East Anglian grain specialist
Fengrain has opened 12,000 tonnes of extra grain storage capacity ahead of
the 2008 harvest as part of the company’s ambitious plans to support growers
and secure added value.
“The new
storage capacity, comprising three new silos, reflects demand for storage
capacity from growers and the increasing need to segregate grain to make the
most of specific market opportunities,” said Fengrain’s Chief Executive Mark
Isaacson.
“
Commissioning this new facility in time for harvest 08 will deliver
immediate benefits in allowing us to improve the efficiency of our operation
as well as accommodate the growing demand for centralised storage. Across
the marketing season it will enable us to segregate specific qualities of
grain to capture added value opportunities from grain buyers.”
The new
grain bins will complement the enhanced intake facilities and storage opened
two years ago at the Wimblington site. They represent the latest step in
Fengrain’s longer term plan to increase total grain storage capacity to some
120,000 tonnes.
The new
silos, which takes Fengrain’s overall capacity to almost 100,000tonnes, was
officially opened by HGCA Chairman Jonathan Tipples, who also farms
extensively in Kent.
“Modern
storage, professionally operated is critical to making the most of the
opportunities in the grain market and I congratulate Fengrain on its ongoing
commitment to the sector,” said Mr Tipples.
The grain
chain - that stretches from field to mill or maltings is under increasing
pressures to satisfy assurance requirements and to monitor issues such as
mycotoxins. As a result, farmers are looking to central storage operated to
high professional standards to remove the burden of regulation. Also, as
farm stores become outdated and inadequate for modern yields and speed of
harvest, the use of central storage offers an economic alternative to
on-farm investment.
