- Location
- the brecks norfolk
Same here!!! Basis was one of the best things I've done and is recommend anyone who has anything to do with crop inputs on a farm to do it.
Serviced agronomists, do they take advantage of the customer?
- Thread starter An Gof
- Start date
There has to be a cost for serviced agronomy,especially smaller areas.But with a little knowledge yourself you can save a lot of money by limiting the use of their specials,Adjust,Helix etc.I use an Agrii chap that is also a friend of mine(from pre Agrii) and he knows he cant pull the wool over,it works well and I have had some sharp prices this year.
- Location
- northampton
That's a shame I was looking forward to them kicking off just like when the deutz uk man tried to hide from us at grassland one year
Been to our local crop group meeting tonight which was an open book on chemical prices.
I came home flabbergasted. Can you believe that there are service agronomists who are charging their customers OVER £90 for a 10L can of 500g a.i. CTL
They would do well to remember the old adage “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”
Some of the group were spending OVER £150/Ha on their fungicide programmes for WW. Think there’s some agronomy companies that need a lesson on sustainability.
I might have mentioned this in the past ....................
Its the reason TFF has been on a bit of a crusade for more transparency and why TFF's Farm Marketplace exists ..................... and just wait for TFF "Farm Compare" that will REALLY shake things up !
We see such shocking differences every day through emails and people calling the office for prices, 600% OTT for CCC this year is the record holder however ! It would be naive to think service was for free but as you post there is a massive range in the level of margin asked and more concerning its certainly not consistent meaning that many are simply being charged based on what the agronomists thinks they can get away with .............. VERY wrong IMO
Glad others are waking up, we do have the power to change this, ultimately the power / decisions is with us as the buyers
I will add though for balance there are good guys and bad, there are a lot of excellent service agronomists out there and there are also some poor independent ones, as always BUYER BEWARE !
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- Location
- Wiltshire
I did BASIS and it was a great help, although I still use an independent agronomist, I just dont have the time to keep up with changes in chemicals and legislation. When I changed from serviced to independent 20 years ago the drop in the chemical bill was large, I cant see that it would be much different now. Especially with all the extras that people are being told to put on. I am also a NIAB Tag member which is definitely money well spent.
My agronomist does do a wide range of Farms the biggest run into 1000s of acres, and the smallest arable farm I know he does is less than 100. He also does Maize only on some dairy farms.
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My agronomist does do a wide range of Farms the biggest run into 1000s of acres, and the smallest arable farm I know he does is less than 100. He also does Maize only on some dairy farms.
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- Location
- DD9.
We’re a member of an independent agronomy group, family members weren’t happy with the cost of membership. I got quotes from the serviced guys for cereal spray programmes. Even on the keenest serviced quote, the money saved on the independent WB and OSR programmes alone (30% of arable area) paid for annual membership of agronomy group.
SilliamWhale
Member
If you get on the right pricing strategy with them they're pretty good.
I joined Anglia Farmers buying group and Agrii supply them and the prices weren't too bad for comparison but you get better terms with Anglia Farmers but I know with Agrii the delivery is always top notch - 48 hours max and not all other companies have been like that.
I'll be keen to join the price sharing thing though. Trust no one in Agronomy supply and Insurance - I don't mean people are dishonest its just that it pays to check what your paying all along. Everyone who buys off me knows the price beforehand and whether its competitive so it needs to work the other way too.
Everyone today takes advantage of loyal lazy customers, so why is anyone shocked when agchem companies do the same.
If these people have not changed or questioned any of their suppliers prices, it will not just be agchems they are paying through the nose for.
I think by now everyone should realise this is the case and act accordingly.
If these people have not changed or questioned any of their suppliers prices, it will not just be agchems they are paying through the nose for.
I think by now everyone should realise this is the case and act accordingly.
snipe
Member
- Location
- west yorkshire
I think we should keep quite about how much you can save having an independent agronomist,( I put a winking smiley in here but it keeps disappearing) I wander if the service agronomy prices help keep non serviced prices down. ?.
Why is 48hrs impressive ?
We live in an age when Amazon can deliver within an hour if your prepared to pay for it !
A ag chem delivery can be sent anywhere next day, it’s neither rocket science or expensive these days
When ever I’ve compared and included cost of membership and admiin / exclusivity commitment some insist upon I’ve never found buying group prices any better than you can get just buying direct from various distributors
And credit is never “free” it’s built into prices
- Location
- Cirencester
Was going to say most of my Hutch stuff was delivered in 24 hrs and if desperate same day but dont use them as a serviced agron package now but all my chems come from them pretty much.
SilliamWhale
Member
48 hrs isnt impressive. 48 hrs is the latest Id wait before getting narky. Most of the time its next day as long as ordered before 7pm and for me given the truck comes from 120 miles away I do think that is impressive or at least very reliable
- Location
- South Yorkshire
Anyone know of a good reputable independent agronomist in the North Notts, south York’s area?
snipe
Member
- Location
- west yorkshire
pm sent.
yellow belly
Member
- Location
- south west lincolnshire
If I can get a better price by making the supply chain more cost effective planning a week or two in advance aiming for 5 deliveries per year
Delivery of a couple of boxes because of poor planning costs more
Just look at the other end delivery of grain to mills is highly inefficient to some mills and cost us all
Delivery of a couple of boxes because of poor planning costs more
Just look at the other end delivery of grain to mills is highly inefficient to some mills and cost us all
- Location
- S E Glos
Heaven knows I'm no fan but when all said and done these distributors are businesses who are not there for the good of farming (that would make them charities) but to make a profit from it. You only have to listen to news reports on High St spending to know that when folk get more sensible with spending and try and save (or buy online) shops suffer, close down and jobs are lost. No-one would want the supply industry to disappear (?)
Admittedly some are there to make a mint out of gullible farmers but most run along the lines of any other commercial business.
I've also heard of CTL prices mentioned in the OP but in that case the chap was buying one or two cans.
Admittedly some are there to make a mint out of gullible farmers but most run along the lines of any other commercial business.
I've also heard of CTL prices mentioned in the OP but in that case the chap was buying one or two cans.
Talk to Andy Wells at the Arable Alliance team.
I can’t remember if the Indigro team go that far north. I think one of them do.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Yes, do this. Arable alliance are very good.
I know serviced agronomy is easy to shoot at but it has a place. Agronomists will know which of their clients will be slow at applying their recs and Adjust has a more flexible timing than ordinary 3C chlormequat.
Smaller farms take nearly as much time as larger ones to walk and administer and few opt for separating crop walking from supply of chems, being happy for the agronomist to make the recommendations and order the materials.
Most of today’s independent agronomists did their training with distributors who actively recruit young trainees. There is a place for serviced agronomy and I can see why many choose the easy option without really knowing which costs them more.
I’ll bet most growers would rather have clean crops that stay standing than quibble about every last penny spent. No doubt folk like @Agrobi may comment...
Smaller farms take nearly as much time as larger ones to walk and administer and few opt for separating crop walking from supply of chems, being happy for the agronomist to make the recommendations and order the materials.
Most of today’s independent agronomists did their training with distributors who actively recruit young trainees. There is a place for serviced agronomy and I can see why many choose the easy option without really knowing which costs them more.
I’ll bet most growers would rather have clean crops that stay standing than quibble about every last penny spent. No doubt folk like @Agrobi may comment...