Farmers co-operative initiative launched at Royal Cornwall Show

Picture: John Bower - CKL Chairman, Matthew Hodge, CKL Manager - Mark Griggs, 50th Member

A new co-operative initiative, specifically aimed at helping the farming community in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly was launched by Anthony Gibson, Regional Director of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) at the Royal Cornwall Show today (Thursday, 10th June) – and there was cause for a double celebration as the 50th member signed on the dotted line.

Only recently established in the county, CKL – The Machinery & Labour Ring (known as 'CKL'), is an innovative project through which farmers and agricultural contractors share their machinery and labour. It is run as a member co-operative and the primary objective is to increase members' access to agricultural and horticultural services, thereby reducing their labour and machinery costs.

The Ring also gives members access to other benefits such as special deals with electricity providers.

Objective One have invested £58,775 in the new project through the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), with a further investment package of £58,775 by way of match-funding from Defra. Cornwall Farmers Limited are hosting and supporting the project, by offering office facilities and administrative back up.

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said: "The bringing together of members of the agricultural community through such an initiative will help develop long term stability for the farming community, by combining efficiency and management of assets, which in turn will strengthen Cornwall's economy. Successful agriculture is recognised as one of the key features of Cornwall's future."

Angela Taylor, Rural Development Adviser at Defra, added: "This is a potentially important and far-reaching project, which should enable farmers throughout Cornwall to work together to optimise use of valuable labour and machinery resources to the benefit of all."

Similar 'Rings' have proved successful in other parts of the UK, including Scotland, where co-operatives have over 10,000 members with a turnover of £20 million per annum.

Commenting on the formation and launching of the Ring, Anthony Gibson said that CKL has the NFU's unqualified support and added: "The great thing about labour and machinery sharing is that it offers to the smaller farm some of the economies of scale enjoyed by larger businesses. It is a way of cutting down on costs without cutting down on farms or farmers. Labour sharing also helps to put the fun back into farming by taking away some of the loneliness and isolation that small farms can feel. The family farm is the backbone of Cornish farming and horticulture and the CKL Machinery & Labour Ring is one way of ensuring it stays that way."

David Rodda, who heads up the Cornwall Agricultural Council Development Team commented: "For many agricultural businesses the more efficient use of labour and machinery are the first steps in re-structuring. By providing a mechanism that matches excess supply of machinery and/or labour resources with excess demand, CKL will enable farmers and rural businesses to maximise the use of available resources and reduce costs."

"The Cornwall Agricultural Council Development Team was pleased to be involved in the development of this project and we look forward to seeing CKL become a major part of the fabric of our rural economy, as well as a vital tool for farmers and land managers."

It is already proving to be a winning formula. The 50th member, Mark Grigg - Vice Chairman of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and who lives in St Mabyn, Bodmin - signed up to the 'CKL' today. Celebrating at the launch, he explained why he felt it was important to join such a scheme: "We run a foliage enterprise, that grows trees and bushes for cutting and selling to wholesalers, supermarkets and florists. We always need extra hands during the cutting and pruning seasons but it is a job that requires specialist knowledge. CKL is a very good way of sourcing qualified and enthusiastic locals when we need them"

Matthew Hodge, who is the manager for the Ring, is delighted with the support he is getting from Cornwall's rural community. He said: "We established CKL six months ago and have been building membership steadily ever since. We're very grateful to our funders and also to Cornwall Farmers for their support."

"I'm delighted with the response from those wanting to join, particularly as it is coming from a mix of large and small agricultural and horticultural businesses, encompassing the whole spectrum of the agricultural community and benefiting all areas of the rural economy."

He added: "It's a great idea because it means that farmers can work together to reduce overheads and be more efficient."