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Trade reacts to HGCA feed research

- 24 September 2001
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24 September 2001



Trade reacts to HGCA feed research

By Tom Allen-Stevens

THE grain trade has reacted decisively to quell suggestions that it had ever misled growers over specific weight deductions on feed grain contracts.

“It is important to remember that the grain trade only passes on any deduction made by end-users,” said Rob Sanderson from SCATS Grain.

“But there has certainly never been any attempt by either the trade or end users to swindle growers by taking deductions on feed grain contracts.”

The UK Agricultural Supply Trade Association has also firmly denied that the trade has in any way deceived growers.

“Were all working to find an acceptable alternative to specific weight as a measure of feed grain quality,” said UKASTAs Pamela Mounter.

Home Grown Cereals Authority-funded research, released last week, concluded that specific weight had no bearing on the nutritive value of feed wheat.

This could have implications for about 10% of the national wheat crop which annually falls below the standard 72kg/hl minimum specification.

But the trade insists that specific weight is still an important measure of the overall quality of feed grain, especially on the export market.

“SCATS annually exports a considerable tonnage of wheat which has to compete primarily with French and German wheat,” Mr Sanderson points out.

“If were selling 72kg/hl wheat and the French are offering 74kg/hl, Spanish and Italian millers simply wont buy UK wheat, whatever the science says.”

Banks Cargills Richard Whitlock points out that some wheat we would consider feed can be a useful constituent for millers overseas.

“In this case specific weight does become an issue which creates the precedent throughout the market to discount for grain that falls below spec.”

Bulks of low specific weight also require more storage space, which can be a limiting factor for some customers, he adds.

John Round from Associated British Nutrition Agriproducts points out that specific weight also reflects how easily grain passes through a mill.

“Milling grain is an expensive process and a hold up, however small, can be costly.”

He adds that many users feed whole grains or pelleted products, and that the research looked only at milled grain.

But Richard Butler, chairman of the National Farmers Union Cereals Committee pointed out that he has heard of deductions of up to 10 per tonne.

“Clearly that is unacceptable and lets hope this research helps to put these deductions at a more sensible level.

“The key message to growers, however, is make sure you know what you have in store before you settle on a contract and agree the rate of deductions before you sign.”

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