Order fertiliser, Ag Chem, Fuel & General Supplies online via www.framfarmers.co.uk

Crop Protection - 01728 727712Fuel - 01728 727714Fertiliser - 01728 727715Livestock - 01728 727716

Electricity - 01728 727723Telecoms - 01728 727722Seed - 01728 727717Building Materials - 01728 727718

Machinery - 01728 727719Crop Marketing - 01728 727720Accounts - 01728 727730Framtrade - 01728 724367

What’s included...

I am delighted to announce that as we go to press Fram Farmers Insurance Service has signed up our 100th member. When we launched our members’ insurance service we did so as we believed that we could save members a significant amount against their existing premiums whilst offering policies and back up services at least equal to the wider market.

To date we have saved members, on average, close to 30% off their existing premiums, representing very significant monetary savings, sometimes running into tens of thousands of pounds.

Like any new service one learns lessons along the road and I am pleased to also tell you that we have brought more of the

administration of the service into our team which will further improve the paperwork and the claims elements of our service.

If you have not already done so, please contact Lydia Chance-King who heads up our Insurance service at Fram Farmers. Lydia will be delighted to discuss your existing insurance cover and to visit you to assess your policy needs going forward.

We provide our insurance services as an appointed representative of AT&A, credit must also go to them too for the very significant success of this new venture and the level of value added we are achieving together for our membership.

March 2017

Page 1 - Chief Executive’s Note

Page 2 - New Members

Page 2 - New Suppliers

Page 3 - Dates For Your Diary

Page 4 - Crop Protection Update

Page 9 - Drone Update

Page 10 - Farmers First: New Online Version

Page 12 - Suffolk FWAG Update: Countryside Stewardship

Page 15 - Leaf UK: Leaf Integrated Farm Management Conference 2017

Page 14 - CLA Update: Stronger Action needed to combat fly-tipping...

Page 16 -Young Leaders in agriculture given new opportunities

GENERAL NEWS

Chief Executive’s Note Richard Anscombe

Page 10 - Insurance Update

Page 10 - Supplier & Membership Queries Contact Sheet

Page 11 - Electricity Update

Page 5 - 8 Livestock Update: -Coccidiosis: Managing A Prevalent Disease- Westpoint Vouchers

2 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

We would like to welcome the following new Suppliers to Fram Farmers:

Supplier Products Supplied Area

DAB Pumps Ltd Pumps All

Eco Concrete Ltd Site mixed concrete EA R N T Tanks and Silos

Ltd Circular lined water storage tanks, flat botton grain silos, tubular grain conveyors All

FP & S Parts and Service Ltd

Formerly Ems truck and trailer. Supplying truck and tailer parts and services EA & MIDLANDS

CH Air & Pump Services Ltd

Air compressors, dryers and filtration, new and used. Sales, service and repair to all makes. Pipework. E shop.

All

Agility Agriculture Limited Vegetable seeds All

Member Area Gale Estates (Findon) Ltd. West Sussex K W Brake & Son Ltd. South West

New Suppliers

New Members

We would like to welcome the following new members to Fram Farmers:

3 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

Tam ar Member Meeting - Cornwall and Devon

•

Tamar Member Meeting - Cornwall and Devon

Deben Farm Club 23rd

• March 23rd The Club will be addressed by StephenCarr- Farmers Weekly columnist and farmer fromSussex who runs a partly conventional farm and partly organic farm. He also owns the village pub.Title of his talk is “Hands up the farmer turkeys whovoted for Christmas by voting to leave the EU” Thiswill undoubtedly be a lively presentation conveyed inan entertaining manner.For details contactalan.gray@bunnfertiliser.com or 07885 711848. TheMeeting will be held at the Ufford Park Hotel,Yarmouth Road Melton at 7.30 p.m. followed by afinger buffet supper.

• Sussex independent agronomy discussion group – dateof next meeting Wednesday 10th May at 11.30am. Thismeeting will be in the form of a farm walk kindly hostedby Will and John Hecks. Meeting point to be confirmednearer the time. This group is open to all members andis run by Laura Buckingham our ‘in house’ agronomistand agrochemical purchasing manager. Please give BeckyBower a call 07768835343 if you would be interested injoining the group. Likewise if there is enough membersinterested in other areas then we can look at startinganother group local to you.

Sussex Independent Agronomy Group

•

Wednesday 29th March at Eliot House Hotel, Liskeard PL14 3AU at 11.00am.

4 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

The Arable Team will be placing crop protection early orders for delivery until the end of this month. Terms are available on certain products to June and September. Visit the website or Click HERE to access the order form, which includes a commentary on products where taking cover on volume may be worthwhile from a supply point of view.

Sugar Beet products are not included on this order form, but with the acreage up by around 20% it would be worth planning products such as metamitron and checking purchasing news updates for any shortages. Chloridazon, historically applied in the liquid formulation Takron, is now only available as soluble granules (brands include Pyramin DF and Better DF). The rate of use is different with these products – please check rates with your agronomist.

Glyphosate remains a concern to us all. Lincolnshire agronomist Sean Sparling has started a petition which as glyphosate users you may wish to add weight to. Please click HERE to be redirected to the online petition.

The revocation dates for Linuron containing products have now been set and are as follows:

• 3rd June 2017 for sale and distribution by any persons• 3rd June 2018 for the disposal, storage and use of existing stocks by any persons.

Growers of Syngenta Hyvido hybrid Barley varieties have until 31st March 2017 to register for the cashback yield guarantee. If your crop of Hyvido Barley does not yield at least 0.5t/h more than conventional varieties (measured by an independent third party on reference fields), Syngenta will pay £60/ha for eligible registered crop. Click HERE to access the registration form on Syngentas website.

Laura & Jessie

Pint

CROP PROTECTION UPDATE

5 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

.

Coccidiosis – managing a prevalent disease

Coccidia are single celled intracellular parasites which affect many farmed and wild species of animal. They are host specific, so there is no risk of transmission of the infection from one species to another (i.e. coccidia from calves will not infect lambs and vice versa).

They have a relatively simple lifecycle where infection is picked up from faecal contamination in the environment. This is then followed by a variable number of asexual reproduction cycles and a final sexual reproduction cycle within the cells of the gut wall, to produce oocysts which are shed in faeces to start the whole cycle again. The oocysts are extremely resistant in the environment, so can survive for many months (up to two years), and reach very high levels.

The end result (infection followed by immunity, infection followed by impaired gut function and reduced growth rate, or infection followed by clinical disease), depends on the number of oocysts ingested.

Once immunity to the parasite has developed, lambs (and adult animals) are usually able to withstand a significant challenge without any adverse effects, but continue to excrete a small number of oocysts, which can add to the level of environmental contamination.

Managing coccidiosis, and reducing the impact of coccidial infections, depends on allowing a low level of exposure, so that young lambs can develop immunity, but preventing levels of infection that will cause decreased growth rates or clinical disease. Lambs are most at risk from 4 – 8 weeks of age. Although disease is also seen post weaning when environmental challenges can be increased and stress can reduce immunity.

LIVESTOCK UPDATE

6 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

In housed systems (calves and early lambers), good hygiene practices can be enough to control the level of challenge. In outdoor systems, and often in housed systems too, some form of treatment is also necessary to limit the level of infection and allow immunity to develop without disease or impaired production. Injectable, in-feed and oral drench treatments are available. The injectable sulphonamide antibiotics are useful for treating individual sick animals, but the aim is to manage the level of exposure so that lambs do not become sick. Medicated feed blocks and licks, or medicated feed (Decoquinate) can be used to suppress oocyst output, but variable intakes from blocks, licks and ad lib creep can leave the smallest, most vulnerable lambs at risk. Where intakes are sufficient to prevent infection, animals may not develop any immunity, so will be at risk later in life when the medicated feed is withdrawn. Targeted treatment with an oral drench (diclazuril or toltrazuril) once a low level of exposure has already occurred, allows the whole group to be effectively treated to prevent gut damage, reduced growth rates and disease, while allowing immunity to develop. Of these only diclazuril (Vecoxan) has a zero meat withdrawal period, which is crucial when treating fast growing lambs.

Vecoxan® contains diclazuril 2.5mg/ml. Legal category: POM-VPS UK. Use Medicines Responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible) Advice should be sought from the medicine prescriber prior to use.

7 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

8 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

9 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

DRONE UPDATE

Agrifly Limited, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fram Farmers, has taken the decision to partner with commercial drone operator ‘Flyibot’. As a fully licensed and dedicated operation, ‘Flyibot’ can provide high resolution aerial imagery along with more specialist applications such as 2D mapping and 3D modelling, tools which are becoming ever more useful in the farming world. Many of our Members have gone it alone and purchased drones such as the Phantom and Inspire series from manufacturer DJI. But with huge advances in camera and flying platform technology these are becoming less a ‘straight out of the box ready to fly option’. Indeed, when coupled with new mapping and modelling software tools from companies such as Dronedeploy and Pix4D, these machines have become far more complex than a year or two ago. In order to fly these drones in a safe and legal way along with extracting the best out of them from an operational perspective, Agrifly will work closely with ‘Flyibot’ to utilise their experience and knowledge for the benefit the Membership. Services that can now be offered to Members include;

• 2D mapping of agricultural fields, includes GPS data, area, volume, topography• NDVI helping identify variability in crops to help focus ground truthing• Zoom capability on maps down to plant level – early health assessment• Plant counting• Drainage and water identification• Bad weather/flood damage inspection• Drone operation & specialist software training• High Resolution still imagery for farm buildings, silos etc.• Terrain mapping• 3D modelling - survey grade point cloud accuracy 1-2cm• Training from ‘Unboxing of drone’ to ‘deployment’• Professional ground level & drone filming - promo videos for websites and marketing

We anticipate regular updates via the newsletter on drones and how the farming industry integrates with this technology.

Depending on demand we will look at running group sessions on how to get the best out of your drone and also utilising software such as Dronedeploy (www.dronedeploy.com). Other websites to view – www.flyibot.co.uk & www.filmsofdistinction.uk Enquiries can be made via Ian Caley at the office or direct to Flyibot on 07730 261 985

10 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

dvsd

You can now view Farmers First easier online;

• Our new online Farmers First is mobile friendly somembers can now view our magazine on any iPhoneandroid device.

• Additional features include click through adverts somembers can be directed straight to the supplier’swebsite.

To view our magazine visit the Fram Farmerswebsite.

FARMERS FIRST

SUPPLIER AND MEMBERSHIP QUERIES CONTACT SHEET

From listening to our member feedback we have put together a new contacts sheet detailing our contacts for member and supplier queries. This will be used to help our members know exactly who to contact in regards to each query and how to contact them. You can find this in the member’s area of our website or by clicking HERE.

New Contact Sheet

INSURANCE UPDATE

We are delighted to announce we have signed up our 100th member to the Fram Farmers Insurance scheme!!

In our 16th month of trading we have hit the big 100! This is testament to how well received the se rvice has been by members and is such fantastic progress for the scheme.

We have had a successful February with 10 members renewing their Insurance with us, and seeing comparable or cheaper renewal premiums in their second year, laying proof to the fact we won’t just deliver a good quote in year one, but work to continually provide you with competitive premiums.

I f you would like to discuss your insurance needs please give me a call / email and I will be moreth an happy to help. Lydia Chance – King T: 01728 727721 E: Lydia.ChanceKing@framfarmers.co.uk

11 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

ELECTRICITY UPDATE

Members may need to be aware of the following from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:-

The guidance information is for landlords of privately rented non-domestic properties and refers to the 2018 “minimum level of energy efficiency” standards. This is relevant to anyone who acts as a commercial landlord or occupies a non-domestic property on a private lease. The minimum level of EES (Energy Efficiency Standard) commences from April 2018 and will prohibit any non-domestic property with an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of E or below entering the rental market for new tenants. It is intended by 2023 to apply this to all private non-domestic properties including those with no change in tenancy arrangements.

Further information can be found on-line using the e-mail address below. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-non-domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-standard-landlord-guidance

Billing Changes

After receiving feedback from members, we have made the decision to leave quarterly billing as it is. We understand the pros and cons of monthly billing vs. quarterly billing however it is somewhat inevitable that all non-domestic billing will become monthly at some stage in the future if Elexon implement plans to change supplies as they have done so through the P272 scheme.

12 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

Suffolk FWAG

March 2017 Update

Countryside Stewardship

If you are thinking of making an application this year (for a start date of January 2018), the message is to get things underway as soon as possible once the application forms are available. The application window for Mid Tier, which we are expecting to open at the beginning of March, may close earlier than the 2015 and 2016 end-of-September deadline in order to give

Natural England more time to process applications; we are still awaiting confirmation if the deadline will be the end of July or August rather than September.

If you are coming out of HLS, you should have been contacted already by Natural England to assess whether you should apply for Mid Tier rather than Higher Tier. In particular farms lacking ‘special’ habitats such as heathland, reedbeds or marsh may be directed towards Mid Tier, as virtually all the old HLS options used on such farms are available in Mid Tier; in that sense, Natural England are not trying to demote your farm, but rather direct it to the most appropriate scheme. Increasingly, it seems, Higher Tier will be restricted to farms with ‘special’ habitats. If you have been asked to submit an Expression of Intent (EoI) for Higher Tier, the window is 1st March to 28th April, with the final application needing to be completed by the end of September.

Hedgerow and Boundaries Grant scheme

The Hedgerow and Boundaries grant scheme is now open for 2017 applications. Here are the links to the Hedgerow and Boundaries scheme manual and capital grants application form. The deadline for applications is 28th April. For the first time this year land parcels still in Entry Level Stewardship can be included in applications, as long as certain eligibility criteria are met. Grant offers will be made to successful applicants from July 2017. As an alternative to downloading the application form, farmers can apply using the new online application process which is expected to be available on the Rural Payments service from early March 2017.

Woodland grants

See the Countryside Stewardship woodland support page for information about grants available for: • woodland creation (open for applications from 3 January 2017) Countryside Stewardship: woodland

creation grant manual 2017 • developing woodland management plans (open for applications from 3 January 2017) Countryside

Stewardship: woodland management plan grant manual 2017 • addressing tree health issues (apply at any time)• woodland improvement (closed for 2016 applications)

13 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

Record keeping for Countryside Stewardship

Countryside Stewardship has stringent record-keeping requirements, and the RPA have stressed that inspectors will be looking very closely at this aspect of compliance. To help make things easier for you we can provide you with a simple record-keeping guide, pre-populated with your specific Countryside Stewardship agreement options and reminding you of the records you need to accumulate and keep. We can also provide more detailed option maps than those supplied by Natural England, showing the location of all your chosen options. Please contact the office if you are interested in either of these services.

Change to GAEC 1 rules

A reminder that from 1 January 2017, land parcels of 2 hectares or less which have land next to a watercourse must comply with the need to protect the watercourse against pollution and run-off from agricultural sources. These small fields were previously exempt. From now on buffer strips must be maintained on all agricultural land that is within 2 metres of the centre of a watercourse or field ditch; and from the edge of the watercourse or field ditch to 1 metre on the landward side of the top of the bank – whichever is the greater. You must take all reasonable steps to maintain a green cover on these buffer strips; and you must not cultivate them or apply fertilisers or pesticides to them. Note that this change does not apply to cross compliance rule GAEC 7a: Boundaries – so fields of less than 2 hectares are still exempt from the requirement to maintain a 2 metre margin measured from the centre of a hedge. On a general note it is important to remember that dumping ditch spoil on the on cross compliance buffers is not permitted.

EVENTS

Mixes, Margins and Habitat Management

The event will cover: • Focus on farmland birds - Encourage more birds onto the farm• Voluntary measures and stewardship options – Help to support your bird populations all year

round• What mix, where to put it and how to manage it• Maintaining your margins - Protect farm habitats and water quality• Catchment Sensitive Farming opportunities – think it, plan it, do it

Tuesday 14th March – Parks Farm, Cock Road, Little Maplestead, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2SH Thursday 16th March – Covehall Farm, North Cove, Barnby, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 7QR Tuesday 21st March – East Wryde Farm, Wisbech Road, Thorney, Peterborough, Cambs, PE6 0TG Wednesday 22nd March – College Farm, Lower Gravenhurst, beds, MK45 4HJ

The events are free and will run from 10.00am – 1.00pm. Refreshments will be provided. BASIS and NRoSO points available. Discounted seed mix available. Outdoor clothing and footwear will be required.

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL – To book your place contact the East Anglia team on 01223 841507 or email EastAnglia@cfeonline.org.uk Grant is available on GOV.UK. This forms part of a

14 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

Press Release

Stronger action needed to combat scourge of fly-tipping, says CLA East

CLA East is calling for stronger enforcement of legal action to help prevent fly-tipping which is blighting the countryside.

Figures released by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show that in 2015-16 there were more than 100,000 incidents of fly-tipping across the CLA East region.

The CLA which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, says the figure does not reflect the true scale of the crime because increasing reports of fly-tipping on private rural land are not included.

CLA East Regional Director Ben Underwood said: “These figures do not tell the full story of this disgraceful behaviour which blights our beautiful countryside. Local authorities tend not to get involved with clearing incidences of fly-tipped waste from private land leaving the landowner to clean up and foot the bill.

“Our members have reported a big increase in fly-tipping on their land. It’s not just the odd bin bag but large household items from unwanted sofas to broken washing machines, building materials and even asbestos being dumped across our countryside.

“Farmers and landowners are forced to clear up somebody else’s rubbish or they risk prosecution for illegal storage of waste. This is simply not right or fair.

“Only when people see evidence of local authorities taking stronger action to combat the scourge of fly-tipping can we hope to see a reversal in this worrying trend.”

The CLA has called on local authorities, the Environment Agency and the police to commit to stronger action against the increase of fly-tipping on private land by:

CLA MEDIA CONTACTS:

For further information and interviews:

Lisa O’Brien, National Communications Manager, 020 7460 7934 or Lisa.Obrien@cla.org.uk

Ellie Jesson, Communications Assistant, 020 7460 7936 or Eleanor.Jesson@cla.org.uk

15 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

Leaf UK Update

LEAF Integrated Farm Management Conference 2017: Technology and Progression in IFM

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) Integrated Farm Management (IFM) conference will draw on the research and demonstration activities of the LEAF Network to assess the current role technology plays in IFM, and look ahead to what new technology will offer IFM in the future. The precision, accuracy and marginal gains offered by many new techniques and promised by upcoming research, will be critical when continually evaluating and improving IFM as a whole farm level approach. The conference takes place on Thursday 25th May 2017 at Fera in York. Save the date and watch out for more details coming soon.

16 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

Press release 6th March 2017 Young leaders in agriculture given new opportunities

A new leadership course is set to give young people a leg-up in the rural industry, by developing their management and communication skills. The Leadership and Management Programme (LAMP), established by the Worshipful Company of Farmers, will target the personal development of its participants, while helping to contribute to the growth of the wider rural sector, explains Richard Soffe, director of Duchy and Bicton College’s Rural Business School. Launching in October, the course is aimed at 20-30 year-olds who are in the early stages of their career and may or may not have formal academic qualifications. “This is an age gap we have wanted to target for some time, as it is a really important age to get set up for the future,” adds Mr Soffe. “It can make all the difference to someone’s career.” The programme, run in conjunction with Duchy and Bicton Colleges, is a week-long residential course held in the Midlands, and will help attendees to develop basic leadership skills, undertake self-assessment and achieve high standards in everything they do. “We want the course to help delegates develop a deeper understanding of the wider business environment and to improve their capacity to operate effectively within their own businesses,” explains Mr Soffe. “The course is a foundation for candidates which can then be built upon throughout their careers by attending the Challenge of Rural Leadership course and Advanced Course in Agricultural Business Management.” Incorporating the use of live case studies, guest speakers and a personal development plan, it will be a platform on which delegates can shape their careers. Participants will also benefit from mentor support for a year after the attending the programme, giving them the chance to keep track of their progress and continue building on what they have learnt, he says. “Supporting the younger generation is essential for the development of British agriculture, as they are the basis upon which the future is built.” Jane King, CEO at AHDB adds: “We are entering a defining moment for the future of the industry and strong leadership will be fundamental to our future success. Courses like the Challenge of Rural Leadership are truly inspirational in finding and nurturing great leaders who grow spectacular businesses and go on to have real impact and influence on others. Personal development and a positive attitude towards lifelong learning will be vital if we’re to build a world class industry together.” Editor’s Notes Duchy College is the land-based arm of Cornwall College, which has eight sites across the county and offers the widest range of high quality academic and vocational training in the country. Cornwall College is the only college in the South West to hold four Centre of Vocational Excellence awards.

17 | P a g e

Main Switchboard: 01728 727700 Order Online: www.framfarmers.co.uk

The Rural Business School is part of Duchy College, with a base at Bicton College, and provides education, business support and applied research to rural industries. It is part of the Rural Business Research group, a leading consortium of academic research units in the field of farming, environment and rural business. Headed by Richard Soffe, the RBS team has a vast wealth of knowledge covering every sector of the agricultural industry, and are pleased to answer any enquiries from the media.

Press enquiries should be directed to: Paul Ward, Rural Business School, Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, Callington. PL17 8PB. Tel: 01579 372315.