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UK: Novel crops get cash boost

Wendy Short

Farmers Weekly

Monday 31 Mar 2003

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DEMAND for alternative crops in Yorkshire has been given a boost following
a £292,500 government grant.

The Rural Enterprise Scheme grant is being used to encourage around 400
farmers to grow crambe and hemp.

It will fund a team of six specialists employed by Clifford Spencer at
Springdale Farms, Rudstone, Driffield.

Any grower prepared to take the plunge will have an assured end market and
an agreed price for his crop, he said.

"The demand is there, now we have to find farmers to meet it.

"The technology for processing these oils is simple and the UK climate,
particularly in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, is highly suitable."

Crambe, also known as Abyssinian mustard, is a low-input crop, said Mr
Spencer, that fits in well with the rotation and can be planted as late as May.

"It will not cross-pollinate other crops."

The crop yields a versatile oil used in plastics, cosmetics and high-grade
mineral oil replacements, while hemp produces both oil and fibres for
making clothes.

Mr Spencer said Croda Oils at Hull had already signed an agreement to buy
the first two year's Crambe harvest.

But he would like to see farmers working in partnership to develop local
plants to reduce the need to import alternative crop products.

The move would also help boost the rural economy, he added.

"We've had to source hemp to insulate our buildings from Germany," he said.

"Other countries have already recognised that these are the crops of the
future and local processing can offer real opportunities for rural employment."

As well as using the grant to provide advice, some of the money will go
towards converting some redundant farm buildings at Springdale into a
conference and education centre for the industry.

Visitors will also be able to see the company's processing facilities,
where oils are pressed before collection.

Springdale Farms agronomist, Simon Meakin assured growers that gross
margins for the two crops were highly competitive.

He said average gross margins for crambe were around £450-470/ha (including
set-aside payments), with hemp at £500-550/ha (including IACS support).

 

 

 

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