National agronomy and precision services company, Agrovista, has acquired Cumbria-based Eden Farm Chemicals.
The change in ownership will give Cumbrian farmers access to a wider range of cereal and forage crop inputs, more efficient deliveries and a range of agronomy, product and precision services.
The Eden Farm Chemicals depot will remain at Unit 66, Gilwilly Industrial Estate, Penrith and will continue to serve the whole of Cumbria and become part of the national network of Agrovista depots serving the UK’s farmers.
“For Eden, it will be very much business as usual, supplying agricultural and amenity chemicals, seeds, crop additives, as well as fertiliser and sprayer accessories,” explains Eden’s Peter Charlton.
“Our customers will benefit from a much-extended range of agrochemical products and seed, as well as some of the best technical and agronomic support from both Eden and Agrovista’s agronomy and precision farming specialists.”
Three agronomists, Simon Nelson, Steven Gate and Peter Charlton, will operate from Gilwilly depot providing agronomic advice through the Eden Valley as well as to the wider area.
“Cumbria has a diverse geography and agricultural production and Agrovista is totally committed to continue to supply the goods and services that farmers need,” Simon Nelson says. “Cumbria is a large county with an extensive mixed farming community, supporting a wide range of other arable crops, including grass and maize. The new depot will service all of these local farm business requirements.”
The combined Eden and Agrovista business will substantially increase the agronomy and farm management services offered to Cumbrian farmers.
“Agrovista conducts a wide range of farm trials and research, locally and nationally, making our findings available to our customers via open days and via your farm agronomist,” explains Mr Nelson.
“Our trials include crop agronomy, nutrition, cover crops and establishment methods, all specific to the local conditions and challenges. We have a team of precision farming specialists too, who can help set you up with your own precision kit, help you use the data you collect, or provide a service to map and prepare all types of variable application plans.”
Agrovista also offers farm management advice, lab services and a detailed farm mapping and weather forecasting service. For horticultural and amenity businesses, the company has agronomists trained in fruit, vegetable, amenity and glasshouse crop agronomy, and a range of tools for disease forecasting, irrigation and crop management.
Work will be undertaken at the Gilwilly depot in Penrith to increase the product storage capacity and to allow for pallet racking and integration into Agrovista’s national distribution network.
“More useable space will allow us to stock greater volumes of product and seed, as well as a wider range,” Peter Charlton adds. “During peak season, we will also have two delivery vans operating throughout the county and a permanent depot supervisor; plus, we will continue to undertake sprayer repairs and maintenance.”
Eden Farm Chemicals was founded by Eric Charlton in 1982. Eric had previously worked as an agrochemical consultant where he had built up a large customer base amongst the farmers of Cumbria. When he started Eden Farm Chemicals, his aim was to establish a company that would continue to provide outstanding levels of service to his customers. This ethos will remain with this next chapter in the company’s history.
Agrovista is one of the leading agronomy advice and supply companies in British agriculture. The company was established over 60 years ago, and is underpinned by its traditional values of professionalism, cutting edge technology and customer service.
