FEATURED COMPANY:
SEED PRODUCTION
SEED-SATIONAL As ever, growers are always looking to find new opportunities within their businesses, adding value, spreading risk and reducing costs. Be it a livestock farm looking to add value within its forage crop area, or an arable unit looking for alternative break crop options, the range of seed production contracts on offer may just be the answer. In addition to its well-established combinable seeds business, T Denne & Sons, based at two sites near Ashford, has developed its specialist seeds contracting business over the past decade into what is now a significant part of the company’s activities. “Our increased area of contracted grass seeds, specialist legumes and forage brassica seeds has allowed us to invest in significant extra processing capacity, warehousing and develop our fieldsman service to support growers and their on-farm agronomists,” said Fred Denne. “Our strong on farm presence and the important relationships we enjoy with key plant breeders allows us to pull together all aspects of production and processing required for high quality seed production.”
Grass seed production in the UK fell away significantly during the 1990s, with most breeders using continental growers. During the early 2000s interest began to grow again for UK production, as overall demand grew and competition from wheat for seed production intensified. On the back of this renewed interest, T Denne & Sons has gradually built a large group of long-term growers throughout the South East. “To offer a range of options to growers, and also to help manage market changes, we contract all agricultural ryegrass types, (perennials, hybrids and Italians) plus amenity species, especially dwarf ryegrasses, for which there seems almost insatiable demand at present,” said Andrew Bourne of T Denne & Sons. “Partnerships, particularly with Barenbrug UK and RAGT UK, give us access to many of the key recommended grass varieties used both in the UK and across Europe. These partnerships allow us to make our variety offer to growers both long term and up to date with new varieties coming to market.” With farm incomes under pressure (removal of subsidy support/input cost inflation) and
the need for alternative break crops on arable units, grass seed production can add a new dimension to rotations. Grass seed crops bring an obvious additional income stream for livestock/ mixed farms, but for an arable unit it can offer opportunities to cooperate with neighbours with a forage requirement. “The advice around species/variety selection, field suitability, crop management and commercial contracts is so important,” commented Pat Goode, T Denne & Sons primary “fieldsman” link with growers and their BASIS agronomists on farm. “If you get the fundamentals right at the beginning, then the chances of a successful outcome are massively increased. Decisions around timing of inputs, crop management prior to “shutting up” for seed production, crop harvesting options as well as seed conditioning in store are all major considerations, with the range of grass types >> bringing their own specialist needs.”
> As well as grass, forage and fodder seeds, T Denne & Sons has developed a rapidly growing area of wildflower seed production. While most is from naturally evolved grassland areas, some land has been specifically allocated and established with wildflower mixes to service specific market trends. The picture shows wildflowers being harvested on the North Downs in 2021. Additional suitable areas are being sought. TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883
WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET | MAY 2022
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