Wheat harvested in East Anglia has been shipped from Ipswich to Edinburgh as part of a growing partnership between a Suffolk-based farming co-operative and an independent flour miller.
Three thousand tonnes of wheat harvested by members of the Framlingham-based AtlasFram Group on farms across East Anglia during August were loaded onto the MV Baltiskiy 201 at Ipswich Docks this week.
The shipment was destined for ADM Milling’s flour mill at Leith in Scotland - one of seven owned by the company.
The mill produces a wide range of flours for major food firms, and quality Group 3 soft wheat is important for the production process.
AtlasFram has forged a successful alliance with ADM Direct, a wholly-owned division of Archer Daniels Midland (UK) Ltd. It is part of Archer Daniels Midland Company, one of the world’s largest agricultural crop processors.
ADM Milling trading manager Mark Ringrose said: “The consignment shipped from Ipswich fitted our current strategy in terms of logistics and further demonstrates our commitment to working with ADM Direct and AtlasFram to link the supply chain from farm to flour.”
AtlasFram chief executive Richard Anscombe said the close integration between the two businesses meant that AtlasFram members benefited from ADM’s “exceptional” knowledge of world grain markets.
“In a year when the national grain crop is approximately 20% below average due to difficult conditions last autumn, AtlasFram’s crop marketing department has gone from strength to strength and bucked the national trend with a 40% increase in the volume of members’ grain that we will trade,” he said.
AtlasFram member Geoff Mayhew, who farms at Woolverstone, has benefited significantly from the deal.
“This year we have 700tonnes of KWS Target soft milling wheat committed to the group and the quality has been very good, with yields hitting our light-land targets of 7.5 to 8 tonnes/ha,” he said.
“This initiative demonstrates the benefit of AtlasFram’s partnership with a major UK consumer, ensuring that we receive the optimum premium for grain that we supply.”
“In addition to my wheat, I also commit all of my rapeseed to AtlasFram and as a member of the ADM LEAF Marque scheme benefit from an additional £15 per tonne premium over and above normal quality premiums for standard double-zero oilseed rape, for a five-year period.”
“Our very successful partnership with ADM Direct and the close integration between the two businesses means that AtlasFram members benefit from ADM’s exceptional knowledge of world grain markets, together with the global factors and trends which impact on agricultural commodity markets. This provides an invaluable input into our members’ strategic decisions and allows the AtlasFram Crop Marketing Department to ensure that members trade only when it is in their best interest.
“Adding value to harvested crops is crucial to maximise our members’ returns and our relationship with ADM Direct is essential to achieving this. We are closely aligned and active throughout the entire supply chain, from working with member’s agronomists at the crop planning stage to supplying grain into ADM’s trading division which feeds their network of mills. From helping members to decide which varieties to grow, to achieve premium prices, to the production of finished flour, the AtlasFram - ADM relationship is cohesive and aligned, which is key to delivering the best service and value to our members.”
AtlasFram member Geoff Mayhew, who farms at Woolverstone, is one of those who has benefited significantly from the Group’s crop marketing partnership with ADM Direct. He states:
“We have used the AtlasFram pools for many years, been very pleased with the results and always find their Grain Marketing Team to be extremely professional. This year we have 700t of KWS Target soft milling wheat committed to the group and the quality has been very good, with yields hitting our light-land targets of 7.5 to 8 tonnes/ha.
“This initiative demonstrates the benefit of AtlasFram’s partnership with a major UK consumer, ensuring that we receive the optimum premium for grain that we supply. In addition to my wheat, I also commit all of my rapeseed to AtlasFram and as a member of the ADM LEAF Marque scheme benefit from an additional £15 per tonne premium over and above normal quality premiums for standard double-zero oilseed rape, for a five-year period.”
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