Crop Advisors

A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by Crop Advisors's best practice article

The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Crop Advisors is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.

Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett

Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles

www.cropadvisors.com

1CROP ADVISORS |

BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020

Directors Emma Martin and

Howard Nason

Communication with

our members is key

Based in Hampshire, Crop Advisors is one of the foremost

buying groups for independent agronomists in the UK.

The organisation independently assesses agrochemicals,

fertiliser and seed inputs to ensure farmers are buying the most

cost-effective products for their businesses. Managing Director

Emma Martin tells

The Parliamentary Review

more about how

the business operates.

Since its inception in 1978, the firm has continued to strengthen and grow,

working alongside 20 independent agronomists to ensure they have a complete

commercial understanding of the inputs they are advising on. Today the group has

over 600 members and covers in excess of 300,000 acres.

The Farmer

For a farmer to be a member, first they must use an independent agronomist who

is a member of the Association of Independent Crop Consultants. To be a member

of the AICC, the individual must meet a strict criterion of independence. They

must have no commercial involvement linked to their advice of any sort ensuring

that their advice is 100 percent impartial. The farmer pays a membership fee to

Crop Advisors and at no point do we trade or sell any inputs. All are negotiated on

behalf of the farmer member.

Crop Advisors (CA) does not see itself as a standard farmer buying group, but one

that specialises in arable inputs ensuring maximum profitability for its members.

We strongly believe that the buying of inputs is not necessarily about how cheaply

FACTS ABOUT

CROP ADVISORS

»Established by Alan Bide in

1978

»Joint Directors since 2009:

Emma Martin and

HowardNason

»Services: Specialises in the

buying of arable inputs,

services over 600 farms across

the South of England

»Working with 20 associated

independent agronomists

»Personal customer service is

key to our success

»www.cropadvisors.com

Crop Advisors

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

2| CROP ADVISORS

one can buy a can of chemical or

a tonne of seed, but what is the

cost per hectare and is the farmer

receiving good value for money for

his investment. At CA we question

this with every product: we look at

its source, its label implications, its

integrity, its trials response curves and

finally how it compares and contends

with its competition.

Facing the issues within the

sector

A challenge that the whole of the

arable industry faces is the revocation

of agrochemicals. The change in

chemical classification has seen the

disappearance of many key actives and

this has created many challenges and

provoked a fundamental shift in how

we approach arable farming.

During the Covid-19 pandemic we

were reminded of the importance of

our food supply and how we have

previously just taken it for granted.

Surely the panic buying we have

endured has reminded us of the

importance of the British grower and

how important products, that are

paramount to growing a healthy crop,

should only be revoked on scientific

evidence and not political pressure

from lobbying groups.

Many would see this as a huge risk

for Crop Advisors as the volume

of agrochemicals we purchase will

diminish, but as a business we are

so much more than a group buyer

of agrochemical: we analyse and

investigate all inputs. With the demise

of agrochemicals, distributors are

looking at alternative income streams,

such as bio stimulants and cover crops.

Out in the market there is a plethora of

choice and at Crop Advisors we invest

time and money to speak to industry

experts to get a true understanding of

which products offer our membership

true value and a return on investment.

Millions of pounds are being invested

in digital support systems. At CA we

believe that they do play an important

part in our decision making, but we

need to ensure that farms are using

this technology to reduce their overall

inputs and enhance their overall farm

performance. Technology will play

an important role when we see the

implication of the new Agriculture

Bill. Farmers are going to need more

We undertake

independent, well-

researched assessments to

ensure farmers are buying

cost-effective products

The days of the

chemical sales

rep are over.

The future is

unbiased,

transparent

and truly

independent

advice coupled

with specialist

input buying.

This is what

Crop Advisors

offers its

growers.

“

3CROP ADVISORS |

BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020

expert and independent advice and

we believe that CA is well placed

to give unbiased, well-researched

information that will ensure they are

buying a cost-effective input with a

maximumreturn.

Advice can no longer be seen to be

given by a chemical salesman; we

need to be completely transparent

in our approach. We believe that

independent agronomy linked to a

professional arable buying group is

the future. Consumers want to know

how their food is produced to ensure

that future food production works in

harmony with the environment.

Looking to the future

Ten years ago there was a large

ageing population of independent

agronomists and this was a risk to

our business. We took a conscious

decision to invest, support and spend

time in developing the next generation

of agronomists. We set up a two

year apprenticeship scheme and over

this time, the trainee spends two

days a week at CA understanding

the background to the commercial

decisions that are taken and then three

days out in the field with one of our

associated agronomists. This has been

highly successful, and we now have

four full-time agronomists working out

in the field with a positive and growing

client base.

We believe that old-fashioned

customer service is key to our

success. We are very much a people

business and talking to our members

is an important part of that. We do

recognise the diverse age range across

our client base and that we need

to be able to communicate with all

generations. Over the last 12 months

we have invested heavily in a new

bespoke computer system.

There is nothing more frustrating than

mistakes that are out of your control,

particularly when you are trying to

offer a superior service. The new

system enables us to communicate

directly with third party systems

reducing double entry of data.

Farmers will be able to view via an app

where their order is in the process of

delivery, so hanging around waiting

for commodities to be delivered will

be a thing of the past. At any point

we can analyse the farmers’ buying

patterns and trends to allow us to

concentrate on our buying power

on certain commodities therefore

ensuring the most competitive price

in the market. I wrote this article

during the unprecedented time of the

Covid-19 pandemic. This investment is

already paying dividends by enabling

us to have the flexibility to work

remotely and has enabled us to carry

on our important work for the British

farmer. There is no doubt that this

large investment has future-proofed

ourbusiness.

Pesticides are

part of the tool

box for

sustainable food

production whilst

farming in an

environmentally

sensitive manner.

It is vital any

decision making

on product

revocation

is100%

scienceled.

“

Analysing various

choices of slug pellets

www.cropadvisors.com

This article was sponsored by Crop Advisors. The Parliamentary Review is wholly funded by the representatives who write for it.

Rt Hon Michael Gove's Foreword For The Parliamentary Review

By Rt Hon Michael Gove

This year's Parliamentary Review comes at a momentous time for parliament, as we collectively determine the destiny of the United Kingdom.

On October 31, the UK will leave the European Union. The successful implementation of this process is this government's number-one priority.

Three years after a historic referendum vote, we will deliver on the decisive mandate from the British people. Trust in our democracy depends on it. Until that final hour, we will work determinedly and diligently to negotiate a deal, one that abolishes the backstop and upholds the warm and close relationship we share with our friends, allies and neighbours in the EU. But in the event that the EU refuses to meet us at the table, we must be prepared to leave without a deal.

As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, it is my job to lead on this government's approach, should that scenario happen. Preparing for Brexit is my department's driving mission. But while I am leading this turbocharged effort, the whole of government is committed to this endeavour.

Ministers across Whitehall are working together to ensure that every possibility is considered, every plan is scrutinised and every provision is made. A daily drumbeat of meetings means that we are holding departments accountable, so that preparations are completed on time.

The chancellor has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available. And we have mobilised thecivil service, assigning 15,000 of our most talented civil servants to manage our exit from the EU.

We will make sure that on November 1, there is as little disruption to national life as possible. Our trade relationships will continue to thrive, thanks to agreements with countries around the world worth £70 billion. Our country will remain secure, thanks to nearly 1,000 new officers posted at our borders. And the 3.2 million EU nationals now living and working among us can remain confident, with absolute certainty, of their right to remain in the UK.

Above all, our goal is to be transparent. Soon, we will launch a public information campaign so that citizens, communities and businesses are ready and reassured about what will happen in the event of “no deal”.

In my first few weeks in this role, I have travelled to ports and tarmacs, borders and bridges, all across the UK –from the seaside of Dover to the rolling green hills of County Armagh. I have heard from business owners and border officials, farmers and hauliers. They are ready to put an end to uncertainty. And they are ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.

Our departure from the EU will be a once in a lifetime chance to chart a new course for the United Kingdom. Preparing for that new course will be a herculean effort. But this country has made astounding efforts before. We can do it again.

Rt Hon Michael Gove
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster