Orion Farming Monthly Newsletter April 2025

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Orion April Update

Member demand is in full swing for core inputs.

This good dry spell has certainly got things moving! Crops are greening up now, but it seems soil temperatures have remained low late in the season, so plant development has not been as rapid.

Arable: Fertiliser deliveries have been a challenge. Most suppliers have been significantly delayed in fulfilling orders on the farm. A combination of late boat arrivals at port, a shortage of licensed hauliers, and high demand in February and March has led to considerable frustration. If this has affected you, I apologise and appreciate your patience. New season prices will be available at the end of next month, and I will keep you updated.

The Ag Chem season is in full swing, and Shelley is doing a fantastic job processing all your requirements. With several fungicides, including new options, competing for market share, we expect to see some healthy pricing competition this season.

Seed: With the sudden withdrawal of new SFI applications, several members have contacted me to discuss changes in cropping plans. I can still source some spring barley varieties, beans, and peas, but I am struggling to find spring wheat. Orders for maize, grass mixes, and whole crop mixes are coming in rapidly!

Electricity: We have a number of members signed up, saving both hassle and money with Npower through Orion Farming. We have been building our knowledge on how to simplify the process for members and have established a strong working relationship with Npower. We encourage more members to join in and save money and time. If you would like to receive a renewal quote, please get in touch.

Charity Work by Orion Members: Two members are doing remarkable charity work. On April 12th, Guy Hildred and his son will be traveling to Lviv in western Ukraine to deliver aid and vehicles to support the country's defense (please see details in the Members Section, including how to donate).

In the summer, James Florey will undertake a fundraising challenge to walk the length of the Thames Path in just six days. One of the four charities he will support is The Rural Communities Mental Health Foundation, which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention for people living and working in rural and agricultural communities and their support networks. You can donate to both wonderful charities; you can donate to the Thames Path Challenge via this website: https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/6609/thames-path-challenge/

Forage and Forage Preservation: Homegrown forage will always be a key component of a quality feeding regime. Correct variety selection, crop establishment, crop management, harvesting, and preservation are vital. I am always happy to assist with variety choices and sourcing for all forages.

Timac and Bright Seeds recently held a meeting focused on achieving the best maize establishment and using biostimulants to support crops through stress, maximizing yield. It was a useful and informative session.

Once harvested, effective preservation is critical. Using the right inoculant can make a significant difference, as not all inoculants and bacteria are the same. Lallemand has provided an excellent technical piece on choosing the right silage inoculant, which you can find later in this newsletter.

For any information on any of the above, please get in touch with me.

Stuart Goodinson, Orion General Manager

American Farmer Visit

On the 6th March Orion Farming hosted a group of Farmers from North Carolina. As part of an organised study and sightseeing tour of the UK they wanted to understand how co-operation in the UK farming sector works. They selected Orion Farming as a well-known and good example of a UK Farming Buying Group.

Stuart Goodinson and Rachel Hayden went to the Millets Farming centre to meet them. For 2 hours Stuart and Rachel presented and answered questions. Topics covered were how our buying group works, emerging UK on-farm technology, how UK government policy was affecting farm profitability (!), geopolitical influences on UK farming and the correct way to pronounce Worcestershire!

We received great feedback from the visitors as well as a large box of peanut related produce from their area, most of which has already been eaten by the office team!

Ukraine Aid Convoy - Guy Hildred

On April 12th my son and I are off to Lviv in western Ukraine for what will be my third and my son’s first delivering Aid and vehicles to help support the defence of the country. We will be part of a 20 strong convoy of vehicles all driven by volunteers primarily from Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire organised by Fynn (24) and Jacob (25) through their charity DrivingUkraine. Fynn and Jacob are inspirational people who have been doing this for the full 3 years of the war and have made a huge difference to everyone they come into contact with in Ukraine. The vehicles are put to good use delivering supplies to the East and for the evacuation of the wounded and stranded civilians.

For this trip the Ukrainians are in need of high quality First Aid kits (trauma, tourniquets), portable generators (old or new) and drones. If you feel that you or your business would like to help then please could you contact Guy Hildred by email or via Orion HQ or maybe a financial donation through the drivingukraine website.

Supplier Promotions during March

Orion Members can use the Orion App to see all the latest Supplier Promotions. During March, Orion welcomed FastExocet as a new supplier to the Group. Exocet® is the brand name for Fuel Additives Science Technologies (FAST). We are fuel technology specialists who formulate, blend and market fuel additives as well as providing advice on fuel quality.

FastExocet have offered 2 promotions to Orion Members during March - one relating to Gas Oil Conditioner and the other focussed on Gas Oil Supreme.

Straights Market Report

Compound Feed update

A decision has been made as to which supplier will supply compound feed to the Group for the new tender year, 1st September 2025 – 31st August 2026. The tender for both areas, A & B, has been awarded to GLW. Most members will have already completed GLW’s delivery form, which is a prerequisite to GLW delivering to farm for the first time and asks for information such as contact details, site access, bin location, ground conditions and overhead power lines amongst other things. If you intend to use GLW for your compound feed requirements in the future and have not yet completed the form, please contact the office and a form will be emailed to you.

Game Feed update

This year’s supplier of game feed to the Group has been awarded to ForFarmers. During the course of the next couple of weeks or so, a representative from ForFarmers will contact members who have taken game feed in the past to complete a short questionnaire to comply with health & safety regulations, (similar to GLW). If you haven’t been contacted by them by the end of the month and intend to purchase game feed this season, please contact the office and your contact details will be forwarded on to ForFarmers. To place orders, please phone their customer service desk on 0330 6781090 or alternatively email them, Csd.exeter@forfarmers.eu.

Forage & Harvest products

Suppliers have submitted prices to the office for the upcoming forage & harvest season. For those members who will be purchasing silage sheets and silage wrap, please be aware that there is a significant disparity in price (up to £10 for almost all sizes for silage sheets), again with regards to silage wrap, there is also a significant disparity in price (£4 per roll for both black and green) between suppliers, so in order to purchases your silages sheets and silage wrap at the most competitive price, it’s recommended that you place your orders through the office.

Summer molasses

The winter prices for molasses comes to an end at the end of this month. Currently no prices have been received from suppliers for the summer period, May to September and so it’s difficult to gauge which way prices will go, but if you’re in the position to fill your tank prior to the 1st May to take advantage of any potential savings, it might be worth considering.

And finally, totally irrelevant but quite interesting facts of the month…….

In 1915, the lock millionaire Cecil Chubb bought his wife Stonehenge. She didn’t like it, so in 1918 he gave it to the nation and since 1815, Belgium has paid the Duke of Wellington’s family more than $46 million as a reward for winning the battle of Waterloo.

For more details on any matter raised in the Feed & Livestock section, please contact Joe in the office: Joe Cobb, Feed & Livestock Manager, 01865 393 139

Choosing the right silage inoculants: A Farmer's Guide

When it comes to silage, the goal is simple: create a stable, nutritious feed that lasts from field to feedout. While best practices are essential, using an inoculant can significantly enhance the process.

Silage fermentation involves lactic acid bacteria (LAB) converting sugars into lactic acid, which lowers the pH and preserves the crop. A good inoculant ensures LAB dominate, leading to efficient fermentation, better feed stability, and maximum nutrient value. Although LAB are naturally present on fresh forage, their numbers might not always be sufficient for quick and efficient fermentation, so using an inoculant helps boost numbers and quality to optimum levels.

There are two main types of LAB used in silage inoculants: homofermentative and heterofermentative bacteria. Homofermenters, like Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus plantarum, rapidly convert sugars into lactic acid, quickly lowering the pH and preserving the silage. However, lactic acid can also feed moulds and spoilage yeasts. To counter this, it's beneficial to use an inoculant that includes heterofermentative LAB, such as Lactobacillus buchneri. These bacteria kick in after the initial pH drop, producing antifungal compounds that help keep the silage stable.

For the best results, use an inoculant that combines both homofermentative and heterofermentative bacteria. This combination can increase feedable dry matter by 29%, improve intakes, and boost milk yields. Some inoculants also contain enzymes that support beneficial microbes and help break down fibre, enhancing digestibility.

When choosing an inoculant, consider the specific challenges of your silaging situation. For wetter silage (under 30% dry matter), a homofermentative LAB inoculant is suitable if the silage is fed out daily. In other cases, adding hetero-fermentative LAB is valuable.

For drier silages (over 30% dry matter), fermentation is slower due to lower moisture levels, increasing the risk of trapped oxygen and spoilage. Heterofermentative bacteria help by producing antifungal compounds, which inhibits spoilage microbes and prevents aerobic deterioration. These bacteria are also beneficial when silage is fed slowly, as they help control spoilage and maintain feed value. The result is a well preserved, stable and palatable silage being delivered to the cows.

In summary, understanding your specific silage needs and choosing the right inoculant to match those needs can make a significant difference to the quality and stability of your feed.

For more information please contact Jon Barton, jbarton@lallemand.com 07889 475800 .

Cefetra Market Summary: Late March 2025

A combination of the old crop market falling quite significantly across most commodities and the weather finally improving, has led to a quieter couple of weeks for the trade. We are encouraged by the conditions that most spring crops seem to be going in to, with the sunshine and warmer weather providing some relief for the winter crops after yet another wet winter. Spring crops are also going in well on the continent, with good reports from France and Denmark on malting barley plantings.

As mentioned above, we have seen another big sell off in most commodities after recent trade war/tariff news from the US. Trump is certainly using these tariffs as a weapon to get what he wants – and succeeding in most cases! Unfortunately, the retaliation from China after they saw increased tariffs was not quite what Trump or the trade expected. The market has taken the Chinese tariffs of US Ags coming into the country quite badly, after expecting China may buy their way out of the additional tariffs added by Trump. This potentially confirming the large stocks China currently holds, an indicates that Chinese import demand may dwindle for longer than anticipated.

We have said that old crop is likely to face difficulty for some time, knowing that we are projected to carry over 2.5 million tonnes of wheat into next season. Interestingly, with the fall lower, we are only a few £ away from export competitiveness, which would be a good thing. The carry in the market from old crop to new crop will now begin to encourage some growers to sell wheat now (or soon) into next season. New crop values have also come down, but far less than the old crop.

We are now heading into the weather markets and there are already worries about the US and Russian wheat crops, both of which are lacking moisture. India and Northern Africa are also dry and need some rains in the nearby. These stories would affect new crop prices more than old crop but could still drag old crop up if we do end up seeing issues in these regions. Worth baring in mind that there are also some bearish geopolitical stories lingering, which could counteract any upside from weather issues.

Milling premiums remain around the lows of the season and only see a small improvement to new crop at this stage. We have therefore had a large uptake on our market leading min max/fixed premium contracts for H25.

The oat market remains very congested with large supply and lower demand. OSR remain volatile and has also seen a big sell off on the back of tariff news, predominantly the 100% duties on Canadian canola into China.

I would suggest keeping an eye on the new crop market over the next few weeks as these weather stories develop. £170+ and £190+ are good places to make a start on new crop barley and wheat respectively, given where we have been for the whole of this season. Please get in touch for bespoke values.