AtlasFram

ONE YEAR ON…

National Farmer revisits AtlasFram one year on…

ant to know what an

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effective farmers’ cooperative looks like? Then look no further than AtlasFram, the UK’s foremost farmerowned purchasing/marketing cooperative.

Operating to true cooperative principles, we are forging ahead, delivering the best service and information to Members, supported by the best value and advice.

Unsurprisingly, our achievements are increasingly recognised by farmers and the wider business community.

I never tire of explaining how AtlasFram differs from other so-called farmers’ cooperatives, most of which are much like any other commercial suppliers. What sets us apart is that we work solely in the best interests of Members, return all rebates in full and do not look to make money out of them in volatile markets.

Our history… t is remarkable that when the seeds of the AtlasFram Group were sown over 50 years ago the founders had the foresight to recognise the benefits which farmers could achieve by pooling their purchasing power. Five decades later the concept is even more relevant and AtlasFram has become the UK’s leading farmer-owned inputs purchasing and crop marketing business.

The 1960s was a period of burgeoning scientific and commercial advancement in agriculture, which alerted a few farsighted individuals to the adage ‘United we stand, divided we fall’.

Plant breeding, fertilisers, agrochemicals and mechanisation merged into one great wave, sweeping the industry into uncharted waters which were potentially rich, but certainly not shark-free.

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Many existing farmer-owned businesses were saddled with highcost infrastructures, paving the way for leaner, more agile ‘co-operatives’ to fill the gap. Amongst them were Framlingham Farmers, West Essex Farmers and Cambridge Farmers Trading Company, which laid the foundations for the AtlasFram Group.

During the early years, the priority was to obtain good local sources of supply for fertilisers, fuel and feedingstuffs. The Group carried no stock, so it could source from the best suppliers, at the best prices.

That’s still true today, although prices have changed somewhat. Back then, Fisons 42 fertiliser (16.9.9) was sourced for £29.30/ton, a 22s CLICK HERE H ERE 6d/ton discount over merchants’ prices and 10s/ton better than even tough-negotiating farmers could achieve.

“Approaching the end of the financial year we were significantly ahead of budget, having recorded a 5.7% increase in invoice volumes and a 15% increase in livestock products, reflecting the great job that Tim Styles and his team are doing in price negotiation, understanding markets and delivering excellent service.”

Richard Anscombe Chief Executive Due to its impeccable reputation, AtlasFram is attracting professional arable and livestock farmers who recognise the quantifiable benefits of belonging to a large, expertlymanaged cooperative focusing solely on their needs. We save arable farmers £15 - £75/hectare on inputs and dairy farmers 1 – 1.5ppl in their cost of production. All Members also save on administration and benefit from access to our team of Product Specialists.

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ONE YEAR ON…

On track to raise £10,000+ for charity in Three Peaks Challenge team from Suffolk-based AtlasFram Group, the UK’s foremost farmers’ co-operative, has raised almost £10,000 for charity this week by successfully completing the Three Peaks Challenge. A grueling test of endurance, it involves climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, and travelling more than 260 miles between them, within 24 hours.

The 11-strong team of Graham Aldrich, Tim Styles, Barry Howard, Ashley Gilman, Katya Wilkinson, Andrew Merton, Peter Waite, Tyrone Campbell-Twells, Abbie Lyon, Amy Peach, and Ed Thomson completed the challenge in just 23 hours and four minutes.

Praising his team’s achievement Richard Anscombe, AtlasFram Group’s Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted for everyone who took part in the Three Peaks Challenge and with what they have achieved. We pride ourselves on being a very

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closely-knit, highly-motivated and professional team, working solely for the benefit of our farmer members throughout the UK. These qualities and same, selfless team spirit were evident throughout the months of preparation which went into completing this tough event. The training was intensive, the preparation exemplary and the camaraderie excellent. We are already planning our next challenge, which will be different but probably equally demanding and all in aid of good causes.”

Working to a carefully-scheduled itinerary which had been planned with military precision, the team left the AtlasFram office in Framlingham at 2pm on Friday and stopped overnight in Lancashire before pressing on to the West Coast of Scotland on Saturday morning. At 4.45pm they started out on the first stage of the challenge, the 10.5-mile walk to the 1343m summit of Ben Nevis and back down again, which was completed in five hours.

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Driving through the night, the team reached Wasdale Head in Cumbria at 3.15am on Sunday and immediately began the 5.6-mile, 977m ascent of Scafell Pike, the climb and descent taking just four hours. Leaving Cumbria at 8am, the group then headed to the Pen-y-Pass in North Wales, starting the 6.5-mile climb of Mount Snowdon at lunchtime on Sunday and reaching the 1085m summit in two and a half hours.

Leaving North Wales at 5pm on Sunday the team arrived back in Framlingham at 11pm, having walked 22.6 miles, climbed 3405m and travelled 1342miles.

Having initially set out to raise £5000 for Cancer Research and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution the AtlasFram team has almost doubled that figure, with donations from the cooperatives’ 1250 farmer.

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ONE YEAR ON…

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New oilseeds contracts maximise returns to AtlasFram Members armers who are Members of the AtlasFram Group, the UK’s foremost inputs purchasing and grain marketing cooperative, can now benefit from two new oilseed rape marketing contracts as part of the Group’s highly-successful alliance with ADM Direct.

The first offers AtlasFram Members an additional £15 per tonne premium over and above normal quality premiums for standard double-zero oilseed rape, for the next five years. It is available to Members whose farms are certified by Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF), one of the leading organisations promoting sustainable food and farming. The launch of the new contract is particularly well timed as LEAF has recently started working with

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ADM Direct on a new supply chain initiative, while AtlasFram Group has joined LEAF and is encouraging its Members to gain LEAF Marque Certification.

Explaining the background to the new contract, Barry Howard of ADM Direct states: “ADM is one of the main suppliers of rape oil in the UK and one of our large customers is looking to source their rapeseed oil from sustainable sources. The customer has identified that the standard ‘Red Tractor’ label does not provide all of the assurances it needs to meet this objective, but has agreed to accept products produced on farms which are LEAF-approved under the LEAF Marque scheme. Although LEAF Marque has traditionally been associated with vegetable production its influence is now extending to the combinable crop sector and beyond. We believe that the five-year supply contract which ADM Direct has negotiated with the customer will provide AtlasFram Members with the long-term reassurance they need to fulfil an exciting new opportunity.” >>>

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ONE YEAR ON…

>>> Ashley Gilman (pictured right), Group Business Manager for AtlasFram Group, adds: “LEAF Marque will provide our Members with a genuine commercial advantage in the demanding premium and assured food markets. AtlasFram is a Corporate Member of LEAF and our Members are able to join LEAF at a discounted rate. Suffolk FWAG, a registered LEAF advisor which joined AtlasFram in January, will be able to help our Members to achieve LEAF Marque status.”

The second new contract offers AtlasFram Members a premium of up to £35 per tonne for High Oleic, Low Linolenic (HOLL) oilseed rape, in addition to standard oilseed rape quality bonuses. Bred specifically to meet the requirements of the bulk frying industry, HOLL oilseed rape produces oil which enables food manufacturers to change from palm oil and reduce saturated fat levels in fried or processed foods, resulting in ‘healthier’ products. Until recently, yields from HOLL varieties have fallen short of those produced by conventional double-zero varieties, which offset some of the quality premium and reduced their attractiveness to growers.

This changed with the recent introduction of two new Vistive

hybrid varieties, V275OL and V280OL. These provide similar yield performance to conventional hybrids but their valuable high oleic, low linolenic oil profile means that they generate a very high gross output.

V275OL was the first commercial Vistive hybrid oilseed rape to bring yield performance in line with other winter oilseed rape varieties. Characterised by its high oil content, this mid-early maturing winter variety is suitable for all regions of the UK and all situations. V280OL, a mid-early maturing variety, is slightly lower-yielding but has a very high (46.2%) oil content.

Its Linolenic oil content is significantly lower than the threshold required under contract specifications, making it very attractive to end users.

Having more than doubled its Vistive contract requirements for the coming season ADM Direct is looking to secure a significant additional area of HOLL oilseed rape from AtlasFram Members, who will be able to gain premiums from £25 per tonne over and above standard OSR quality bonuses for harvest delivery and up to £35 per tonne for delivery from September onwards.

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Leading UK farmers’ cooperative wins Anglian Business Award tlasFram Group, the UK’s foremost farmer-owned cooperative, has triumphed at the 2012 Anglian Business Awards, winning the ‘Medium to Large Business’ category. Open to any business with an annual turnover exceeding £5 million and which can demonstrate enterprise, commitment to staff and corporate social responsibility, the Award was presented at a gala dinner attended by over 300 guests in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Established in 1960, the Suffolk-based AtlasFram Group is a highly-successful farmer-owned cooperative with an annual turnover of £168 million and an exceptionally strong balance sheet. The business provides its 1250 Members, who collectively farm more than 300,000 hectares, with a professional, impartial and reliable farm inputs purchasing and crop marketing service. Due to its impeccable reputation, AtlasFram attracts professional arable and livestock farmers from all over the UK who recognise the value of belonging to a large, expertly-managed cooperative which operates entirely on their behalf.

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Membership of AtlasFram saves arable farmers £15 £75/hectare on their input costs, while dairy farmers benefit from a saving of 1–1.5 pence per litre in production costs. In addition, Members save time and money on administration because all farm requirements can be sourced with a single ‘phone call or email to AtlasFram, which issues a single monthly invoice showing all transactions. >>>

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ONE YEAR ON…

Leading UK farmers’ cooperative wins Anglian Business Award >>> In addition to financial savings on a wide range of farm inputs, Members also benefit from access to AtlasFram’s Product Specialists.

Working solely in the best interests of the farmer shareholders, they provide expert advice on a wide range of farming-related issues, suggest when to place orders toobtain the best prices in volatile markets and ensure that products are delivered on time, to the right location.

AtlasFram Group has demonstrated real innovation in developing a range of new ahliances, products and services. Two years ago, for example, it took a major step forward by establishing a unique marketing alliance with ADM Direct, the purchasing arm of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), one of the world’s major millers an` oilseed rape crushers.

Benefited Members have already benefited from the best marketing information, new initiatives such as the Targeted Marketing Scheme and various variety-related premiums, while AtlasFram pools have provided protection against extreme price movements and delivered significantly higher returns than many competitors.

The Group’s pool tonnage commitment has subsequently increased from 80,000 to 150,000 tonnes due an excellent track record and a committed

marketing strategy. Members have also benefited from two new oilseed rape marketing contracts with ADM Direct. The first offers an additional £15/tonne premium over normal quality premiums for standard doublezero oilseed rape, for the next five years and is available to Members whose farms are certified by Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF), of which AtlasFram Group is a corporate member. The second offers a premium of up to £35/tonne for High Oleic, Low Linolenic (HOLL) oilseed rape, in addition to standard oilseed rape quality bonuses. >>>

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ONE YEAR ON‌

Leading UK farmers’ cooperative wins Anglian Business Award >>> AtlasFram Group operates a unique Machinery Purchasing Scheme which is the most successful of its type in the UK, enabling farm businesses to enjoy significant rebates on a wide range of agricultural equipment, over and above the discounts they negotiate with an official UK dealer. AtlasFram is the only organisation able to offer access to the most preferential terms on Case IH equipment as part of the largest fleet deal in Europe. Following the demise of the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), a national organisation which promoted environmentallyresponsible farming, Suffolk FWAG became part of the AtlasFram Group at the start of 2012. Operating as an independent farmer-led, not-for-profit organisation, Suffolk

FWAG employs six staff and delivers a valuable service to 440 farmers, including 133 AtlasFram Members.

AtlasFram Group, which recently launched a new website that is the most advanced of its type, is a keen supporter of the local community and charities. It sponsors a number of Young Farmer events throughout the year, including the Suffolk Farms Competition in conjunction with the Suffolk Agricultural Association, as well as working very closely with Young Farmer Clubs to support the next generation of farmers. On 14th July 2012 AtlasFram staff will raise money for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and Cancer Research by undertaking the grueling Three Peaks Challenge. >>>

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As part of the Barrett Steel Group, Yarmouth Steel have the backing of one of the UK’s largest steel stockholders, with it’s own transport fleet, multi million pound processing facilities and over 60,000 tonnes of steel stock.

As a nationwide steel stockholder we are pleased to be associated with Atlas Fram Ltd and we wish them continued success.

YARMOUTH Steel Services

We have access to over 60,000 tonnes of steel stock which includes · Heavy Sections · Flats, Plates & Sheet · Angles, Rounds & Squares

· Hollow Sections & ERW · Bright Bar · Handrailing

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As a technologically driven business, we are also constantly innovating and continually investing in the latest technology.

Punching and Shearing System S for both flats and angles. Ideal for the production of base plates, trusses, connection plates and braces.

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ONE YEAR ON…

Agri-hire is pleased to supply AtlasFram with our quality range of muck spreaders, trailers and the full range of Dowsdwell ploughs and parts.

Fidgeons Farm, Bullen Lane, Bramford, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 4JJ.

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>>> Commenting on the Anglian Business Award, AtlasFram Group’s Chief Executive Richard Anscombe (pictured right) states: “We are delighted that our vision and strategy of being the UK’s foremost farmer-owned purchasing and marketing cooperative, delivering the best service and information, supported by the best value and advice, has been recognised by the wider business community. It demonstrates what can be achieved by a highly committed, talented, professional and flexible team of individuals who work closely together.

Operating within a very enterprising corporate environment, they are empowered and invested in to take the business forward for the benefit of our farmer shareholder Members, who regard us an extension of their own business.

“We believe that the AtlasFram Group will fulfil an expanding role within the agricultural industry and become ever more important to its Members. The UK is now just a small part of a global marketplace and our domestic agricultural sector is becoming less important to increasingly-large international suppliers and end-customers. To remain competitive, farmers will increasingly have to work together through a strong, stable cooperative which purchases the inputs they require, achieves the best returns for their combinable crops and provides the impartial advice they need to operate profitably.”

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ONE YEAR ON‌

Pools deliver industry-leading returns embers who marketed their combinable crops through the AtlasFram Group’s April to June 2012 pools achieved substantially higher returns compared to the competition. For a 1000-acre arable farm following a typical rotation of winter wheat, beans, two winter wheats and oilseed rape, the difference was worth £35.59 per acre, representing a total additional income of £35,587.

AtlasFram Members who marketed wheat through the Group’s feed wheat pool benefited from a return of £166.05 per tonne, £12.05/t higher than a leading competitor, while Group 3 soft wheat achieved £169.05/t, a £10.05/t advantage, and Group 1 milling wheat returned £182.05/t, an additional £12.05/t. Oilseed rape achieved £375.38/t plus individual quality bonuses, £15.38/t more, while beans returned £212.83/t, .an extra £12.83/t.

Figures compiled by farm management company Strutt & Parker show that a typical 1000-acre farm growing 200 acres of Group 1 wheat, 200 acres of Group 3, 200 acres of feed wheat,

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together with 250 acres of oilseed rape and 150 acres of beans, would have received a total income of ÂŁ600,387 from these crops where AtlasFram pools were used, compared with ÂŁ564,800 for the local competitor.

Richard Anscombe, Chief Executive of the AtlasFram Group, commented: “We are delighted with these results, which highlight the advantages of marketing through a cooperative which operates entirely in the best interests of its Members. Our pools generate substantial additional profits for our Members and the financial advantages which we have generated for them are substantial, providing a valuable addition to overall farm profitability. “Farmers are understandably reluctant to change sometimes long-standing marketing arrangements, but this is such a large financial difference that it really should make them think very carefully about where they can achieve the best returns.

AtlasFram pools provide a simple, safe method of marketing grain and generate consistently above-average returns, but without the considerable risks of selling on the ‘spot’ market.�

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Congratulations to AtlasFram on a remarkable year of growth!

ONE YEAR ON…

Fixing feed costs benefits leading pig producer orward purchasing of feed raw materials at fixed prices through the AtlasFram Group farmers’ cooperative is fulfilling a critical role by helping one of the UK’s leading pig producers to cope with extreme volatility in the global commodity markets.

“The very difficult business environment currently facing the UK pig industry makes it vital to do everything we can to control our production costs,” emphasises Simon Guise, Pig Business Manager for Bacton Pigs, which manages and cares for more than 40,000 pigs.

A subsidiary of David Black & Son Ltd, Bacton Pigs also has the UK agency for DanBred International, marketing and selling breeding gilts and AI across the UK under the DanBred International UK banner.

“For any pig business the key factors governing profitability are the cost of feed and the price we receive for pig meat. Although endproduct prices have been relatively steady, our margins have been under increasing pressure from rising commodity prices and the

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ONE YEAR ON…

The COMMANDO® Range of independently powered high pressure cleaning equipment is the professional farmer’s choice.

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>>> “Input cost volatility is a constant factor which we have to consider and have learned to work with. Our strategy is to use the very best genetics to produce pig meat as efficiently as possible, maximise production so that we dilute our fixed costs and purchase raw materials to produce feed at the best-possible prices to minimise inputs costs.

“With the exception of creep diets and sow rolls we produce all the feed used on our units. During the last 12 months we have milled and mixed 15,000 tonnes, of which David Black & Son farms produced 4500 tonnes of raw materials. The balance was purchased as efficiently as possible through AtlasFram and where possible we have reduced the impact of volatile commodity markets by securing our requirements at the most favourable times using forward contracts and futures to fix prices.

“AtlasFram Membership has become increasingly important to our business, as they do an excellent job of purchasing a wide range of raw materials, including wheat, barley, soybean meal, biscuit meal, pulses and fishmeal at the best possible prices. By closely monitoring markets and recommending the best time to take a position they have saved us a great deal of money. Tim Styles, the Group’s Livestock Products Manager, has an in-depth knowledge of our business and requirements, so he is able to advise us when to enter the market or, equally, hold back from purchasing to secure the best prices.

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ONE YEAR ON…

Forward purchasing saves farmers 10% on their fuel costs n innovative purchasing initiative which enabled Members of the AtlasFram Group farmers’ cooperative to forward-order red diesel (gas oil) for delivery during the harvest period has saved those who participated almost 10% on their fuel costs.

Graham Aldrich, Energy Specialist for the AtlasFram Group, which purchases 45 million litres of fuel annually on behalf of its 1250 Members throughout the UK, states:

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Ring us on: 0845 600 6583

“Previously, farmers have had very few opportunities to purchase fuel on a forward, fixed-price basis. Therefore they have had to purchase fuel as and when they have needed it at the prevailing ‘spot’ market price, whatever that might be on the day of ordering. However, the recent high levels of fuel price volatility have created a surge of interest from Members looking to forward-purchase their expected requirements at a known cost and with guaranteed delivery. >>>

Road Fuels Gas Oils ng Oils Heating Lubricants www .lintonfueloils.com www.lintonfueloils.com <2 KPZ[YPI\[VY VM *HZ[YVS WYVK\J[Z

ONE YEAR ON…

>>> “AtlasFram evaluated a range of innovative options involving a number of large national and regional fuel suppliers before contracting with one of the UK’s leading fuel distributors. The agreement allowed Members to order a specific volume of fuel, at a specific price - 63.79 pence per litre (ppl) - for delivery in July, August and September.

“Prices on the spot market have subsequently increased by 6ppl due to a number of factors. Outages at refineries in the United States, measures to boost China’s economy and increased speculation have all contributed to a tightening of the balance between potential supply and demand, which has driven the market higher. The late start to this year’s harvest further increased the pressure on fuel distributors during an already very busy time. Members who participated in this initiative therefore benefited from a significant saving on their fuel costs and guaranteed delivery during a critical period in the farming year.

“Members rely on us to provide them with totally-impartial advice, save money on farm inputs and reduce their administrative burden. AtlasFram believes that this method of purchasing fuel will be increasingly popular and will shortly offer a similar scheme for heating oil ahead of the winter period.”

NORFOLK LIQUID FEEDS LTD

Agricultural & Livestock Supplies

Main Supplier for East Anglia for CRYSTALYX Cattle & Sheep Blocks • I.A.E Livestock Equipment and Gates • Livestock Wormers and Vaccines • Full range of Cattle & Sheep Minerals Del and Mineral Buckets by o iveries u • Silage Wrap & Bale Net vehi r own c les

Units 6l & 62, Norwich Livestock Market, Hall Road, Norwich, Norfolk. NR4 6EQ.

www.parkerhydraulics.co.uk

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NATIONAL FARMER

email: editorial@nationalfarmer.net

Telephone: 01603 456444 Fax: 01603 454342 Email: mike@norfolklf.co.uk Website: www.norfolklf.co.uk

THIS LITTLE THIS LITTLE PIGGY HAD PIGGY HAD NONE! A-ONE...

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FIRST CHOICE EVERY TIME With over 30 years of nutritional expertise and excellence behind us A-One Feed Supplements is now a market leader in the supply of Piglet Feed.

• Britsh owned and operated • Centre of excellence driven by quality • Passion for innovation • NPA Allied Industries Group member • Supporter of Young NPA Our skilled team are on the cutting edge of feed technology and are available to advise you on any matter and give you the best options to assure your complete satisfaction. Call A-One today on 01423 322706 to discuss your feed requirements.

Telephone: 01423 322706 I www.a-one.co.uk I Email: sales@a-one.co.uk

SJR Hydraulic Hoses Ltd A Complete Hose Solution S.J.R Hydraulic Hoses Ltd has been a family owned business since 1999 supplying hydraulic hoses and fittings to pattern or customer specification. In the early stages of trading, we purely made or sold nothing other than hydraulic hoses but now we find ourselves offering many different services and products connected with the industry of fluid transportation, including oils and lubricants.

Moving on from just selling and manufacturing hydraulic hoses, we now offer and stock a wide range of other hoses and tubing suitable for many applications in many different industries.

Squires Farm Ind.Estate Easons Green Nr Uckfield TN22 5RB

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NATIONAL

FARMER please contact

(01202) 666 602

Tel: 01825 840055 Fax: 01825 840953 Email: simon@sjrhydraulics.co.uk

www.sjrhydraulics.co.uk

email: editorial@nationalfarmer.net

NATIONAL FARMER

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