Orion Farming Monthly Newsletter May 2025
- Orion Farming Group
- Apr 29
- 9 min read
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Orion May Update
Well, this dry spell was very welcome when it started back in March, but I think we can all agree we need some rain now. This weather has meant it has been a very busy month for us all.
Crop Chemicals
The Ag. Chemical desk has been flat out! Some suppliers have been reporting stock shortages for certain products. Shelley has done a great job monitoring and managing the situation. Lots of reports about rust in crops has seen some fungicide product strategy changes coming through.
Seed
There has been a strong demand for early maize varieties with an FAO of 160, as many are taking advantage of the early planting window.
Fertiliser
The backlog of fertiliser deliveries is gradually improving, but some suppliers still face challenges. Urea prices have started to decline slightly, while Nitram prices remain high due to continuous demand and limited supply. Delivery lead times continue to be a major concern, with some suppliers quoting over three weeks. If you're considering fertiliser options, please call me, and we can discuss pricing and delivery timelines.
Market turbulence and mitigation
The actions of the current U.S. government have surprised many, with inconsistent trade and tariff policies creating global uncertainty. This situation is impacting the agriculture sector here in the UK, with noticeable effects on input commodity pricing. One way to ameliorate these price fluctuations is to make the most of what we already have available naturally. With that in mind I want to highlight three crop nutrition solutions that have yielded positive results for several members:
Aiva: Utilising amino acids to improve crop and soil resilience.
Timac: Combines seaweed extract with highly absorbable nutrients placed close to the seed for optimal maize plant establishment.
Smartfert: Produces a variety of fertilisers and soil conditioners from recycled materials, reducing waste and reliance on imported fertilisers.
Additionally, we are pleased to welcome FastExocet to our Group. They offer fuel additives that boost the efficiency and performance of your diesel products (see HERE). For more information and to place orders directly with Nicole Maris at FastExocet on 07376 692250.
Please read the following articles and feel free to get in touch with me about any of them.
Looking Ahead
Next month, I’ll focus on renewable sectors and introduce some new suppliers that can help us save money in this innovative market.
For any information on any of the above, please get in touch with me.
Stuart Goodinson, Orion General Manager
The Use of Amino Acids
Amino acids, rightfully referred to as the building blocks of life, are responsible for producing proteins within a plant. Proteins have a number of responsibilities across internal and external processes, from cell structure to the transport of nutrients. These building blocks are the primary movers to stimulate growth, hormone production, plant resilience against stresses, disease prevention and reduction, and improving a nutrient deficient soil. For example, during a time of stress, the presence of amino acids like serine & proline, will prevent cells from denaturing. This makes amino acids a useful tool against phytotoxicity stress from herbicides, encouraging a quick recovery by supplying the plant with an external dose of readily available amino acids, aiding in the recovery of plant tissue, rather than rapidly depleting its own converted amino acid reserves.
Amino acids can also improve a crops ability to absorb nutrients through chelation of soil metals, rendering nutrients more readily available. Enhanced levels of calcium, magnesium, and potassium can be observed within the plant post their introduction. Either supplemented by foliar spray, direct to the plant or to the root zone. Although the plant’s ability to take up amino acids from the roots is dependent on the health of the soil.
Orion Farming Member, Edward Allen, alongside a systems approach, has been incorporating amino acid product Naturamin into his foliar feeds with success for several years.
“With an ever-reducing pot of plant protection products and a no insecticide policy on the farm, plant health and nutrition play an important role in our crop protection programme. We started using amino acids in response to plants being stressed from either extended wet winters, or dry springs and noticed the plants continue to develop and access important nutrients during these challenging times. We now feel that amino acids buffer against the impact of the herbicides, and we have certainly seen less of an impact on the crop post use.”
Amino acids are a perfect example of a systems approach solution, feeding into several categories of true fertilisers to diversify that farm toolbox.
SmartFert - Sustainable Fertiliser
SmartFert is a sustainable fertiliser company with its head office based in Lincolnshire. We specialise in transforming low-value residues into high performance agriculture fertiliser. Circular economy and low carbon footprint form the foundation of our products and company's value. Through this we aim to contribute to sustainable agriculture.
As our World continues to shift and strive towards greener prosperous futures, it is becoming essential to address various areas within our system to maintain a correct balance between development and sustainability.
At SmartFert we understand that the agriculture sector plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainable development, particular in relation to ensuring food security for future generation.
SmartFert is on a mission to reduce waste and the UK’s reliance on imported fertilisers.
Our approach is to reincorporate low-value residues into the manufacturing phase of the product lifecycle. We not only close the loop but produce high-performance precision fertilisers that are easy to apply.
Our products are suitable for a wide range of arable crops, as it supports the crop's healthy growth and yield due to the nutrient content. We offer these in bulk and granular forms. The product range includes bulk and granular products (derived from poultry litter ash), natural mined gypsum and BioAsh (derived from straw & timber).
We have extensive experience and knowledge in developing and manufacturing granular, liquid and pelleted products from ashes, digestate and solid residues. Assisting the fertiliser manufacturing process and technology scale up is another one of our strengths.
We are also able to extend this acquired knowledge to support other organisation to create new revenue streams from residues, cut waste generation and resulting cost to progress towards a circular economy. As a result, we collaborate with varied industries including water, food and horticulture to look at low-value residues and methods to recirculate and utilise vital nutrients into the fertilisers.
Timac Agro Presents to Orion: Maximising Yield and Crop Resilience
We recently had the pleasure of presenting to members of the Orion Farming Group on strategies to help crops reach their full potential by managing stress and improving soil health.
The presentation, “Maximising Yield: Overcoming Stress to Reach Potential,” explored how crops are impacted at every stage of development — from establishment to maturity — by both agronomic practices and environmental pressures. We emphasised how good soil structure, biological activity, and nutrient availability are the foundation of yield and quality.
A key part of the session focused on biostimulants and their role in modern crop husbandry. Timac Agro’s FERTIACTYL and SEACTIV ranges are designed to support crops through establishment and vegetative growth. Backed by patented technologies, our biostimulants help:
Increase root development and nutrient uptake
Enhance stress tolerance during key growth periods
Improve photosynthesis and nutrient efficiency
Ultimately raise both yield and crop quality
These products are especially relevant in the face of rising abiotic stress — including drought, heat, and input limitations — helping crops perform more consistently despite external challenges.
Take a look at this short case study video of the experience of Orion Member, Jeff Powell of Ash Farm, using Timac Agro soil conditioner and biostimulant to reduce artificial fertiliser and hit milling grade.
We’d like to thank Orion for the opportunity to speak and engage with your members’ farms. If you missed the session or would like to follow up on anything discussed, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Simon Gillett on 07939 026939 or simon.gillett@uk.timacagro.com
🌿 Join Us at Stowell Farms – A Day of Practical Insight and Innovation in Crop Performance📍
Sharcott Pennings Farm, Wilcot Road, Pewsey, SN9 5NL📅 Wednesday 16th July
We’d also like to invite you to our upcoming event at Stowell Farms — a progressive farm known for its focus on soil health and crop innovation. Join us for a practical day in the field, featuring:
Live trials and treatment comparisons (maize, wheat, grassland)
Biostimulants in action: resilience, rooting, and yield
Tools to enhance nutrient uptake and crop performance
Q&A with farmers and crop specialists
To reserve your place, please contact Simon Gillett on the details above.
Improving Fertiliser Use & Efficiency Through Soil pH
Improving fertiliser efficiency is crucial for cost-effective, efficient and sustainable agriculture, and one of the most effective ways to achieve this is by optimising soil pH.
Soil pH plays a key role in nutrient availability and uptake by plants. When it is too low, many nutrients become chemically unavailable to crops, even if fertilisers are applied in adequate amounts. This leads to waste of expensive inputs, poor crops and environmental concerns.
The ideal soil pH for most crops ranges between 6.0 and 7.0, where nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients are most available. Regular soil testing allows farmers to monitor pH and apply lime precisely, as and when required. Improving pH not only enhances nutrient uptake but can also improve soil structure, microbial activity, and root development, all contributing to healthier, higher-yielding crops.
When choosing liming materials, there are several products available. We have very good quality local ground limestone, as well as coarser screened lime, as a cheaper alternative. There is also chalk available in dry times, although care should be taken to find out the Neutralising Value (NV) of these products, as they are not as high as ground limestone and should therefore be applied at higher rates – negating any potential saving. Magnesian limestone is also a useful product where soils are deficient in magnesium. It has a higher NV and is a cheap and efficient way of applying magnesium. Granular lime is fast-acting and can be applied in crop and at greater widths, making it useful over bulk lime in some conditions.
Monitoring and managing soil pH is a cost-effective strategy to maximize the return on fertiliser investments. It reduces the need for excessive applications, lowers environmental impact, and supports long-term soil health—making it a cornerstone of integrated nutrient management and any sustainable soil management plan.
For more information, contact Elice Willett at The Lime Company on 07792 133094 or info@thelimecompany.co.uk
Supplier Promotions during April
Orion Members can use the Orion App to see all the latest Supplier Promotions.
FastExocet have offered 2 promotions to Orion Members during April - one relating to Gas Oil Conditioner and the other focussed on Gas Oil Supreme.
Minerals
The tender for the Group’s Q2 minerals has once again been awarded to ForFarmers . Orders can be placed with their customer service department on 0330 678 1088 or through the office. Please be aware that the lead time for delivery is 7 working days. For bespoke minerals please contact the office with your requirements.
Molasses
The summer molasses period started on the 1st May and runs through until the 30th September and once again the tender has been awarded to ForFarmers. Prices are held and orders can be placed through the office.
Calf Milk Powder
As is the case each year, the Group will again be looking to pool tonnage requirements for milk powders and will be asking suppliers to quote for the bulk of the Group business. The main period during which suppliers will be asked to provide any additional savings will be between July and September. Requirement forms will be sent out to members in June.
Market Update
The UK straight feed market faces a cautious short-term outlook, balancing global volatility with domestic factors. While physical delivered prices for feed grains like wheat and barley have shown recent stability, futures markets remain sensitive to international trade news (especially US tariffs) and weather patterns affecting Northern Hemisphere crops. Rapeseed prices have strengthened due to tight EU supplies and a weaker sterling. Protein meals, particularly soybean meal, are highly exposed to global supply dynamics, Chinese demand, and US trade policy uncertainty.
UK crop conditions started favourably, potentially easing import reliance later if yields hold, but require timely rainfall. Demand is mixed: strong profitability in the beef and dairy sectors supports feed use , while weaker sheep prices and challenges in the pig/poultry sectors suggest more price-sensitive demand. The onset of spring grazing is also tempering ruminant feed needs.
Key takeaways from the full report are:
Price Divergence: Relative stability in UK physical grain prices contrasts with volatile global futures markets, driven by trade policy uncertainty and weather.
Supply Uncertainty: Global trade tensions, particularly US tariffs, and Northern Hemisphere weather are major risks impacting supply availability and import costs.
Mixed Demand: Strong beef/dairy profitability supports feed demand, but weaker sheep/pig/poultry sectors and spring grazing moderate overall requirements.
Cautious Outlook: The market is expected to remain cautious, with grain prices potentially range-bound but susceptible to shocks, while proteins face significant unpredictability.
And finally, totally irrelevant but quite interesting facts of the month…….
The current 50-star US flag was designed in 1958 by a 17-year-old as part of a school project, He got a B and you can win a game of Monopoly after only four turns.
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
