Professional services Suffolk grower appointed
chairman of Fram Farmers • Better value from farm supply chain • Record annual turnover over past year • Impartial advice for group members
W
ell-known Suffolk grower Andrew Read has been appointed
chairman of Fram Farmers – the farmer-owned input purchasing and crop marketing group. Mr Read – a fourth-genera- tion farmer from Depden – was appointed at the group’s annu- al general meeting on 21 Novem- ber. He has served as vice-chair- man for the past year and succeeds Rodney Baker-Bates, a city busi- nessman who had chaired the co- operative since 2015.
“This is an exciting opportuni- ty for me – even at a time of un- certainty and change in the agri- cultural industry,” said Mr Read. “I am passionate about farm-
ing and fi rmly believe that it has a great future, albeit in a form that will be different to what many of us have known in the past, be- cause as the industry loses its tra- ditional subsidy base it will have to change. “This, combined with consoli- dation in the inputs supply sector
restricting the ability of individu- al farming businesses to negotiate good deals, means that member- ship of a true farmer-owned co- operative will be even more im- portant.”
60th anniversary Fram Farmers celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2020. The group provides the purchasing, grain marketing and administrative function for over 1400 business- es farming more than 270,000ha, helping them obtain better value from the supply chain. Mr Read said: “My own farm- ing business joined in 2005, so I know fi rst-hand the benefi ts of be- ing part of the cooperative, which provides the best deals and servic- es with the added benefi t of free, truly impartial advice that cannot be obtained elsewhere.” Mr Read studied Agricultur-
al Engineering at the West Suf- folk College in Bury St Edmunds and at Chadacre Agricultural In- stitute in West Suffolk before join-
haulage business alongside the ar- able farm enterprise, adding val- ue and effi ciency to grain move- ments and storage. In 1990, Mr Read diversifi ed into whole farm contracting, added a further 650 acres in 1998.
Two years later he established a livery yard to utilise redundant farm buildings and pasture at Elms Farm. In 2010, the business entered a machinery and labour sharing venture with a neighbour- ing farmer to further reduce pro- duction costs.
MF Read & Sons now operates 1500 acres of owned, rented and contract farmed arable land, to- gether with a livery yard for 22 horses. The business purchases and markets almost everything it requires to operate, and which it produces, through Fram Farmers. Mr Read said: “I am grateful to my predecessor, Rodney Bak- er-Bates, both for his valuable input in helping to guide Fram Farmers to the very strong posi- tion that it is in today and for ex- tending his tenure as chairman for an additional year to help me tran- sition smoothly into my new role.”
ing his family’s farming business, MF Read & Sons, in 1982. In 1986, he established a bulk
Optimistic about future despite challenges
Fram Farmers chairman Andrew Read says he remains optimistic about the prospects for UK agriculture – without wishing to understate the challenges facing the sector. “As global demand continues to rise, the versatility of our businesses allows us to produce both energy and food, while supplementing our income streams with diverse channels of revenue, providing us opportunities to continuously evolve and adapt our businesses. “The farming sector will
be more sustainable through cooperation. With greater collaboration, individual farming businesses, including my own, will strengthen by further reducing fi xed costs and operating more effi ciently as an active part of a farmer- owned cooperative.” Fram Farmers was in a
More than 300 members and guests attended the annual Fram Farmers Trials Day in June, hosted for the second successive year by RH Forrest at Mowness Hall, Stonham Aspal.
Record turnover for farmer-owned group
Fram Farmers reported a record turnover for the fi nancial year ending 30 June 2019 – despite a challenging 12 months for grow- ers and livestock producers. The cooperative saw its an-
nual turnover increase by 8.9% to £212m during the year – its highest ever and well above the £195m reported for the previous
12 months. The group’s consoli- dated operating profi t before tax for the year was £476,130. The group said the surplus
would enable investment in bet- ter IT systems and processes to optimise effi ciency and reduce overhead costs, while attract- ing, training, developing and re- taining the best staff, improving
existing services and developing new initiatives.
Consolidated net current as-
sets reached £3.405m (£2.968m 2017/18), while capital and re- serves closed at £4.392m (£4m 2017/18). The group said the fi g- ures provided it with a robust fi nancial position to negotiate within the supply chain.
unique position to add value to farm businesses, said Mr Read. But just like the farming sector, it must move with the times to meet the needs of future generations of growers and livestock producers. “A key part of my role
as chairman will be to ensure that Fram Farmers continues to adapt, develop and become even more commercially focussed by combining the very best attributes of a strong commercial business with true cooperative values.”
DECEMBER 2019 •ANGLIA FARMER 65
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