FARMERS ‘COULD REAP THE BENEFIT’
Environment Correspondent KELLEY PRICE
TEES VALLEY farmers faced with crops rotting in the fields after one of the worst seasons in living memory could be thrown a lifeline by the region’s burgeoning biofuels industry.
As downpours prevented farmers getting on to the land and moisture content for wheat remained stubbornly high, the prospect of crops being heavily discounted or rejected by grain dealers grew. Some farmers could face huge financial penalties as they struggle to fulfil contracts.
But biofuels industry bosses said the disastrous summer demonstrated that green fuels could add a new dynamic to the grain market and boost future profitability by giving farmers more outlets for their crops.
Stokesley farmer John Seymour said he’d have to take a 25% cut in price if he supplied the biofuels industry, but acknowledged that “any outlet is good. Selling it for biofuel as an alternative market is valuable for us.
“All my crop is damaged. Some of it has started sprouting before it’s harvested, which is bad news. There will be very little milling wheat in the north of England.
“We’re desperately trying to beat the weather, and the clock.”
Hilton farmer Alan Marsay, who already grows oil seed rape for biodiesel and wheat for ethanol, said: “Selling damaged grain for biofuel is a great help but not what we’re aiming for.
“We harvest wheat at 8% moisture then dry it off indoors, but at the moment it’s coming in at 23% due to the rain. If the weather improves then the job will be right, we should have a good crop if we can get it into the barns.
“At the moment though, we’ve gone nearly a full week without a combine harvester wheel turning. At the end of the day, if there is another outlet then all the better.”
Teesside is already home to one biodiesel processor and the biggest bioethanol plant in the UK is due to open next year at Wilton. The demand for biofuels is rising, and Teesside will become one of the front-runners when a £250m plant by Yarm-based company Ensus is completed at Wilton.
Alwyn Hughes, chief executive of the Yarm-based Ensus, which is building the £250m plant, said: “Ensus will be able to take a broad range of grain. Moving forward, biofuels will be part of the market demand.”
Stan Higgins, chief executive of the process industry cluster NEPIC, which represents the biofuels industry on Teesside, added: “In the past there was no outlet for damaged crop and in some cases farmers had a total loss on their hands.
“It’s another indication that the growing biofuels industry will be able to help agricultural practices going forward.”
Mr Hughes who is fighting a rear-guard action against environmental critics of biofuels, said despite the Teesside weather problems, the record worldwide wheat crop this year would help to dispel claims that increased demand for biofuels had contributed to higher food prices.
In November, NEPIC will seek to persuade MPs that the best source of bioethanol comes from wheat.
“This is a complex argument and includes the delivery of animal food as a bi-product,” said Mr Higgins.
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