Northumberland Partnership Goes for Organic Growth with New Mill

Jennifer Mackenzie talks with Stuart Hyslop near Belford

The northern counties’ first fully organic blending, milling and pelleting plant is ready to meet the demand for feed from the region’s organic cattle, sheep, pig and poultry farmers this winter and at the same time help to cut down on food miles.

Stuart Hyslop and his wife Wendy have been building up a sizeable organic production unit within their diverse range of farming operations near Belford, in Northumberland predominantly producing organic lamb and beef, and through Dawn Meats, supplying Marks & Spencer and ASDA.

Their £400,000 investment, whose nearest all-organic plant in the north is believed to be in Derbyshire, meets not only the increase in demand for organic feeds but also tighter regulations preventing organic beef and sheep producers and eventually all livestock and poultry farmers from using feeds which are not totally organic.

“Originally, my idea with blending and milling was to add value to our own production – we grow about 800 acres of arable crops, mainly wheat and beans,” says Stuart Hyslop, who is marketing the feed under Northumbrian Organic Feeds.

“We need feed for our own livestock enterprise but I also felt there would be demand locally because of the number of livestock farmers converting to organic production.”
“There is also more interest from arable farmers which has led to Coastal Grains investing in an organic store at Belford which I use. This all cuts down on food miles which are of course a current debate.”
The new business has led to the employment of a full-time sales and administration man, Robin Scott, who has had 27 years’ experience in the livestock feed business.

From an initial survey of organic producers in the North East Stuart found most were struggling to find reasonably priced organic feed in the area. With help from Alex Haywood of the Northumbria Organic Producers, Stuart sent out a survey to all the organic producers in the North East and some very positive responses came back.

“Once we had these responses back, I knew that there was a demand for an organic mill in the area and Easington seemed the ideal location, he said.”

Now extensive buildings formerly used as a potato store at Easington incorporate a milling and pelleting plant to complement crushing, mixing and weighing equipment producing the blends, all certified under Organic Farmers and Growers and UFAS.

The investment attracted a 30 per cent Defra Processing and Marketing grant the application for which was put together by Louis Fell, of George F White, in Alnwick. The development of the second phase of feed production, the pelleting plant was to meet the demand particularly from organic sheep producers.

“There is a requirement from producers who feed sheep mechanically for rolls which can be fed on the ground with no waste so we have added a pelleted range to our current three blends. We can also produce specialised blends to order,” said Mr Hyslop.

Feeds are also now being marketed in the region through John Naylor of Carrs Billington Agriculture. A further initiative being considered is the production of grass or lucerne nuts which will meet a local demand and also utilise the plant during the quieter summer months.

Because feeds are primarily intended for local use – and raw ingredients are mainly sourced from within the area – retail prices are very competitive. Buyers have the opportunity to further contain costs by collecting feeds themselves instead of bulk or bagged delivery.

This winter the aim is to sell over 2,000 tonnes of 100 pc organic blended and compound feeds for beef cattle and sheep from the Hyslops’ Easington Farm which along with their other holdings totals 3,500 acres.
Stuart Hyslop admits that originally the attraction of organic conversion of the farming operation was the financial benefits.

“I’m totally ‘converted’ myself to the system now which is a return to much more traditional farming methods. The benefits are as much from the reduced working capital outlay and input costs, particularly on the arable side, to the premium you are receiving from the commodity,” he said.

Depending on market fluctuations, Mr Hyslop says the retail mark-up on his arable crops before deducting production costs is between 20 and 30 per cent of commodity prices.

“We began our organic conversion at Wrangham Farm, Lowick in 1999, following with Birchwood Hall, Newham Buildings and Doddington North Moor in 2000. In 2004 we bought Easington Farm and immediately entered it into organic conversion,” he said.

“There has been a good margin between conventional and organic prices for livestock and arable crops so you can be making more money by producing a premium, added-value product which is still in a growing market.

“We haven’t encountered any major disease in our livestock or disease and weed problems in our arable crops. In fact, we have found our arable crops are less prone to changes in the weather and seasons and are naturally more resilient.

“The arable cropping with clover breaks is ideally suited to the type of mixed livestock systems we have in Northumberland.”

Another benefit in conversion for the Hyslops was that Easington suited Higher Level Stewardship as there are rare Whinsill grasslands - a primary target for DEFRA. The Whinsill is a primary feature and through grazing restrictions, the aim is to increase the biodiversity of the site and the grassland species.

The area is also a tree sparrow hotspot and the rotational wild bird plots, grass margins and undersown spring crops will help provide habitats for these birds top thrive in.

The Higher Level Stewardship scheme is helping fund the clearing of the scrub from the Whinsill and protect an ancient iron age settlement near the farm steading. Stuart and Wendy have also agreed to allow permissive access along the Whinsill so other people can benefit from this valuable landscape feature.

Tel: 01668 213400
www.organic-farm-feed.co.uk