More organic farmers needed by gleadell

With demand for organic cereals running at 60-70% higher than domestic production can deliver, more UK farmers should consider conversion, says leading grain merchant Gleadell.

"We market a wide range of organically grown crops to maltsters, millers and feed compounders across the UK," explains Brian Wilburn, Gleadell's organic trading manager. "But we soon run out of home-grown crops, and have to import thousands of tonnes from abroad to fulfil the demand.

"We have a lot of customers crying out for more organic grain and pulses, and some farmers could benefit by growing for this premium market."

Two farmers who are already benefiting from farming organically are Graham Williams and Nigel Carey, who both farm in East Anglia. They each run successful arable and suckler beef enterprises and neither regret the move away from conventional farming methods. Both are registered with Organic Farmers and Growers and trade their combinable organic crops through Gleadell's Swaffham office.

"I have always used Gleadell to sell my organic wheat and beans, and have found them first class," remarks Mr Carey. "I find them extremely reliable. I have 300 tonnes of on-farm storage, and the grain is taken away over several months. The lorries always turn up when they say they will, and everything runs smoothly."

Mr Williams agrees. He has built up a good relationship with the Gleadell team since going organic. He buys his organic seed from them and, as he only has temporary storage, sells the grain on a 'contract for harvest movement'.

"I need to have confidence that my merchant can handle the grain efficiently at harvest," says Mr Williams. "Gleadell has never let me down – it is usually all gone by the end of September.

"They clearly have a lot of experience and access to a lot of organic markets. I think this is a reflection of the fact that they have a team of people dedicated to buying and selling organic products."

For the past three years Gleadell has run an Organic Grain Group, which aims to simplify and strengthen the different pathways to the various markets, by acting as the lynchpin between producers and processors.

"All the different customers have very differing needs in terms of grain quality and specification," explains Mr Wilburn. "It's our job to match what the growers have produced to the best end market, for the best price. We can do this because we are talking to all the key buyers, all of the time.