Mole Valley Farmers, the UK’s leading farm and rural requisites supplier, and Timac UK, the well-known plant nutrition specialist, have launched Mole Valley Forage Services, a commercial joint initiative to help farmers to optimise the productivity and profitability of their grassland.
Integrating Mole Valley Farmers’ advanced fertiliser manufacturing facilities with Timac UK’s proven expertise in plant nutrition, Mole Valley Forage Services will offer a comprehensive range and choice of fertiliser products and technical advice to members and customers across the South and South West of England, the Midlands and South Wales.
Andrew Jackson, Mole Valley Farmers' Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“Whilst arable farmers have traditionally been well served in terms of access to technical support through their agronomist, livestock producers have generally not had access to such a technical service for growing grass. As we all know, striving to optimise output from home grown forage is essential for any livestock producer. This new initiative is consistent with Mole Valley Farmers’ approach of providing our farming members with cost-effective products and services that can help them to improve productivity and performance.
“By combining our manufacturing facility with highly-trained personnel, backed up by extensive research and developments into plant nutrition, livestock producers will now have access to a comprehensive plant and forage service specifically focussed on achieving good grass performance. We will be providing a free, year-round structured approach to fertiliser management, encompassing sound technical advice, product and application know-how, designed to help customers work towards achieving optimum production of milk and meat from forage.
“The Single Farm Payment is bringing about dramatic changes in farming practices. With regard to fertiliser usage, customers are having to become more aware of the need to utilise these products more efficiently so as to comply with increasing environmental pressures and stringent legislation. Understandably, there is also an increasing reluctance to buy forward. We therefore feel that the time is right to reshape our fertiliser business in anticipation of future industry challenges and changing buying patterns.”
Timac, has operated in the UK for a number of years and is very pleased to have access to a modern manufacturing base in the South West of England, enabling its team of experienced on-farm advisers to expand their influence throughout one of the UK’s most important livestock producing areas. In addition to supplying products and services in Mole Valley Farmers’ traditional trading areas, the new business will also operate in Gloucestershire, Hereford, Worcestershire, the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. In Wales, its coverage will include Gwent, Mid-, South- and West Glamorgan, Dyfed and Powys.
Mole Valley Farmers has been involved in trading fertiliser since the 1960s, supplying its own farmer members and agricultural merchants throughout the West Country. During the last five years the company has invested £500,000 in its high-capacity blending and packing plant in Devon. The facility, which produces a wide range of high-quality NPKs, nitrogen and straight fertilisers in bulk or bags, is capable of producing a 500kg ‘big bag’ of fertiliser every 15 seconds. Although the majority of product is supplied in 500kg, 600kg and 1000kg bags, the Teignmouth facility is one of the few offering customers in the agricultural, horticultural and amenity sectors the option of 25kg bags.
Mole Valley Forage Services will combine Mole Valley Farmers’ traditional fertiliser range with Timac UK’s range of speciality products, backed by a comprehensive support service encompassing soil analysis, fertiliser testing and product advice. Neil Stallard, Operational Manager of Mole Valley Forage Services, commented:
“Historically, fertiliser has been sold to livestock producers on the back of feed sales. Ironically, whilst many producers have been quick to adopt the latest developments in plant and livestock genetics a surprising number still take a very traditional approach to fertiliser management. Despite increasing demands on the soil brought about by rising productivity, together with the need to optimise application efficiency and minimise waste, traditional 20:10:10 and 25:5:5 formulations still account for the majority of fertiliser sales.
“Against the backdrop of meeting increasing environmental legislation and economic constraints, improving fertiliser utilisation will become increasingly important, which means applying exactly the right products, in the right quantities, at the right time. Consequently, we believe that there is enormous potential for a joined-up service that enables grassland farmers to optimise crop production and livestock performance via a three-dimensional approach combining specialist advice on agronomy, product selection and nutrition.
Guillaume Mothe, Managing Director of Mole Valley Forage Services, said: “By increasing throughput at our Teignmouth manufacturing facility we will achieve greater economies of scale and improve production and distribution efficiencies. This should improve our pricing consistency, increase our market share and enhance the long-term viability and outlook for our fertiliser business. In addition, we are now beginning to appreciate the growing awareness and benefit of precision application and their increasing importance, for both economic and environmental reasons. Our members and customers will benefit from having access to comprehensive research and development programmes around the world, specific to unlocking plant nutrients and maximising grass growth.”
