Fertiliser Team on Hand at Cereals

News release

29th April 2013

The team responsible for sourcing fertiliser at one of the UK’s leading farmers’ buying groups will be on hand to discuss the benefits of securing products through a co-operative when they attend the industry’s Cereals event on 12th and 13th June.

The farmer-owned agricultural buying group based in Louth, Lincolnshire has a team which actively supports safety, security and traceability of fertiliser and participates in the Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme (FIAS) to offer complete confidence in the products sourced.

Farmers will be able to visit Heather Claridge and Shannon Eaglestone at the Woldmarsh stand for a drink and a chat about fertiliser and other products and services.

Heather, Business Manager for Woldmarsh, which is a not-for-profit organisation serving more than 800 members, said: “Fertiliser remains a key input area for Woldmarsh and we source in excess of 120,000 tonnes each year for members in both solid and liquid form.

“Cereals is one of the major events on the industry calendar for us, as it gives us the opportunity to meet farmers on the ground and hear about what’s important to our members at a grass roots level.

“We work with a variety of suppliers, including manufacturers, importers and merchants, to supply a full portfolio of products to members. Our relationships are based on mutual respect and integrity. Members are kept up to date on pricing, trends and general fertiliser news through regular emails and newsletters.”

To further their work on building and maintaining relationships with suppliers and members, Woldmarsh is working with Bunn Fertiliser Ltd to offer a tour of the new Teesport facility in Middlesbrough which blends and distributes fertiliser for customers across the UK.

The visit on 5th June will be the first time members of a farmers’ buying group have been to the depot, which opened in January. They will be given a talk on the facility and its products before touring the purpose-built site, which is equipped with new machinery including two bagging lines and fertiliser production units.

The Teesport facility supplies Koch Advanced Nitrogen® (KAN) fertiliser, which is becoming popular thanks to its high performance, simplicity and cost-effectiveness.  A recent comprehensive report by agricultural and environmental consultancy ADAS stated that the fertiliser provided the best combination of economic performance and greenhouse gas intensity relative to traditional products like ammonium nitrate or urea.

Ian Moseley from Bunn Fertiliser, which will also be at Cereals to talk about their products and services, said: “The KAN fertiliser is a product we are particularly proud of and, along with strengthening our relationship with Woldmarsh, we hope the trip will help raise awareness of KAN and its benefits beyond the traditional offerings. This is our first tour, and we are extremely excited to show Woldmarsh members around.”

One Woldmarsh member attending the trip is James Fisher, who runs Newton House Farm near Bingham in Nottinghamshire. “Consumers have the opportunity to trace where their food is sourced and how it is produced, offering them satisfaction with the product and the methods used,” said James, whose 1,500-acre arable farm produces wheat, oilseed rape, sugar beet and potatoes.

“This is the farmer’s chance to do the same thing, so we know what we’re getting and how the fertiliser which helps us to grow our produce is created. The trip will also allow us to see what other products and services they offer and give us the opportunity to ask questions of our suppliers in person and learn more about future developments and trends in the industry.”

For more information about Woldmarsh or becoming a member, please visit www.woldmarsh.com or call 01507 602396. For more on Bunn Fertiliser and its products, visit www.bunnfertiliser.com

Ends

Notes to editors:

About Woldmarsh

• Woldmarsh was formed in 1961 and now boasts more than 800 members nationwide from Lincolnshire and Yorkshire to the Isle of Wight. It traded £112 million of goods and services last year.
• The membership policy is closely governed to ensure Woldmarsh represents those in the farming sector which share its views and ethos.
• The fertiliser team, Heather Claridge and Shannon Eaglestone, have over 25 years’ industry experience and both are members of the FACTS Professional Register. Heather is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply and Shannon has recently completed her CIPS Level 2 qualification.
• The organisation is able to source competitively priced products from suppliers for farmers, allowing members to enjoy a stronger negotiating position than that of a single farmer.
• It is a ‘one stop shop’ for agricultural products and services, staffed by purchasing and industry professionals, who hold either formal qualifications or boast strong industry experience.
• Woldmarsh is a not-for-profit organisation and all rebates are returned to members.

About Bunn Fertiliser

• Established in 1816, J&H Bunn Ltd is a blender and distributor of fertiliser, selling to customers across the UK.
• The Teesport facility was added to Bunn’s portfolio in January this year after the firm reached a deal with PD Ports and offers 80,000 square feet of storage capacity that Bunn utilises to supply the Scottish and north of England markets, including the Woldmarsh area.
• The new site adds to the existing network of eight terminals that are conveniently positioned within 100 miles of nearly all UK farmland.
• The facility took its first shipment in January.
• Visit www.bunnfertiliser.com for more on its products and services.

Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07985 143990
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @CerriDelaney

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