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Writer's pictureOrion Farming Group

Orion Farming Monthly Newsletter October 2024

Updated: Sep 23



Click on any of the adverts in this newsletter to get more information

 

MEGA nitrogen in MEGA granules from Thomas Bell & Sons Ltd.


 

A key supplier to Orion - Thomas Bell are proud to announce the launch of megAN 33.5N, which is now available to Orion Farming Members.


A premium quality Granular Ammonium Nitrate brought to you by Grupa Azoty, the manufacturers of PULAN. megAN 33.5N is a universal fertiliser ideal for pre-sowing and top dressing for winter and spring cereals, oilseed rape, sugar beets, potatoes and grassland.



Advantages for using megAN 33.5N are:


  • Large granules for even spreading over wide widths

  • Strong bulk density 0.93 – 0.96 kg / dm3

  • Premium Quality Ammonium Nitrate

  • Granulometry 2mm – 5mm

  • Available throughout the UK in 600kg and 1000kg big bags


SCS Testing during August 2024 concluded that megAN was "Absolutely superb":


  • Up to 50m with ZATS

  • Up to 42m with KRM


Contact the Orion Office on 01865 393131 for more detail.



 

Cefetra Market Report: Late September 2024


With crops still standing in many regions of UK, particularly further North, it’s safe to say it has not been the easiest harvest.  Later drilled spring wheat and spring beans have been the last to cut in many areas, both of which have been struggling to die off with a lack of sunshine.  Low Hagbergs and fusarium are present in a few fresh samples, as a result of large amounts of rain over the past few weeks.  In the East of the country, it appears most growers completed harvest without any significant breaks.  Unfortunately, in the North and the West, we seemed to have showers every other day, bar the odd clear week.


Later drilled spring barley crops seem to have higher nitrogen content overall, which will be useful to blend with lower nitrogen material later in the season if required for export (usually min 1.52).  Unfortunately, it feels as though this year could be a constant battle in regard to quality issues, particularly with fusarium and ergot.  Most growers are reporting average yields but admit that had they been offered an average yield in the spring, they would have grabbed it with both hands.  So hopefully some are quietly pleased, given the season we have had. Those on very light ground have done exceptionally well this year unsurprisingly, with some breaking personal farm records.


Values are back down around the lows we saw in early March, at time of writing.  Large corn and soyabean crops have been weighing on markets, which has also encouraged funds/managed money to hold record short positions in most agricultural commodities for months.  Recent interest rate cuts in the US have also put pressure on UK values, as Sterling firms against the Euro and Dollar, with the Bank Of England leaving rates as they are for the time being.

 

Some in the trade believe we are somewhere near the bottom of the market at current levels, given that there are not many people left to go short in the market from here.  We remain hopeful that values may start to tick up over the next few months, but are conscious that UK grains look expensive versus other EU origins.  Any reasonable spikes should be sold into, as the market still holds its bearish tone currently, even with poor EU harvests.  A story is needed to cause the funds to buy back futures contracts to get out of their short positions.  On that note, it is worth keeping an eye on soil moistures in Russia… They have not had any substantial rains in the past two weeks, nor have they got any rain forecast for the next two weeks.  This could become an issue as weeks go by with winter wheats beginning to go in the ground now.


To find out more, please contact the team at Cefetra Grain: Simon Wilcox, Manager – UK Farm Grain Origination, 07774 822507, wilcox@cefetra.co.uk; Josef Grinczer, Farm Grain Buyer, 07712 325197, grinczer@cefetra.co.uk 



 



 

Orion Suppliers Latest Promotions posted in September


3 Core are offering extra discounts to Orion account holders.



If you haven't yet got the Orion App and want to find the latest supplier promotions together with a lot of other features, please click on the button and fill out the contact details at the bottom of this page or contact Adam Donaldson on 07907 581094 or adam@ofg.org.uk


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 in touch with Adam or fill in the contact details at the bottom of this page.


 


 

Message from Nick Philp, Orion Chairman

On 31st October, John Norton is retiring as General Manager after 21 years’ loyal service to the Group. John has kept Orion running smoothly throughout many challenges to the agricultural trading environment, such as the covid pandemic and the Ukraine war. Service to Members has always been a top priority which he has approached in a calm and professional way. On behalf of everyone at Orion, I would like to extend our thanks and wish him all the best in his retirement by the sea, We will miss his dry humour in the office, around the boardroom table or on the telephone talking to Members.

 

The Orion Board are delighted to welcome Stuart Goodinson as John’s replacement; Stuart joined Orion in early August. Stuart started his career as an agronomist and has worked in a number of management roles in companies spanning arable, machinery, horticulture and dairy sectors, most recently working as the Managing Director of one of the UK's best known and longest established Agricultural Recruitment businesses. Stuart is very much looking forward to meeting Members and Suppliers over the coming months.


New collaborative agreement with Travis Perkins




Orion is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Travis Perkins, in collaboration with four other farm buying groups. This agreement allows all participating groups and their members to get better prices due to the increased scale of business achieved collectively, compared to what each individual buying group could obtain.




Nick Philp, Orion's Chairman, stated, "We have worked closely with our colleagues at North Herts Farmers, Ouse & Cherwell, Samco & Shrim, and Southern Farmers to establish an arrangement with Travis Perkins. The combined scale of all groups enables Travis Perkins to improve pricing terms, and we look forward to collaborating in a similar manner with other suppliers."


Graham Short, Regional Sales Director at Travis Perkins, commented, "We are excited to offer a competitive pricing position across our range, which will be available to 10,000 farms within the five buying groups. We look forward to developing this strategic relationship."


It’s important to note that this collaborative arrangement pertains solely to unified pricing across all groups and does not affect the independent operations and invoicing of each group.


 

 


Minerals & molasses

Tenders have gone out to suppliers inviting them to submit prices for the Group’s Q4 minerals (Oct – Dec) and molasses for the winter period (Oct – Apr 25). When all prices have been received and decisions have been made, members will be informed.


ForFarmers App

ForFarmers have recently released an app that is accessible from a mobile phone, desktop or laptop that allows members to access compound & blend delivery notes as well as the facility to place or amend orders. If this is something you think may be of benefit to you, please forward your contact email details to the office, which will then be forwarded onto ForFarmers who will send you the activation link as well as instructions as to how to install the app on your device.


A quick reminder

From time to time, invoices arrive at the office from members who’ve ordered commodities, particularly feed supplements and forage and harvest products directly from merchants or suppliers which have cost more than had they been ordered through the office. When this happens, members are made aware of the savings that they could have made, so it’s always worth phoning, texting or emailing the office with your requirements, to take full advantage of any savings available to the Group.


Tote bags

As well as being supplied in 25kg bags many feed supplements and fats are also available in tote bags, which realise an additional discount. If tote bags could be incorporated into your system, with the minimum of disruption, please say so when placing your order. In addition, GLW can supply compound feed in tote bags with an additional discount of £15 over bagged prices.


And Finally…

Totally irrelevant but quite interesting facts of the month… The Simpsons predicted Donald Trump would become president 16 years before he was elected and in Bermuda, the nearest day of the year to the 24th May is the first day when Bermuda shorts may be worn as formal wear.


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


 




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