Variable kilo weight issues have caused difficulties in the past, but growers can now feel more secure as a solution is provided in the form of average kilo weight contracts. This will reduce potential claims for Frontier’s wheat club members, meaning loads are more likely to be accepted and farm businesses, with fewer claims to process, can run more efficiently.

This valuable new addition to Frontier’s Humber Gold and Manchester Gold clubs has been introduced in response to growers’ feedback. Members are required to purchase a minimum of 10 tonnes of wheat seed for this autumn from Frontier or GFP, or have a minimum of 20 tonnes of any seed re-cleaned by Frontier’s mobile seed cleaners. The averaging will include any loads between 70kg/hl and 76kg/hl and any minimum 4 load wheat contract purchased from members from this harvest will qualify.

Club manager Mike Ayers said,. The service they receive [from Wheat Club membership] is, as always, of paramount importance to us and we’re really pleased that we’ve been able to work with growers to provide this extra offer in line with their suggestions.”

The clubs have exclusive contracts to provide wheat to two UK plants. Manchester Gold members, from Central England, the North West and Wales, supply Cargill’s Trafford Park manufacturing plant at Manchester. The plant processes approximately 750,000 tonnes of wheat a year to make starch and glucose, used in the manufacture of various products including confectionery, pharmaceuticals, alcoholic beverages, pet food and soft drinks.

The Humber Gold club will supply all of the 1.1 million tonne wheat requirement of the Vivergo bioethanol plant at Hull, the UK's biggest bioethanol producer and largest single-source supplier of animal feed. Members need to grow the crop within approximately 80 miles of Hull and are required to commit at least 120 tonnes.