UK Grain puts storage, handling and marketing in spotlight

UK Grain, to be held on Wednesday 7th November at the George Stephenson Exhibition Hall, Newark Showground, Notts is the only event this year that focuses on storage, handling, monitoring and marketing of all combinable crops.

The strategic event's comprehensive exhibition and seminar programme is aimed at providing the answers to the key questions growers need to ask before making one of their business' biggest investments for a generation.

With net farm incomes on arable farms rising to levels cereal producers have not seen for a decade, the industry now has the resources to invest in facilities, which in many cases need of urgent upgrading. Indeed, a survey carried out last year by English Farming and Food Partnership reveals two thirds of grain stores in the UK are more than 15 years old, with a quarter of those having been erected in the 1970s.

Lack of funds to invest in the past ten years have left many outmoded, inefficient and simply antiquated stores still in use on farms. But now the funds are available for improvements what is the best way forward?

Exhibitors and seminars at UK Grain can help growers make informed decisions about how best to store, process and market their grain. Co-operative storage, for example, can provide access to first class facilities and free up existing buildings for other uses. Here the event offers growers the ideal opportunity to discuss the options with not only the co-ops, but also other advisers.

At the same time producers can then compare the co-op option with the costs and benefits of investing in new equipment or upgrading existing stores. A wide range of manufacturers at the event will be displaying the latest technology and explaining how advances in, for example, control technology will help improve economy and efficiency.

When it comes to marketing a group of cereal producers in a co-op can add value to their grain, as well as spread the cost of its storage and distribution. Moreover, the central seller often has a better understanding of customers' tight specification demands, which makes it less likely that loads are rejected.

At UK Grain visitors will be able to investigate whether the co-operative system is the best solution by comparing the group approach with opportunities available for those who market their grain independently.

Alongside the exhibition is a comprehensive seminar programme. Expert speakers will discuss various topics ranging from developing a marketing strategy to improving storage energy efficiency through to assurance schemes.