Gleadell Viewpoint Spring 2013

By Appointment to her Majesty The Queen.

Supplier of Quality Seeds Gleadell Agriculture Ltd Lincolnshire

Spring 2013 VOL 11, ISSUE 1 www.gleadell.co.uk

History tells us that it’s a world market The challenges faced by the

increase of 244,000 ha in the spring barley area versus the previous season.

UK arable sector have been considerable over the past months. Added to a low yielding, low quality UK harvest came the autumn deluge which impacted on winter plantings in a way not seen since the year 2000. They say that we must all learn from history and, therefore, the harvest of 2001, being the closest in recent memory to what we can expect in 2013, is worth close examination – with the large caveat that no two seasons are ever identical, and we still have some way to go before we actually see the 2013 harvest.

In 2001, following the badly impacted autumn of 2000, we produced a wheat crop of 11.6 mln mt from 1.635 mln ha at a yield of 7.1 mt per ha, some 5.1 mln mt lower than in the previous year! We began the 2001 season with high wheat stocks, 2.4 mln mt, and imports totalled 1.5 mln mt.

Of course, in 2001 we had lower domestic demand due to the lack of any bioethanol industry - which accounts for the relatively low import figure for that season - and during the season we exported around 600,000 mt of wheat. The 2001 barley crop totalled 6.6 mln mt, around what we expect in 2013, with an

In continental and eastern Europe, the harvest of 2001 was generally high yielding and of good quality. The effect on the UK market, which began the season focussed on supply limitations within the UK, was long term negative with bearish world and European influences becoming more dominant and influential as the season developed - to the extent that a UK cooperative, which had made their trading decisions based on purely UK factors, was forced to call in the receivers in April 2002.

Contents MARKET PROSPECTS

02

Gleadell’s traders discuss market prospects for feed grain, milling wheat, pulses, organics, oilseed rape, malting barley and oats.

SPOTLIGHT ON FERTILISER

04

British fertiliser for British farmers and market prospects for fertiliser.

Taking into account that there are still a lot of unknown factors surrounding the world, EU and UK harvests for 2013 (US spring crop plantings, worldwide weather, currency parities, UK crop outturn and politics to name a few), what lessons can we learn from 2001?

The main point to take on board is that world and EU influences will be more influential than purely UK issues and, because of this, we will need to keep our focus not merely on our own back yard, but firmly on

SPOTLIGHT ON Seed

06

A review of oilseed rape varieties for autumn 2013 and hybrid barley.

the progress of crops and markets much further afield.

David Sheppard, managing director, Gleadell Agriculture

SPOTLIGHT ON PULSES

07

A review of pulse varieties, agronomy and end markets.

UK Wheat/Barley Yield By Year 10

Tonne/Ha

8 6 4 2 0 1994

GLEADELL AROUND THE COUNTRY 1996

1998

2000

2002

Wheat Yield

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

Barley Yield

2013 estimated

Our offices and facilities around the country to service our farmer customers, trade customers and end users.

UK Wheat/Barley Crop Size By Year Million Tonnes

20.000 15.000 10.000

Scan the QR code to visit our web site.

5.000 0.000 1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

Wheat Crop Size

2004

2006

2008

2010

Barley Crop Size

Gleadell Agriculture Limited

2012

2013 estimated

www.gleadell.co.uk

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Pulses

Feed Grain The scenario of drought affected crops and tightening stocks for 2012/13 - which took prices up to record highs - has now been replaced with a potential rebound in global production, an improved weather outlook, and a potentially bearish feel factor for the 2013/14 season. Projections of record US corn and soy crops, in addition to large South American crops, is seen replenishing dwindling stocks but, of course, spring crops have largely still to be planted.

Global wheat production, led by the EU and Black Sea regions, is projected 4% higher.

Although, with wheat usage also set to increase, overall availability of export wheat could be lower - especially with the prospect of Black Sea countries rebuilding stocks after the low harvest of 2012 and this season’s export campaigns.

is also projected higher, 15% above the 2012 figure. And with the expectation of a record US crop, new crop pricing has encouraged some consumers to purchase corn, replacing wheat.

The UK, after surviving the second wettest year on record in 2012, which disrupted both the harvest and subsequent planting of winter crops, has seen the adverse weather continue into 2013. In some regions farmers have planted more wheat and have made a start to the expected increase in spring sowings. Winter wheat plantings are seen well down on last season (between 20-25%), leaving the UK facing the reality of being a ‘net wheat importer’ for the second successive season.

David Woodland, trader

The 2012-2013 season should probably be forgotten for many reasons - weather issues decimated most sectors and pulses were no exception. According to the statistics, we should have produced a crop with spare capacity, but the lateness of harvest and the resulting wet condition of the crop made for a tight market.

The feed market has been playing catch-up all season, with tight supplies from farm, and ever-increasing values, forcing shorts to panic buy and push values even higher, thus fuelling the problem.

Peas, surprisingly, managed to maintain their quality considering the conditions they had to endure. But yields were not good, adding fuel to an already bullish market.

Looking to 2013-14 and picking out the positives, it is clear that plantings will be increased for the coming campaign. Peas have found good interest and muchneeded support from the human consumption sector, and beans should see a significant increase in area. The human consumption market is the main support behind bean production and it is one that is constant with the Middle East consuming up to 400,000mt per year.

It has been a problematic year for all parties concerned, so let us hope things improve for 2013-14. Demand is constant - pulses remain fundamental in the rotation and they should be relatively easy to manage, providing we get the breaks.

EU soft wheat production is forecast to increase by 6%, mainly due to an expansion in area and projected yields. Corn production

Ian Skinn, pulses trader

Milling Wheat What a tricky season! I don’t think anyone can remember a year where the UK crop has produced such universally poor quality. Millers and merchants have had to think on their feet, and together we have generally been able to find a way to utilise this sub-standard wheat.

Imports from all over the globe have been a significant feature of the UK milling market with German, French, Danish, Canadian, and now

Organics Can anyone remember a worse harvest season than 2012? If so, no doubt you are enjoying a healthy retirement!

Extremely low yields and poor quality have been the real issue for growers. Fortunately, compounders have taken this on board, and quickly reacted to give sensible fall-backs in order to accommodate the poor quality crop.

Millers have also adjusted their quality at intake and paid good premiums for minimum 72 kg / 200 hagberg

02

US wheat all coming in to blend into the millers grists. The concern is now is that we may have actually imported more foreign wheat than we require. Low-grade milling premiums are starting to shows signs of cracking and, whilst we don’t think the Group 1 premiums will collapse, we think the season highs could well be in.

the import values are setting their ideas on new crop premiums. The violent swings in currency, as well as the volatile feed market, make it difficult to predict where the flat price will be - but the forward-thinking milling wheat grower may be well advised to hedge some of their feed base price.

The new crop milling market has all to play for.

Plantings of bread making varieties make up 19% of the area, down sharply year on year. Group 3s make up 16%, which is roughly unchanged.

Millers have enjoyed the consistent quality that the imported wheat has given them this year, and

However, there is a lot of weather and a long growing season to go before we’ll know the quality of the crop, and we would be reluctant to lock into the milling premiums just yet until we know more about the quality of the crop.

through to full specification.

By and large, spring crops have fared much better with good kg weight for milling oats and malting barley. Much of the UK crop has now been sold and feed compounders have, from the outset, supplemented their required usage with imported substitutes such as Maize, Lucerne and Sugar Beet Pulp.

Prices have risen to higher levels in line with conventional crops, which has helped, but it is the yield factor that has suffocated an acceptable return on investment. So we now enter the new crop scenario where we already have concerns for the winter crop.

Jonathan Lane, trading manager

Much will depend on spring conditions where we all hope that a wider window of opportunity has been achieved. We all know that support for the Organic sector in the UK is lagging behind the EU and the rest of the world where there is still growth. All sectors of the UK Organic industry have been called upon to lobby DEFRA Ministers to urgently give more support and a much higher profile than is presently being done. The UK is known to have the highest standards in the world, yet we are behind in terms of growth.

Much can be done to redress this as we know the UK has huge consumer potential.

Tony Kenny, organic trader

MARKET PROSPECTS

Oats Another challenging season on the oat market draws towards a conclusion. We have seen a huge influx of high quality oats from Finland and Sweden which has helped to carry the relatively poor winter crop. Spring oats, with better sunshine hours at ripening, have to some extent saved the day.

Prices have eased towards new crop levels.

Harvest 2013 has the propensity to surprise the market. Winter plantings are expected to be down, with reduced seed supply, and difficult winter conditions could produce reduced yields.

The significant increase in spring oat plantings in theory puts a lid on the market - but these oats will need the right balance of sun and rain.

Mascani, Gerald and Dalguise still remain the preferred winter varieties, with Canyon leading the way on the spring acreage - which will be the largest for many years. This increase is a fortuitous gain for the oat miller, but is likely to be short-lived as much of this land will revert to winter cropping in the autumn.

The demand for oats remains steady, and a good UK crop should substantially reduce imports. Many growers were able to upgrade their winter oats, which augers well for the future, as presenting the right quality to the oat miller remains crucial as standards tighten.

Malting Barley The fundamentals of the UK market are changing. World beer sales are rising 2% per annum, and Scottish distilling demand is going through the roof, with Diageo set to spend £1bn over the next five years. At the same time, the world barley area is in decline. All of this points to supply coming under pressure, which will underpin malting premiums for the foreseeable future.

This coming season may be the exception, with the EU spring barley area estimated up 5%, and the UK up 40%+. But can we realistically expect a big UK malting surplus with the extra spring area likely to be drilled into poorly structured, wet, heavy wheat land and a lot of the extra seed being imported and not of the varieties the UK needs? With spring premiums currently around £15/T for 1.85 Nitrogen and feed prices strong, there is little incentive for new barley growers to take the risk of going for malting.

Robert Leachman, oats trader

On a positive note, we have low malt stocks going into the season, and it will be essential to have at least a ‘good’ EU malting crop. We also have increased demand for distilling type barley.

Just like the Null-Lox contracts, there are some very attractive Non-GN distilling contracts available - but these are at maximum 1.65 Nitrogen, which is not an easy specification to meet, and we recommend this option is only for the most experienced malting growers.

UK Barley area downward trend.

Down by 60% in the last 40 years

There are also some exciting new varieties in the pipeline such as the winter variety SY Venture, Non-GN distilling springs, Odyssey and Overture, and the high yielding brewing type, Sanette. There is also a raft of new Null-Lox spring varieties, which have increased yield, agronomic and trait processing benefits - and are backed by Carlsberg and Heineken. The future looks bright for UK malting growers.

Stuart Shand, sales director

Oilseed Rape With spring officially here, our attention is increasingly turning to new crop. Around Europe, crops are generally looking pretty good with Germany and the Ukraine expecting to see increases in production. If only the UK was in the same situation. Having conducted some fairly extensive anecdotal based research, we are becoming increasingly pessimistic about the state of the UK rapeseed crop.

Based upon our current data, we are now forecasting 2013/14 production in the UK at a little over 1.7mln t compared to last season’s 2.5mln t. In an ideal world, small crops should bring higher prices - but the UK is unfortunately alone with its problems

and the expectation of higher output in mainland Europe and the Black Sea could well undermine prices in medium to longer term.

As an added complication, our UK domestic prices continue to be buffeted by the swings in the currency which have been wild recently.

It is worth noting that each one cent move translates into a £3 move in UK farm gate prices, and this can certainly make for a very volatile market.

UK farmers are currently faced with a tough decision - do they sell what are good prices knowing that the crops in the ground are in bad shape … or do they wait with the expectation that market is likely to come under increasing pressure the closer to harvest we get, but with the hope that a weather problem elsewhere saves the day.

Jonathan Lane, trading manager

Gleadell Agriculture

03

SPOTLIGHT ON FERTILISER British fertiliser for British farmers Traceability, certification, audit trail – until recently these were not the most inspiring words in the English language but, in light of the ongoing horse meat scandal, they have taken on a new importance. With this in mind it is good to know that Gleadell now supplies fertilisers which are manufactured exclusively in Britain for British farmers.

The appointment of

together. That has more to do with quality, service

Billingham on Teesside. The Chester site traces

Gleadell as a partner

and value for money. These three are what farmers

its origins back via Kemira and UKF, and fertiliser

distributor for GrowHow

need from their fertilisers to allow them to produce

was first produced at Ince in 1965. The Billingham

UK was announced

the yield and quality that the millers, maltsters,

site has an even more illustrious history. More

at the end of last year. GrowHow is now the only

feed compounders, oilseed crushers and other

recently operated by Terra, it was originally set up

manufacturer still making nitrogen fertiliser in

processors demand.

by ICI, one of the pioneers of ammonium nitrate

Britain. Traceability is assured, not only because

Commenting on the appointment last November,

fertiliser. Indeed, ammonia was first produced at

the company is a founder member of FIAS (the Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme), but also because fertiliser is delivered direct from the factory to the farm. This minimises the number of links in the supply chain and, as the horse meat scandal is proving, the fewer links, the less chance of something going wrong.

But traceability, important as it is, was not the main reason that the two companies decided to work

Stuart Shand, Sales Director of Gleadell Agriculture

the Billingham site in the 1920s.

summed this up well: “We recognise that

Both plants work on a 24/7, 365 days a year

GrowHow’s products and service have a strong

schedule with the exception of statutory shutdowns

appeal to our customers, both those who grow the

for maintenance and safety work. Nitram, the UK’s

crops and those who process them.”

leading ammonium nitrate fertiliser, is produced at

GrowHow is still a relatively new company. It

both sites. Ince also manufactures a range of NS,

was formed in October 2007, but its origins go back much further. Today, there are two fertiliser production sites at Ince near Chester and in

NPKS and NPK compounds, including the popular sulphur grades, DoubleTop, SingleTop and Sulphur Gold.

Reducing emissions Much of the recent investment has been targeted at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, the installation of nitrous oxide abatement technology at Billingham in early 2011 has had a dramatic impact on the company’s carbon footprint.

The figures, which have recently been independently certified by the Carbon Trust, speak for themselves. The abatement technology has removed over 90% of nitrous oxide produced during nitric acid manufacture. So, in the first year of operation there has been a 40% reduction in the carbon footprint of Nitram.

Investment at the Billingham site has reduced the carbon footprint of Nitram by 40%.

Quality matters As the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Ken Hayes explains: “GrowHow aims to be the first choice for British farmers when purchasing their fertiliser needs.”

He continues: “We have been listening to farmer customers and they tell us that this means we must provide quality products which offer great value for money.”

But, producing quality products with excellent spreading characteristics does not happen by chance. For example, in the late 1990s, in response to the decline in sulphur deposition from the atmosphere, the company pioneered the development of sulphur-containing fertilisers, investing in technology to manufacture a range of true granular sulphur compounds.

“Since the launch of GrowHow UK in 2007, we have invested more than £150 million to improve product quality, environmental performance and to develop a product range that meets farmers’ needs. This is a big number, but such investment is essential to keep up with technological changes and to ensure a future for British fertiliser for British farmers.”

04

Today, GrowHow is the only fertiliser manufacturer to produce product carbon footprints certified by the Carbon Trust for its entire fertiliser range.

This gives everyone in the food chain a full transparent picture of the company’s performance. But farmers also have a role to play in minimising their fertiliser carbon footprint by using fertilisers as efficiently as possible.

This means taking advantage of the best tools on offer including GrowHow’s N-Min Service (soil N sampling and N-Calc) and the company’s fertiliser planning software, EnCompass.

SPOTLIGHT ON FERTILISER

Sulphur essential for yield and quality Up until the late 1980s sulphur deficiency was rarely seen. Industrial processes GrowHow’s Arable Agronomist Allison Grundy.

and, particularly power generation, produced huge amounts of sulphur dioxide so that crops received all the sulphur they needed.

But times have changed as GrowHow’s Arable Agronomist, Allison Grundy explains: “With the average deposition of sulphur across the UK now around 6kg S/ha, and even high deposition areas getting no more than 10kg S/ha, the rule of thumb should be, use sulphur routinely, unless adequate sulphur deposition is proven.”

This advice is not just for sulphur hungry crops like oilseed rape.

Trials with sulphur fertilisers invariably result in a yield increase. Typically these are around 10% in cereals and 20% in oilseed rape, although individual sites will vary.

In malting barley yield increases of almost 50% have been achieved.

Sulphur improves N-use efficiency Sulphur improves the efficiency of N uptake to increase yield and improve quality. It is instrumental in the synthesis of oils in oilseed rape. In milling wheat it is needed to produce the glutenins which give wheat flour its elasticity and in malting barley it helps to keep grain N content down.

“Because it improves N uptake, sulphur brings an added bonus,” she adds. “It minimises the risk of leaching and losses to the environment - and that’s something which shouldn’t be forgotten as farmers try to produce more and impact less.”

the spring when crops are actively growing and able to take it up.”

GrowHow’s current advice is that all cereals, in particular wheats destined for bread making, should receive 50kg SO3/ha. This can be achieved by replacing the first application of Nitram with a product like DoubleTop or, where Soil Nitrogen Supply is low, use Sulphur Gold which delivers a higher N content. The recommended rate for oilseed rape was reconfirmed in ADAS-run trials last year. It is 112 kg SO3/ha or three bags of DoubleTop. In the trial the extra £25/ha investment

way as nitrogen: “Like nitrate, sulphate is readily

in the sulphur product delivered £70/ha worth of

available to the crop. This also means that sulphur

extra yield.

With tightening grain markets, this will help

product. This year they are far more prepared.

to stimulate fertiliser sales in 2013/14, so an

Statistics show that the US have imported over

increase in demand is forecast. This being met

4 mt of urea between July 2012 and February

by an expanding supply capacity projected for

2013, an increase of 38% over the same period

all three major nutrients during 2013: 4% for

the previous year, so a lot of the planned

nitrogen, 5% for phosphorus, and 5% for potash.

requirements may well be already in position.

In the UK, poor weather conditions have delayed

As we enter Q2 with new production coming

buying from both the arable and grassland

on stream we could see prices come under

sectors, with up to 1 million tonnes of fertiliser

pressure.

Market Prospects

are being pressurised due to exchange rates

World nutrient sales had an unexpected pause

gas supply problems in Egypt rumble on, and

in 2012 which effected both production and

pricing now looks to have established a firm

trade levels. The global slowdown by key

footing for the time being. Urea prices have

consumers depressed fertiliser sales, and

moved higher during the February/March period,

a reduction was seen in all segments of the

although further demand is needed now to

fertiliser industry, demand being serviced

maintain prices going further forwards.

in some areas by stocks held in distribution

Urea prices took off at the end of February

by imports.

as ammonium sulphate should only be applied in

In the soil, sulphur behaves in much the same

still needed on farms in the spring period. Prices

systems and by consumers rather than

is prone to leaching so fertilisers containing sulphur

Calum Findlay, fertiliser manager

increasing the price of all raw materials at a time when demand has finally started to surface.

The continued unrest and the well-documented

last year, accelerating during March as the US were in danger of being caught short of Gleadell Agriculture

05

SPOTLIGHT ON SEED FOR AUTUMN 2013 Oilseed rape varieties

Avatar, which was sold last year in its candidate stages, comes onto the Recommended List (RL) at 104% treated gross output. The variety has stiff straw and is the earliest maturing of the new additions, giving harvest flexibility.

Troy is a new short-height hybrid variety from breeder DSV and looks to be of high interest.

It is 102% of control - just 4% behind the market leader PR46W21 - but with a 9 for stem stiffness and 6 for resistance to light leaf spot. Troy has the added benefits of cost savings for management and harvesting with a plant height of 139cm vs. W21 at 163cm.

Ginfizz is a new candidate variety from RAGT and looks very interesting as it has been extremely consistent over two very different years. The variety is 6% ahead of Excalibur and 3% ahead of DK Cabernet in candidate trials. Also it has a 7 for Phoma/Stem Canker resistance and is extremely early to mature, scoring a 7 on the candidate list – the same as Excalibur. It is well suited to all regions and soil types and offers growers a superb all-round variety.

Incentive is another exciting candidate variety, this time from breeder DSV with high gross output – around 108% in E&W candidate trials - also top of Northern candidate trials at 109%. This is 10% ahead of DK Cabernet and 7% above Excalibur. The variety has good oil content, is early to mature, and has good all round disease resistance.

Rivalda is a new conventional variety on the E&W RL. It is similar in many ways to DK Cabernet, but slightly earlier to flower, so could see some interest this year.

Pendulum is a new conventional variety from Limagrain on the Northern List, and would also suit growers in the E&W region. This high-yielding variety has had one year’s extra trial data and also looks to perform very consistently. It is medium maturing, with stiff straw and high gross output.

Varieties including PR46W21 will once again be popular this year – along with farmer favourites Compass and Excalibur.

Gleadell continue to advise growers to spread their oilseed rape crop across a number of varieties in terms of maturity group to spread harvest workload.

Chris Guest, seed manager

06

Hybrid barley James Taylor-Alford, Syngenta portfolio manager, explains that cereal growers looking to boost their yield of winter feed barley could achieve this from autumn 2013 as the company re-launches its high-yielding hybrid barley under the new brand name of Hyvido.

Linked to this re-launch, Syngenta has plans to back performance by offering a yield guarantee free with the seed - while significant investment in seed production and supply are set to make the hybrid technology more widely available.

There are clearly a lot of growers looking to increase their winter barley yields whether to reduce cost of production per tonne, to have more barley to sell, or to have more available for feeding to livestock.

The hybrid barley Volume – now known as Hyvido Volume – has already set a benchmark for winter feed barley yields.

But, in addition, results from on-farm comparisons have shown that hybrid barley, when grown on a larger scale using farm inputs, has yielded over a tonne more than conventional barleys.

We are now looking to increase security of seed supply to make this high-yielding crop more readily available to growers. Investment in Hyvido seed production has already increased fourfold and, over the next few years, it is set to double again.

That could allow more growers to capitalise on its benefits - not just of high yield, but also in other areas, such as its efficient use of nitrogen fertiliser.

The benefits of Hyvido lie in the hybrid vigour produced after planting the seed, as it is produced by crossing genetically dissimilar barley parent plants together, producing offspring that are more vigorous than the parents. Hybrid vigour can be seen as the season progresses - we have seen flag leaves up to three times bigger than a conventional, as well as Hyvido producing up to 70% more total root length.

Extra rooting is associated with improved scavenging for water and nutrients, and increased stress tolerance. This ability to harvest nutrients and natural resources is a key explanation why Hyvido performs so well and yields so consistently. Also why it can

perform even in challenging situations such as drought or poorer soils. Indeed, with its ability to scavenge for nutrients, trial have shown that, across a range of nitrogen doses, Hyvido consistently gave more yield than a conventional variety from the same amount of applied nitrogen.

Grain yield is made up of three components – the number of ears per square metre, the number of grains per ear, and the average grain weight. Trials have shown that Hyvido delivers yield through improvements in all three of these areas.

Hyvido is not difficult to grow, even though it is high-yielding. With around 10 years experience of hybrid barley, Syngenta have put a lot of work into understanding its agronomy and have developed a growing approach to help growers get the best from it. As well as information on the lower seed rates needed for Hyvido to take account of its high tillering capacity, there is also information on nitrogen timings, disease control and canopy management.

For example, with the large canopy of Hyvido it is well worth protecting it against disease to maximise green leaf area. The combination of Hyvido with new-generation SDHI fungicide chemistry offers an ideal solution to help it reach its potential. IZM – which is the SDHI contained in the fungicides Bontima and Cebara - is an excellent match.

Not only does its long-lasting protection help maximise green leaf retention, but the disease resistance ratings of Hyvido Volume are complemented by IZM’s disease control strengths.

SPOTLIGHT ON SEED

SPOTLIGHT ON PULSES Growing peas successfully • Calculate optimum plant population to provide the greatest economic yield (allow for 5 - 10% seed bed loss):

Spring pea varieties Peas are an excellent spring option for growers, the key is to grow a specific variety for an end market – and the aesthetics are as important as the standing power, yield and disease resistance in this case.

Marrowfats tend to be the highest value pea – and

is currently Gregor – it has a bold sample and has

are mainly grown on contract for an end user, key

good standing power. Finally moving to the large

varieties are Kabuki and Neon although there are

blue types – Prophet has been the mainstay of

other options.

this sector for some time, however, a new variety

The next area is the white pea. In the past, this

called Daytona has already created a lot of interest

type of variety was simply grown as a feed type, however, there are now a number of different uses for the varieties. The variety of choice in this sector

– yields have been very good – it is an early variety to ripen with excellent standing power, which is of paramount importance for growers, along with solid all round agronomic features.

Increasing demand for UK pulses Seed and pulse processors Dunns supply specialist premium quality pulse products for human consumption markets worldwide. Market demand is based on the fact that pulses are healthy, high protein and high fibre foods. The company’s pulse products are destined for customers in the UK and throughout the world.

Dunns have now been awarded the Grade

canning and packeted products for

A British Retail Consortium (BRC) ‘Global

supermarkets, mushy peas for the traditional

Standard for Food Safety’ certificate as the

fish and chip shop trade, split green peas for

company continues to develop end use markets

soups and casseroles, and yellow peas for

for UK pulses and pulse growers.

grinding into flours for ethnic recipes. While the

This award is good news for UK pulse growers

dry roasted bar snacks and sweet pea paste are

as it means that the site satisfies the stringent

for confectionery products in the Far East.

BRC requirements as Dunns continue to

Dunns are no longer just an agricultural facility

develop end uses for added value human

– they are also a food factory, taking in quality

consumption pulse products. This certification

pulses and converting them into value added

covers the processing operations – cleaning,

food products. So, the traceable production

skinning, splitting and packing of Dunns

process forms a key part of the priority given to

premium quality pulses for worldwide human

the quality of our products, and the BRC award

consumption markets.

underlines that commitment.

The products produced on the site include

Franek Smith, trader

Dunns of Long Sutton were established in 1834 and, hence, have a long involvement in the pulse crop.

The company is now 100% owned by Gleadell, trading as a stand alone business. Dunns are one of the largest pulse processors in the UK and produce specialist premium quality pulse products for worldwide human consumption markets, in addition to being a major UK agricultural seed wholesale company.

Required population x 1000 seed weight

% germination

100 100 – seed bed loss

• Don’t rush planting - it is better to wait for good soil conditions rather than stick to calendar dates.

• Choose varieties with good downy mildew resistance. If not possible, apply a seed treatment for control of primary downy mildew. This will also give control of seed-borne diseases such as Ascochyta pisi and Mycosphaerella pinodes.

• Plan a cost effective pre-emergence herbicide programme based on one of the products/tank mixes available.

• Control the main diseases of peas, Grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) and Mycosphaerella, by spraying at first pod set. If the weather continues to be changeable, a second spray should be applied later.

• Control the main pests of peas weevils, aphids and pea moth - by careful monitoring and well timed insecticide sprays.

• Harvest in good time to maintain quality - leaving peas in the field during showery, sunny weather results in bleaching which adversely affects quality.

• Do not over-dry as quality can be affected very quickly when peas are over-dried – especially important if going for human consumption or seed.

More information can be found on the PGRO website at www.pgro.org.

PGRO members can obtain further information by calling 01780 782585.

Becky Ward, PGRO principal technical officer

Gleadell Agriculture

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GLEADELL AROUND THE COUNTRY

1

2

… IN THE MIDLANDS

Gleadell Agriculture have moved their Midlands office to 62 High Street, St Martins, Stamford. Four farm traders are now working from the office covering South Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Warwickshire.

taken to move the office to Stamford. Our new office should lead to an improved service to all customers in the region due to the high internet speeds available in Stamford compared to our previous more rural locations.

Sara Skelton, Luke Phipps and Fran Bradley have all welcomed the appointment of Amy Turner - a graduate of the Royal Agricultural College - who is now establishing herself within the Midlands region. Amy is a farmer’s daughter from Rutland who has been farm trading at Gleadell since harvest 2012.

The Midlands region has become one of Gleadell’s strongest in the UK, and we believe the move to Stamford will enhance our position further and improve our offer to growers. Any farmer customers visiting Stamford are welcome to call in to see their farm trader.

The original office in the Midlands was based at Thorpe Arnold in 2005 before moving into Lyndon near Oakham in 2008. Due to the on-going success of the team, and the expansion in the region, the decision was

62 High Street, St Martins, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2LQ

… IN THE NORTH-WEST

YORKSHIRE OFFICE

5

Suite 15, West Lancs Investment Centre, White Moss Business Park, Skelmersdale WN8 9TG

T 01780 758040 F 01780 758041

… IN YORKSHIRE

5

NORTH-WEST OFFICE

2

The Airfield, Full Sutton, York YO41 1HS

6

T 01695 722725 F 01695 722074

3

MIDLANDS OFFICE

T 01759 375660 F 01759 375661

7

… AT AVONMOUTH

6

... AT IMMINGHAM

8 1 8

3

4 … IN THE SOUTH

… IN LINCOLNSHIRE

7

4

SOUTHERN OFFICE

LINCOLNSHIRE OFFICE

The Old Dairy, East Farm, Codford St Mary, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 0PG

Lindsey House, Hemswell Cliff, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 5TH

T 01985 851600 F 01985 851610

T 01427 421200 F 01427 421230

Farmer Focus Group Visit to Paris On 26 and 27 February twenty-five members of the first Gleadell Farmer Focus Group, accompanied by five Gleadell staff, visited InVivo’s headquarters on the Avenue de la Grande Armée, Paris.

The group heard a variety of presentations from the InVivo team, including Jeremy Macklin, Deputy Director General, on the inputs and advice InVivo provide to their co-operative members.

We also heard from their Grain Trading team on future market prospects, and from the Chief Executive of InVivo, Patrice Gollier, on the vital role InVivo perform for the French farming sector. The group were then able to sample the best of French cuisine in InVivo’s renowned 8th Floor restaurant.

The first Gleadell Farmer Focus Groups were formed in 2012, and have met regularly since.

The four groups have provided useful feedback on Gleadell’s system and products. The opportunity to exchange ideas on how our industry operates - particularly in a season like this one - has been much appreciated by all participants.

The second round of Farmer Focus Groups will be launched in October 2013.

8

… IN EAST ANGLIA AND at GREAT YARMOUTH

EAST ANGLIA OFFICE Beacon House, Turbine Way, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7H­T T 01760 726510 F 01760 726520

www.gleadell.co.uk DISCLAIMER: Prices quoted are indicative only at the time of going to press and subject to location and quality. Gleadell Agriculture cannot accept liability arising from errors or omissions in this publication.

HEAD OFFICE Lindsey House, Hemswell Cliff, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 5TH

T 01427 421200 F 01427 421230

Gleadell Agriculture Limited

www.gleadell.co.uk