Feed supply boost as Mole Valley Farmers signs Ayr port deal

Farmers in Scotland and the North of England are set to benefit from a new feed supply route aimed at protecting deliveries against disruption.

Mole Valley Farmers has agreed a new partnership with ABP’s Port of Ayr, allowing key feed ingredients to be imported, stored and distributed closer to its Coylton Mill and customers.

The agreement is intended to reduce reliance on longer road journeys from ports elsewhere in the UK, while giving the co-operative another route for bringing feed raw materials into its manufacturing network.

The first deliveries under the agreement are expected to arrive at Ayr in November, ahead of the busy winter feeding period.

Mole Valley Farmers said the move would help strengthen supplies at a time when global markets, geopolitical tensions, weather events and changing trade patterns continue to affect the availability and movement of feed ingredients.

The Port of Ayr, on Scotland’s west coast at the entrance to the Firth of Clyde, is strategically placed to serve both the Coylton Mill and customers across the region.

Mole Valley Farmers chief executive Jack Cordery said the deal was designed to give the business more flexibility when planning feed production and deliveries.

“It is about building resilience into our supply chain so we can continue to support farmers whatever is happening in the wider world,” he said.

“By working with the Port of Ayr, we can bring key ingredients closer to our Coylton Mill and improve our ability to plan ahead by storing feed and keeping our mills supplied during the busy winter feeding period.”

The arrangement will also provide additional storage and another route into the business, helping reduce dependence on any single port or region.

Mole Valley Farmers already has a similar partnership with Cattedown Wharves in Plymouth, giving it greater control over how raw materials are shipped, stored and moved through its UK mill network.

Head of raw material supply chain Frank Nickel said the added flexibility would help the business respond to disruption more quickly.

“It means we are not relying on one route, one port or one region to move the volumes we need,” he said.

“That flexibility is really important. It helps us hedge risk, respond to disruption, keep ingredients flowing into the mills and prices as low as possible for the customers who rely on us.”

The Port of Ayr offers specialist dry bulk handling facilities, covered storage for weather-sensitive cargoes and open storage for larger volumes.

ABP said the port has a long history of handling agricultural commodities and plays an important role in supporting regional supply chains.

Bryan Davies, divisional port manager at ABP, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Mole Valley Farmers and supporting a business that plays such an important role in the agricultural sector.”

“The Port of Ayr has a long history of handling agricultural commodities and this agreement demonstrates the value of regional ports in connecting customers with the wider supply chain.”

The deal is expected to support a steadier flow of feed raw materials during winter, when demand for compound feeds, blends and bespoke rations is at its highest.

Mole Valley Farmers said the additional import and storage capacity should also help it plan further ahead and keep mills supplied during periods of peak demand.

The first feed shipments are expected to arrive at the Port of Ayr in November.