Orion Farming Monthly Newsletter May 2026
- Orion Farming Group
- May 1
- 6 min read
Updated: May 7
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Welcome to May’s newsletter
Whilst the weather has been on our side recently, many of us would now welcome a little more moisture in the ground.
If you are attending the Cereals Event this year, please do come and say hello to us on stand 605. County Insurance have kindly offered us a place on their stand, and it would be great to see you there.
The ongoing conflict in Iran continues to have a significant impact on global markets. We expect to feel the downside effects for some months ahead, even if a settlement and permanent ceasefire are agreed. We have seen a slight increase in grain prices, but values will need to rise further if fertiliser prices remain at current levels.
Written by Stuart Goodinson GM
David Bright
1948 - 2026
It is with great sadness that we share the news that David Bright has passed away.
David, along with his wife Sue, founded Bright Seeds back in 1988. His trademark wit, charisma, passion and professionalism has shaped the success of the company.
Many ORION members will have plenty of good memories of trips to SW France on maize study tours – where David’s enjoyment of good wine and local cuisine shared in great company was always clearly apparent!
He will be missed hugely by our team, along with his loyal customers who will undoubtably remember his larger-than-life personality and uplifting smile.
A memorial for David will be held on the 5th June at Dean Lane Farm, Bright Seeds HQ. Please feel free to contact via email for more information on the memorial – sales@brightseeds.co.uk
Newsletter topics for May 2026
Events
Cereals 10th-11th June at Diddly Squat Farm
Orion Farming will be attending the Cereals event this June. We are pleased to be working with our long-term partners, County Insurance. They have been kind enough to share their stand with us.
We will both be working under the theme ‘Protecting Your Future’
We will be ready to chat through all the ways Orion and County Insurance can help shield farmers from uncertainty and volitivity of markets and risks.
County Insurance will have some guest speakers on the stand as well as some very fine catering!
Come and chat to us on the stand, we would be very pleased to meet you!
Fertiliser Update
Ammonium Nitrate and Urea prices have been relatively stable over the past 2 weeks, with a slight decrease noted in mid-to-late April. Current price indications for May delivery are:
34.5% Ammonium Nitrate: £520–£530
Urea (unprotected): approximately £620
We do not anticipate any significant price reductions in the near term and expect the market to continue operating largely on spot pricing for the foreseeable future.
With a substantial proportion of global gas and ammonia production capacity in the Gulf currently offline, there is ongoing uncertainty around global fertiliser supply. Market commentary suggests that we may not see the usual seasonal price reset and cheaper fertiliser levels that often occur in June.
As a result, some farmers and members have chosen to cover part of their nitrogen requirements for next season by spot-buying loads of nitrogen or urea now.
Feed and Livestock
Forage & Harvest update
Both Wynnstay and Mole Valley Farmers have issued updated price lists for their forage and harvest products, specifically silage sheets and bale wrap and inevitably due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, their prices have increased with immediate effect. However, at the time of going to press MVF have advised that they still have limited stock of silage sheets at the original season’s prices. If the situation in the Middle East doesn’t improve, there’s a strong possibility that prices may well increase again and so to take advantage of current prices, it may be worth considering purchasing silage sheets in advance for the maize silage season.
Summer Molasses
ForFarmers have once again been awarded the tender for the Group’s summer molasses business. However there has been a significant price increase over the winter period prices, somewhere in the region of £10 - £20 per tonne. The reasons for this increase are as follows;
Ocean Freight: This has so far had the largest and quickest impact of molasses prices. Ocean freight has increased $30-50 per tonne since the start of the Gulf conflict. This increase is driven by fuel bunkering costs, insurance and overall freight demand.
International molasses price: As the price of oil increases so does the price of biofuel alternatives such as bioethanol. As molasses is a major feedstock for bioethanol, we see producers able to pay more for feed stock driving up the price of molasses on the global market.
Other Raw materials: The current situation impacts on all the key feed materials we use with urea being one of the most dramatic with prices up over 50% since the outbreak of hostilities. The impact on urea has seen fertiliser prices rise dramatically which could well have a knock-on effect on usage and subsequent crop yields.
Currency: Molasses like most agricultural commodities is a USD based market. Less than 3 months ago currency was at over £/$1.38. It has been down as low as £/$1.32. This alone makes around £10/MT difference. Given the current global uncertainties this could go anywhere!
UK Trucking costs: As with ocean freight the rising fuel price is leading to increases in local trucking costs with hauliers adding fuel surcharges of up to 12% which translates into an almost £5/MT increase.
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 deliveries has gradually been creeping and is now in the region of 10 – 12 working days. For bespoke minerals please contact the office with your requirements.
And finally, totally irrelevant but quite interesting facts of the month…….
If you hold your breath and put your face in cold water, your heart will immediately slow down by 25% and in 2014, a single parking space in London was sold for £400,000.
Joe Cobb, Feed & Livestock Manager, 01865 393 139
Crop Chemicals
The chemical desk has been extremely busy. Product supplies and deliveries have been stretched, but so far there have been no major issues.
However, we are receiving indications that glyphosate prices may increase in the coming weeks. Members who are significant users may wish to consider securing some product at current prices.
At this stage, we have not been advised of any shortages of tebuconazole, although the high volume being applied nationally is putting considerable pressure on supplies. We recommend reviewing stock levels and use plans and booking requirements in advance where possible.
Fuels
We have begun to see some changes in the fuel market, including modest price reductions and a levelling-off in certain areas. However, the market remains highly volatile, and prices can change quickly, often overnight.
Pricing update:We now have three suppliers providing daily prices, which are applicable at the time of order. Other suppliers are not currently issuing advance prices, with deliveries invoiced at the rate applicable on the day of delivery.
We are also pleased to welcome a new fuel supplier, Joe Energy, who has joined Orion within the past week. Their coverage includes the Swindon area, encompassing various SN postcodes.
Lead times have eased slightly. One supplier is still operating at up to seven working days, while others are generally delivering within three to five working days. Delivery times remain dependent on both supplier availability and geographic coverage.
Electricity
For electricity enquiries, please contact Stuart in the office or email stuart@ofg.org.uk.For any other enquiries, please visit our Contact page.
NEW SUPPLIER - Würth
We are pleased to welcome Würth as a new supplier to the Orion Group.
We are pleased to welcome Würth as a new supplier to the Orion Group.
Orion is now a trusted partner of Würth UK with a complete range of products for agricultural work - from fasteners and chemicals to PPE, tools, and maintenance solutions.
Everything you need to keep machinery running and repairs moving. See the main advert on page 7
Visit www.wurth.co.uk/orion
Complete the form using your Orion partnership number
Würth will then set up your account with Orion pricing applied
At checkout, enter code ORION10 to receive 10% off your first order
New feature in flip book & printed newsletter and here!
Supplier Sector Highlights
We are introducing a new regular feature to the newsletter. On the back page, we will highlight Orion Group suppliers from specific product sectors.
All featured suppliers will be well known to the Group and already used by members, providing reassurance that they are trusted and reliable. The layout has been designed so that the back page can be printed or torn off and kept as a handy reference when sourcing products or suppliers.
This month’s focus is on liquid fertiliser, crop nutrition, and soil nutrition suppliers
Full Supplier Catalogue
Please see our list of recommended suppliers to the Orion Farming Group. You can either contact suppliers directly and quote your membership number, or call the office to discuss your requirements.
A full list of suppliers, along with the ability to search by product area, is available in the supplier catalogue: https://members.ofg.org.uk/MemberSection/SupplierCatalogue.aspx
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