My name is Eric Shortland, organic dairy/beef farmer in the Orkney Islands

I came across lucerne( see note below) as an animal feed when visiting the Ethical Dairy in Ayrshire three years ago with my daughter

They were using it exclusively ( instead of cake ) on their dairy farm, with good results

Seeing as lucern is a perennial pasture crop and as such not seen as competing with crops growable directly for human consumption, I was interested in obtaining some for myself.

Not much lucerne is grown in the UK for processing into dried pellets, and after much difficulty did get a load up to Orkney which I shared with a neighbouring beef farmer, also with good results

When wanting to repeat the order the price had increased such as to overtake the price of organic 17% nuts ( made with oats soya etc)

When I then researched lucerne's provenance, it turns out that northern France grow a vast amount, both organic and conventional

Seeking suppliers I bumped into UCDV near Rouen in France. They produce 10000t organic lucerne pellets annually, sold loose over the weigh bridge, but do not export directly themselves.

This necessitated setting up a French Company ( myself ) to buy it and sell it to an UK Company ( myself) with all the rigarole, customs requirements and costs that intails

On the assumption that other farmers might be interested ( as I was) in using lucerne, (in stead of the normal 17% nuts), 

I imported 80 tonnes loose Organic Pellets from UCDV and deposited the load in the nearest  place to France I could find, ie a grainstore in Kent, where it resides at present. 

I obtained organic certification through OF&G

I bagged a load into 750kg re-usable fully enclosed tote bags and they are available for sale, as well as bulk loads

It cost me about £300/t sitting in Kent loose ( plus grain store rent, which then depends on how quick it moves). About £10 to tote bag it, plus £10 deposit on the returnable tote bag, so I'm saying at present £350 ex Kent

Transport to any buyer will depend on how much and how far.

It cost £150/t to get a load up to me in Orkney. I am looking for storage in Scotland  to distribute from, so anyone got any ideas please get in touch.

Equally anyone with a spare shed and forklift/tractor in nortern England would be good.

I took a load of them back to Orkney for myself and neighbour and anyone else interested locally.

The business is called TruBio, after Trumland Farm, here, and Bio, organic in France

I am happy to send out free samples, but the postage will be about a fiver I guess

Lucerne is nitrogen fixing plant a bit like clover, and perennial. It likes well drained soil and being deep-rooted does well in drier conditions. Plenty of that in northern France this year.

It is harvested three or four times a year and carted from individual farmers within about 50k from UCDV's factory

On arrival it is instantly chopped, dried and palleted to 9% moisture

UCDV's nutritional leaflet guarantees 16% protein, although it can vary up to 18%. I guess they must get some grass in it on occasions

Being a pasture crop it is ideal for ruminants. My cows love it. It does have some dust with it but the cows love that too. I have fed it to my tups, but my ewes rely only on grazing so I'm not sure about them

I asked a friend with horses, but apparently lucerne is too rich for most horses unless well exercised

My neighbour reckons his stores did as well with the pellets as the same amount of 17%

Being classified as a pasture crop it is a useful supplement for Pasture For Life, Grass Fed Beef and Milk, which is a certification I am myself heading for.

Finally rats wont eat it which is great.

If you are interested either info@lucernefeed.uk or text 07918088331, or phone at a push. Signal's not wonderful up here and by the time mobile's out my pocket ringing's stopped

But I will get back in touch if you leave some details.