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Orion March Update
As the weather improves, Member demand for Ag Chem, Fertiliser and Seeds is stepping up.
A cold, dry and sunny week, this week is seeing things getting busy. Fertiliser chasing, fuel for rapidly emptying tanks and everyone thinking about getting on the land.
Shelley and I have met with many Ag Chem suppliers. With numerous new fungicide and herbicide products entering the market, spray programs and choices will be complex this spring. Rest assured, we have access to a full range of available products, and whatever you and your agronomist decide, we are here to help. Shelley has early offers on popular products that must be ordered by mid-March, which she can discuss with you.
Recent discussions around glyphosate resistance serves as a good reminder of the importance of proper product use and strength. Please see the following note and offer regarding glyphosate.
Crystal, the BASF herbicide, will no longer be manufactured; however, Orion has access to a limited stock. If you're considering using it in Autumn 2025, please order this spring to secure it.
Other products being revoked include Mavrik, which can be ordered until the end of June but must be used by December 31, 2025, and Mancozeb, which must be used by November 30, 2025.
Demand for maize seed remains low, with uncertainty about planting again after last year's harvest challenges. We offer a wide variety of seeds, and while most are in good supply, Augustis has sold out. Cereal seed varieties are running short, with Ladum, Laureate, Isabelle, and Mulika limited or sold out. Please ask, as I may still be able to locate some!
Fertiliser deliveries have been challenging this spring due to a shortage of hauliers and many last-minute orders, leading to frustration. All suppliers are working hard to ensure timely deliveries. Nitrogen prices, especially for urea, continue to rise, while manufacturers maintain tight stock levels due to high gas prices. P&K prices remain steady for now.
Speaking of rising nitrogen costs, you may find an article, further on in this newsletter interesting. One of our members, Sparsholt Manor Farm, reduced their nitrogen input and saved costs by using a bio-nutrient product, without sacrificing yield.
Glyphosate 540 Offer
“Some farmers and agronomists have raised concerns about their glyphosate performance, an issue that appears to be impacting growers across the board. I am sure that many of you will have seen the recent statement from WRAG (The Weed Resistance Action Group) regarding glyphosate resistance in the UK, their advice? Maximise product efficacy!
With this in mind, we are giving 25 of you an opportunity to trial 540g glyphosate, a product that is recognised to outperform the competition and help combat the in-field resistance of this vital chemistry. Those who are interested in taking part in the trial will receive 1 can FOC and are invited to provide feedback on the product’s performance.”
Please ask Shelley for more details on 01865 393135.
Stuart Goodinson, Orion General Manager, 24th Feb. 2025
Straights Market Report
Hipro Soya
Prices eased back over the week, before a rise was seen on Friday as funds came in for some short covering ahead of a long weekend in the US.
The overall lower trend was despite the USDA WASDE report cutting global ending stocks to 124.3MMT (lower than expected).
They lowered Argentinian crop production to 49MMT, as expected (from 52MMT).
More interesting they kept Brazil the same, whereas some private estimates are at 174MMT.
Weather in South America remains mixed, with some good rains over the weekend in Argentina, but turning slightly hotter and drier next week. Brazil looks to have a drier window to be able to push on with harvest.
Rapemeal
Nearby availability has tightened a little more, in part due to Erith’s breakdown last week and also as most merchants have been moving generally to imported rapemeal nearby, as it offered better value than Liverpool and better availability than Erith.
Erith has re-started as planned, but remains booked up for the next few weeks for collections.
Prices continue to track soya movements, with minimal changes week on week, though more so on new crop levels, than May/Jul.
Overall, looks quite expensive vs soya, especially on old crop, but that is the period where plant maintenance normally takes place both in the UK & EU crush plants.
Soya hulls
Stocks remain very tight until the next shipments in April and May, which is keeping any nearby prices that are offered pretty high.
Summer levels do feel like they have been dragged higher by the nearby issues, though they remain at a discount to sugarbeet.
It seems unlikely though there will be an opportunity for summer prices to ease, until better supply is seen nationally.
Distillers
The UK market remains very tight for both wheat and maize distillers, with Vivergo announcing an immediate two-week shutdown and Ensus also on planned maintenance.
Summer offers remain relatively limited on both wheat and maize products, though value when offered looks reasonable on maize, whereas wheat distillers offers look quite expensive, but with a limited supply of wheat distiller pellets, shippers can command this premium.
In the US ethanol production reduced, as margins turned negative again and began discouraging production – mainly down to higher costs of maize and natural gas.
Sugarbeet
British sugarbeet remains unavailable and seems increasingly unlikely that a revised offer will be seen.
Demand for fibres as a result of soya hull shortages, has meant there are higher prices for imported sugarbeet and also limited quantity until spring.
There is now a summer offer for imported which will aid with supply, though as seen previously, doesn’t compete against other fibres.
Wheat/Barley
Another week of rangebound UK values.
Last week’s USDA WASDE report reduced US ending stocks of wheat and global ending stocks (to a 9 year low at 257.6MMT), despite a reduction in Chinese imports.
The markets mainly seemed focussed on weather related issues, with the Black Sea region turning a little warmer so the risk of winterkill has eased for now; however the US is set for another cold spell this week and snow cover remains inadequate in some areas.
There have already been some reports of winterkill signs from previous cold weather.
This market report was provided courtesy of GLW Feeds on 20th February 2025.
And Finally…
Totally irrelevant but quite interesting facts of the month… More fish are farmed every year than pigs, sheep, cows and chickens put together and you are 100 times more likely to be struck by lightning standing under an oak tree than a beech tree.
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
Bio-nutrients efficacy
Member trial shows Bio-nutrients more cost-effective than conventional fertiliser.
Farm manager Piers Cowling of Sparsholt Manor Farm in Oxfordshire has been experimenting with Tricet Pro-Growth comparing this bio-nutritional product with conventional fertiliser on winter wheat. His large- scale trials showed that whilst reducing his standard N applications and replacing it with Pro-Growth, yield was maintained.
Piers said “we have conducted tramline trials in winter wheat for two seasons to evaluate the effect on harvest yield of reducing nitrogen application levels whilst applying Pro-Growth. In both trials it was applied three times at a dose rate of 3l/ha coinciding with our T1, T2 and T3 sprays.
The conclusion from our trials so far is that 9l/ha of Pro-Growth which was compared with a reduction 80kg N/ha showed no yield reduction. But a significant cost saving was calculated – in the 2023 season prices traditional N costs £185.60/ha compared with £45/ha of Pro-Growth. We are also mindful that applying less N is beneficial for soil health.”
Tricet Pro-Growth is a unique liquid formulation of a 14-07-07 urea mix combined with an extensive suit of micro-nutrients and minerals, with complexed essential amino acids and biological profile. It is applied at 2.5/5.00 ha in 200 to 300 litres of water per hectare to crops for an immediate boost or at 14-day intervals in a programme while crops are actively growing.
For details of Tricet products, please contact Jim Peace of Peace Seeds, local specialist, on 07957 886431 , email jkpeace@uwclub.net, or via the web site https://www.tricetuk.com/
Orion Suppliers Latest Promotions posted in January
TVE Hire & Sales constantly add to their New & Used machine sales and hire including Bobcat Agricultural Telehandlers with 3 years 0% finance.
Suppliers, if you would like to ensure all your details are up to date, and add in any promotional material for Orion Members, then please get click on 'SUPPLIERS LOG IN' at the top left of this page.
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