26th Nov 2012, by Agrimoney
Poor weather has prevented UK farmers from sowing 30% of winter crops, Origin Enterprises said, amid growing fears for this year's dismal conditions having knock-on effects on 2013 and potentially 2014 harvests too.
Origin Enterprises, the owner of the Agrii agronomy chain, said that "approximately 70% of target arable [planting] has been completed to date in the UK", below a figure of 100% usually by now.
The estimate represents one of the first of the extent of the delays caused by the rains which, having given the UK its wetter summer in a century, have remained to hamper autumn field work too.
Currently, there are 210 flood warnings and 300 flood alerts in England and Wales thanks to fresh storms which gave many areas more than two inches of rain over the weekend, with three inches still forecast for northern areas.
Agrimoney.com research two weeks ago indicated sowings were 60% complete. The HGCA crop bureau is expected next month to unveil an initial sowings report, with farm ministry data not expected until 2013.
Longer-term threats?
The "sustained period of unseasonably wet weather" had "significantly impacted [the] winter planting programme", forcing farmers to consider sowing outside the normal seeding window, or delaying until the spring, Origin said.
"Farm management plans are now being adapted to extend autumn planting where weather and soil conditions allow along with a switch to spring 2013 cropping," the Irish-based group said.
The lower yields fostered by late-sown crops, and inherent in spring grains and oilseeds compared with autumn-planted peers, is also raising concerns of another below-par harvest in 2013, after a 2012 result which saw wheat yields at a 20-year low, and bushel weight come in at the lowest on record.
"And even 2013 might not be the end of it," a UK grain trader told Agrimoney.com.
"If farmers plant something in the spring like linseed which is not harvested until well into the autumn, and there is another poor year for autumn sowings, the damage from this summer could carry on into 2014 as well."
Farmers hold fire
Origin said that while it saw "good sales" of agronomy services and seed applications in the August-to-October period, volumes of many inputs, such as fertilizers, were "lower", with farmers delaying purchases closer to the timing of application.
Nonetheless, the group's revenues from its core agri-services operation rose 11.2% to E351.2m, with its Polish Dalgety agronomy operation performing "very satisfactorily" and feed sales in Ireland being encouraged by limited on-farm fodder supplies, following a poor 2012 summer.
And the group forecast a boost to its performance ahead from the UK delays, as farmers catch up on sowings in the spring.
"The challenging weather conditions experienced by primary producers to date will lead to an increased level of seasonality in the 2013 financial year for our agri-services business as a greater weighting of crop planting activity is expected to take place in the spring period," the group said.
Market reaction
The statement was termed "in line" by Dublin broker NCB, which restated a "buy" rating on Origin Enterprises shares, saying the group had "good" long-term growth prospects.
"We believe Origin has significant opportunities to grow market share and revenue per customer in the UK, but also has significant opportunities to recreate its Agrii business model in other European markets, particularly in Eastern Europe," NCB said.
"While the stock deserves to trade on a discount due to its lack of liquidity," being 69% owned by foods group Aryzta, "we believe it continues to offer value".
Rival broker Davy restated an "outperform" rating on the shares, which recovered early losses to close at E4.20 in Dublin, unchanged on the day.
Poor weather has prevented UK farmers from sowing 30% of winter crops, Origin Enterprises said, amid growing fears for this year's dismal conditions having knock-on effects on 2013 and potentially 2014 harvests too.
Origin Enterprises, the owner of the Agrii agronomy chain, said that "approximately 70% of target arable [planting] has been completed to date in the UK", below a figure of 100% usually by now.
The estimate represents one of the first of the extent of the delays caused by the rains which, having given the UK its wetter summer in a century, have remained to hamper autumn field work too.
Currently, there are 210 flood warnings and 300 flood alerts in England and Wales thanks to fresh storms which gave many areas more than two inches of rain over the weekend, with three inches still forecast for northern areas.
Agrimoney.com research two weeks ago indicated sowings were 60% complete. The HGCA crop bureau is expected next month to unveil an initial sowings report, with farm ministry data not expected until 2013.
Longer-term threats?
The "sustained period of unseasonably wet weather" had "significantly impacted [the] winter planting programme", forcing farmers to consider sowing outside the normal seeding window, or delaying until the spring, Origin said.
"Farm management plans are now being adapted to extend autumn planting where weather and soil conditions allow along with a switch to spring 2013 cropping," the Irish-based group said.
The lower yields fostered by late-sown crops, and inherent in spring grains and oilseeds compared with autumn-planted peers, is also raising concerns of another below-par harvest in 2013, after a 2012 result which saw wheat yields at a 20-year low, and bushel weight come in at the lowest on record.
"And even 2013 might not be the end of it," a UK grain trader told Agrimoney.com.
"If farmers plant something in the spring like linseed which is not harvested until well into the autumn, and there is another poor year for autumn sowings, the damage from this summer could carry on into 2014 as well."
Farmers hold fire
Origin said that while it saw "good sales" of agronomy services and seed applications in the August-to-October period, volumes of many inputs, such as fertilizers, were "lower", with farmers delaying purchases closer to the timing of application.
Nonetheless, the group's revenues from its core agri-services operation rose 11.2% to E351.2m, with its Polish Dalgety agronomy operation performing "very satisfactorily" and feed sales in Ireland being encouraged by limited on-farm fodder supplies, following a poor 2012 summer.
And the group forecast a boost to its performance ahead from the UK delays, as farmers catch up on sowings in the spring.
"The challenging weather conditions experienced by primary producers to date will lead to an increased level of seasonality in the 2013 financial year for our agri-services business as a greater weighting of crop planting activity is expected to take place in the spring period," the group said.
Market reaction
The statement was termed "in line" by Dublin broker NCB, which restated a "buy" rating on Origin Enterprises shares, saying the group had "good" long-term growth prospects.
"We believe Origin has significant opportunities to grow market share and revenue per customer in the UK, but also has significant opportunities to recreate its Agrii business model in other European markets, particularly in Eastern Europe," NCB said.
"While the stock deserves to trade on a discount due to its lack of liquidity," being 69% owned by foods group Aryzta, "we believe it continues to offer value".
Rival broker Davy restated an "outperform" rating on the shares, which recovered early losses to close at E4.20 in Dublin, unchanged on the day.
No comments:
Post a Comment