Market talk
We’re fortunate to be in a fairly steady fertiliser market now, as it has been since May/June.
Most Members have winter crops sown, they’ll know what they’re cropping and that is reflected by fertiliser prices staying fairly static since the new season back in May and June.
I think it’s inevitable we’ll see the AN market increase a little. There’ll be a slight pinch point in delivery, because we’ve still got a proportion of product to be committed and if we get a great spell of weather, everyone’s going to say “I need that fertiliser on farm now”.
Urea has always been influenced by both UK and global supply and demand. I believe that market, which has been relatively flat, will start to increase.
I recommend committing now, if you know what you need.
Members at the heart of what we do
My key driver in everything I do is customer service. From when I first stepped into AF HQ, it was obvious that same ethos applied here. Everybody is absolutely driven to do the best for Members. But there is still potential to do more with Members and suppliers as around 1,400 of our 3,000 Members currently order their fertiliser through AF. I’m aiming to increase this number by being proactive both externally and internally, asking Members who don’t procure their fertiliser through us “why not?” and sharing the benefits of buying through AF.
For me over the next couple of months in your AF Fertiliser Team, it will be key to meet or speak with as many Members as possible and all suppliers. I’ll get onto your farms as much as I can. I ask three things: what’s good, what’s bad, and if you could change one thing about how the AF Fertiliser Team works, what would it be? I want your honest answers so I can deliver an even better service to AF Members.
I also want to instil in Members confidence in my knowledge and experience (my grey hair is the proof!), so you know you’re in good hands.
On the field
Despite being a ‘dyed in the wool’ country chap, I now live in middle of Bury St. Edmunds. I like being able to park the car up on a Friday night and weekend walk to wherever I want to go (after years of living rurally, miles from ‘civilisation’). You’ll often see me down at Bury Rugby Club on a Saturday afternoon. If not there, I’m likely out with my Border Terrier and Labrador in some local countryside.
I play golf, but my handicap proves not that often. And I really enjoy cooking, using the fantastic local produce I can get on my doorstep thanks to the hard work of our AF Members and other farmers and growers.
From farming roots
Agriculture is in my blood. I was born into it, loved it all my life and the people who live and work in it.
I’m the son of a Norfolk farmer and gained a degree in Agricultural Marketing at university. My Dad specialised in growing potatoes in the late 80s and early 90s, getting up to around 1,600 acres.
I have had roles in retail supply, potato storage, marketing and trading veg, logistics and latterly soil and crop nutrition working for both OMEX and Yara.
The AF role came along at the right time for me. I’ve spent the last twelve years in crop and soil nutrition, where my core interest lies, so it was a natural move for me.
My Dad was part of Loddon Farmers, before it became part of AF. So I feel there’s a connection there. I’ve always dealt with or through AF in my previous roles and now have the exciting opportunity to work for such a well-established, but more importantly highly regarded and respected business.
Mark Southwell Fertiliser Procurement Manager
mark.southwell@af.farm 01603 881 937