WORK on adding a further 5,000 tonnes of storage capacity to the existing 20,000 tonnes at Devon Grain’s Cullompton site, is all but finished in time for this harvest, according to store manager Duncan Lyon.

The £700,000 investment has enabled two more storage bins complete with infrastructure and conveyors to be linked into the existing units. Local farmer and Board Chairman Jerry Alford adds that the additional storage capacity is key to improving flexibility enabling member farmers to benefit from fluctuating season demand and prices.

This expanding farmer owned co-operative now stores and markets grain grown from 7– 8,000 acres of Devon’s land and is the only store in the South West that stores both organic and non-organic commodities including Wheat, Barley, Oats, Oilseed Rape ad Beans. The site has seen increased storage demand over the last few years, which Jerry puts down to a number of major factors. One of the prime reasons is the increased profit return to members, be it dividends or lower storage costs from Devon Grain’s affiliation to West Country Grain who market the commodities stored. Investment in state of the art drying and storage systems ensure that customers can expect commodities delivered of the same high quality load after load to an agreed specification. The ability to take the product straight from the harvest field and clean, dry and blend to market required specification substantially adds value. With farms increasing in both size and combine capacity, existing on farm drying plants and storage capacity are often unable to cope with harvest demand. Likewise, with the increase in short term Farm Business Tenancies, arable farmers are looking for economical storage solutions without high farm costs.

Jerry adds that with the new Three Crop rule being introduced there may be a need for dairy farmers to grow a combinable crop as well as maize. Co-operative minded dairy farmers with no storage facilities or grain marketing expertise will be able to benefit from Devon Grain membership to the same extent as dedicated arable farmers.

Devon Grain is a non-profit making co-operative owned by West Country farmers to provide a cheaper storage solution than the equivalent on farm alternative. Members can deliver grain straight from the combine in whatever agreed volume for it to be first analysed and then treated to meet the market demand, be it for the long or short term storage. This results in greater sales opportunities for members who have invested in this high capacity Cullompton store.