Members of the Eastern Machinery Ring are already signing up for an exclusive and viable outlet for cereal and rape straw. Such is the potential that Eastern Machinery Ring Straw Services Limited (EMRSS) has been established as a dedicated subsidiary for the project.

EMRSS is working with straw pelleting business Yellow Flag Limited, which is investing £20 million over the next three years to supply a renewable energy source for the future. Farmers within a 50-mile radius of the first pelleting plant at Swaffham are already signing up to meet the first year’s target of 30,000 tonnes.

“The outcome for our members is nothing but good,” says EMR general manager Philip Brown. “It will provide an income through a pool system against contract, with an initial forward payment. Also, research shows that growers leaving straw for baling are achieving quite considerable fuel savings over chopping and incorporation. We will collect ex-farm and deliver to Swaffham – we can do the baling too if needs be.”

Yellow Flag managing director David Guest, who will be on the stand at Power in Action, says: “We’re delighted to have formed this relationship with EMRSS and look forward to developing an exciting new biomass energy business in East Anglia with EMRSS as our supply partners.”

While on the stand, visitors can also get up to date with Anglia Farmers which is now recognised as the UK’s largest agricultural purchasing group. Benefits include lower costs for inputs and a vast range of ancillary items through the group’s considerable buying power.