massive decision, but we researched various makes of parlour, looked at the back-up service which was offered and went to see another unit that was going in locally,” David explains. We also visited a number of their parlours all over the country. “One of the main issues we became aware of was just how little farmers talk to other farmers and share details about their businesses. There is a huge variation in performance between individual operations and I am delighted that we now participate in a closed dairy discussion group which encourages the free and frank exchange of information between members in East Anglia. Ultimately, everyone involved benefits from this approach. “One of the key factors was to avoid year-round calving, which really provides no life at all for those involved, so we decided to focus on tightly-
David Burroughs (left) with Tyrone Campbell-Twells of Fram Farmers, during construction.
controlled autumn block calving, which is second only to spring calving in terms of profitability, combined with more automation.”
BUILDING PROJECT
In November 2014, Minshall Construction (UK) Ltd began erecting the 200-cow cubicle shed, which features three rows of cubicles with scraper passages and outdoor areas. The first cows went in during September 2015 and work then started on the 30m x 54m dairy parlour, half of which comprises a covered collection and dispersal area, the remainder housing the rotary parlour, office and bulk tank. The new unit is more efficient, will improve herd health, increase production and improve feed efficiency through the use of in-parlour feeders, making it possible to keep more cows on the same area. Employing two staff, the business aims to double production. “Being part of Fram Farmers was of significant benefit to this project and will be going forward,” says David. “Now, we buy all of our building materials, electricity, gas, fuel, fencing materials, feed and most other inputs through them.” Tyrone Campbell-Twells, Building Materials Buyer for Fram Farmers, adds: “Many members save 20-40% on building materials bought through Fram Farmers. We can source any component for any
project, from new dairies to domestic work. We supply everything from bricks, blocks and cement to insulation, guttering and even complete agricultural buildings, working with around 200 local, regional and national suppliers so that members receive the best value for money, customer service and advice.” Further information: Fram Farmers Building Materials Team: T: 01728 727718
Team Burroughs! Back row (left to right) are Graham Vale, David Burroughs and his son Jamie, while at the front are Margaret Vale, Andrea Vale, Joanna Burroughs and Lindsay Miller.
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BUILDINGS: Rodenticides 15
GET READY FOR NEW RODENTICIDE REGULATIONS
Jessica Frost, Animal Health and Livestock Specialist
Jessica Frost, who comes from a farming family that can trace its history back to the 18th Century, is the person to contact at Fram Farmers if you need to order rodenticide products or require advice on the subject. Having joined Fram Farmers in 2014, Jessica is part of our Livestock Team as the Animal Health and Livestock Specialist, the area under which rodenticides now fall, having previously been classed as an ag-chem product. Having successfully completed a Certificate of Training in ‘Rodent Control On Farms’ at the start of the year Jessica is qualified to advise on and sell rodenticides. She points out that like many other areas of our industry, the grandfather rights which once applied to the purchase and use of rodenticides no longer apply. Demands from consumers for high quality, safe food mean that there is a need for ever higher standards throughout all stages of food production. This has led to strict quality assurance requirements from buyers, such as supermarkets and food processing companies, including the need for highly effective control of rodents which otherwise contaminate and destroy food at every stage from the farm to the supermarket shelf.
At the same time, government agencies responsible for the regulation of rodenticides have raised concern that many species of wildlife, such as barn owls, kestrels and red kites, are being accidentally exposed to these products. These agencies have called for better stewardship of rodenticides to prevent wildlife exposure. The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) is a response to that call. Under the banner “Think Wildlife”, CRRU promotes best practice and responsible rodent control, thereby protecting wildlife from rodenticide exposure. Rodenticides are vital to prevent disease in humans and animals, to protect property and equipment from damage and to ensure the highest possible standards of food hygiene. But there is an increasing awareness that rodenticides cause contamination of some of our most important wildlife species. All who use rodenticides must therefore apply best practice to minimise exposure of wildlife. If this is not done we must expect ever greater restrictions on who can use rodenticides and where they can be applied, possibly to the eventual detriment of effective rodent control. The UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime was launched by CRRU and has been developed to meet the Government’s high level principles announced by Health and Safety Executive (HSE). From April 2016 onwards, rodenticide products with new ‘stewardship conditions’ labels for use outside by professionals, including farmers, have been introduced carrying the following statement: “For supply to and use only by professional users holding certification demonstrating compliance with UK rodenticide stewardship regime requirements”. The rodenticides in question, edible baits containing first or second generation anticoagulant active ingredients, but not fumigant gases, have legally binding label instructions that require farmers to hold certified ‘proof of competence’ in rodent pest control before being allowed to buy and use professional anticoagulant rodenticides. Stocks of old label products began to run out from April 2016 and by October 2016 professional rodenticides will only be available to farmers with certificated status, as no old label stock will be available for sale. Farmers have four options to be ready for using “stewardship label” rodenticides on their premises: 1. Possession of a certificate from an approved training programme and awarding organisation confirming professional competence. There are plenty
of courses available, which you can attend in person or complete on-line. 2. Employment of a professional pest control contractor that employs technicians who possess such approved certificates. 3. Membership of a UK farm assurance scheme which has among its standards a structured, documented and audited programme of rodenticide pest management. Note that this is an interim measure, which will cease after December 2017 - unless the farm assurance schemes in question bring their standards fully in line with the CRRU Code of Best Practice. 4. The purchase and use of amateur rodenticide products – i.e. a pack sizes of up to 1.5kg. To take orders from members for rodenticides in larger quantities we, or the merchant you deal with, will need details of your Farm Assurance Scheme, or a copy of your training certificate.
Further details about the new legislation is available from Jessica Frost at the Fram Farmers office (01728 727 716); and a number of sources, including CRRU (www.thinkwildlife.org), AHDB (www.ahdb.org.uk/ RodentControlHub) and LANTRA (www.lantra.co.uk).
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Crop Marketing 17
“MARKETING CROPS EFFECTIVELY IS CRITICAL”
Pool Committee member Andrew Read, pictured on M. F. Read & Sons’ Elm Farm, Depden in West Suffolk this harvest.
Fram Farmers Director and Pool Committee member Andrew Read believes strongly in the concept of cooperation, and that to achieve the best returns from pools it is vital to combine the grain trader’s knowledge of markets with a farmer’s perspective. The business farms 600ha of owned, tenanted and contract-farmed land, and does a small amount of agricultural contracting. Cropping for 2017 will include 250ha of milling wheat (RGT Skyfall and KWS Lily), 115ha of hybrid winter barley (Syngenta Bazooka), 80ha of spring barley (RGT Planet), 80 ha of OSR (KWS Picto) and 50ha of peas (Daytona). The business has been a member of Fram Farmers for 11 years and Andrew, who became a Director of the cooperative in December 2015, oversees our Machinery Purchasing Team and joined the Pool Committee in January 2016. “I have a fundamental belief in farmer cooperation - it just seems the right thing to do. By nature, farmers are insular and
despite the fact that our businesses, in the form of what we produce in our fields, are constantly on public display, we are not very good at talking to and working with each other. Of course, the trade would prefer that farmers remain fragmented, which is why I feel so strongly that if we are to move forward as an industry and have more influence over input and output prices then we must work together. Fram Farmers offers us a wonderful platform through which to gain the collective strength, voice and influence we need, but which none of us, however large, can possibly have as individual businesses. Whether buying or selling, that is what we will increasingly need in an industry where scale of operation is ever more important. Our cooperative also offers access to incredible knowledge resources, which are totally independent, for a fraction of the cost of outside advice. In the current environment everything seems expensive, but believe me, Fram Farmers membership represents incredible value for money. The time, labour and cost saving that results from the saving in ‘office time’ alone is worth it.
FASCINATED BY MARKETING
Crop Marketing is an area that has always fascinated me, perhaps because I like to see things through to the end. As farmers, we generally tend to be good at producing crops but poor when it comes to marketing them. Many invest the entire year to produce a crop only to make a snap decision when it comes to marketing it. Can it possibly be right
to decide whether or not to sell when a merchant just happens to ‘phone you with a price when you are busy with other things? We’ve all done it, but that is not the way to market grain. I am a great believer in pools, and market all of our oilseed rape, plus the milling wheat that is not under specific individual contracts, through those operated by Fram Farmers. This is an essential part of our overall risk management strategy. The fact that all grain marketed through Fram Farmers, whether via the pools or on a spot basis, is covered by insurance is a very worthwhile but an often-forgotten consideration. Before joining Fram Farmers we marketed some grain through pools operated by commercial companies and never had any say in how they went about it, so there was no feeling of involvement. How Fram Farmers operates is very different. Being owned by the members, it only ever acts in their best interests, which is a huge advantage. Like anyone else we don’t get it right all of the time, but the underlying motivation is always to do the best for the members, and I think that is a very important first principle.
EXPERT KNOWLEDGE
The combination of the in-depth market knowledge of our partners ADM, and active inputs from our farmer members, makes Fram Farmers Crop Marketing Department a force to be reckoned with.
Continued on page 19
“Fram Farmers pool is a unique crop marketing opportunity which takes Fram Farmers’ cooperative members and their distinctive culture and marries this with ADM’s multinational, world-wide trading and processing business. This gives Fram Farmers members a fabulous opportunity to get in-depth insight into the markets whilst maintaining control of their own marketing team and Pool Committee made up of Fram Farmers Directors and ADM’s permanent staff.” Martin Farrow, General Manager of ADM Erith and ADM Direct
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Crop Marketing 19 Continued from page 17
The four farmer representatives on the Pools Committee include myself, Serena Greenwell, Christopher Padfield and John Parkinson, working with Richard Anscombe and Tim Styles from Fram Farmers, and four members of the ADM Direct team, including Barry Howard, who divides his time between the ADM office in Cambridgeshire and Fram Farmers. This brings an excellent spread and depth of knowledge to bear on this critical area of our members’ businesses. We work well together. ADM are a good partner because they are absolutely ‘in the market’ as both a crusher of OSR and miller of wheat. They provide all of the technical and fundamental market information we need and together we set targets for marketing a percentage of the pool tonnage at particular price levels which we have jointly agreed. In addition to regular meetings, we also hold fortnightly conference calls, but if anything happens in the meantime, such as major fluctuations in currencies or adverse weather, we hear about it right away, discuss the potential impact and take any action that is required. In my view, pools will have an increasingly important role to play in managing risk. The key thing that Fram Farmers pools offer, which no-one else does, is complete transparency. Looking at the results of some other pools I simply cannot believe that they achieve what they claim. Some ‘headline figures’ must be the result of ‘window dressing’. On the other hand, our own pools are fully traceable, with no crosssubsidisation. When agricultural commodity prices are low, marketing crops effectively is critical. Fram Farmers pools are a great way to ensure that you have grain marketing experts who have your best interests at heart on your side. Farmers are notoriously reluctant when it comes to trusting others to market their crops, but in today’s fast-changing, global marketplace, where prices can change very quickly, it is vital to involve those who monitor the markets full-time and understand their complexities. Often, things are not what they might seem and, whereas pure supply and demand was once the sole driver for prices, agricultural commodities are now massively traded and speculation often drives the market. That’s great when things are going your way, but speculators will always get out faster than they got in, so you need to be on your toes. With pool volumes at record levels we must be doing something right, so I hope that you will take the time to find out more about what we can offer.”
ADM MILLING GO FOR A BREADMAKING RECORD
Fram Farmers’ Director Christopher Padfield recently hosted a world record attempt by ADM Milling for the fastest field-to-load (oven) to raise money for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. Pending authentication from Guinness Book of Records, the company may have successfully broken the world record for the fastest time to turn newlyharvested wheat into bread. The event took place on 3 August at S & J Padfield & Partners’ Codham Hall, Brentwood in Essex, where the current record was beaten by more than three minutes. Standing at 16 minutes and 30.83 seconds, it has been held by an Australian team in New South Wales for more than three years. ADM Milling’s technical team and friends at the farm smashed the record by harvesting winter wheat and using it to bake 13 loaves of bread in just 12 minutes and 42.32 seconds. “We are pleased and proud to have
brought the record back to the U.K”, said Tim Cook, managing director, ADM Milling (UK) Ltd, which will now send the necessary submissions and evidence to Guinness World Records to be officially endorsed and entered in the record books. Richard Anscombe, Chief Executive of Fram Farmers, who attended the event, said: “It’s not often that you have the opportunity to watch a Guinness World Record attempt live, so it was a pleasure to be a guest of ADM Milling, Christopher Padfield and Great Ormond Street Hospital. You could see that the team meant business, and had a welloiled machine eager for the claxon to sound and the challenge to start. Looking around, I realised that Fram Farmers, though not directly involved, had sourced the seed, fertiliser, ag-chem products and combine harvester, which made the day even more special. Well done to all for not just beating the record but setting a really tough time for others to follow.”
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