Take a close look at the cover of the autumn 2014 special edition of Crops magazine. Right at the centre of the clutch of forward-thinking farmers is JVFG member Edward Hitchcock.

JVFG’s Edward Hitchcock at heart of discussions on achieving arable excellence

Profit 2020: six growers share their smart solutions

In four hours of discussion held at Euston Hall estate in Suffolk, as one of six farmers from six counties Edward exchanged views on challenges the industry faces and to share the solutions they are implementing to ensure their businesses remain resilient.

Collaboration key to overcome arable challenges

“It is striking that all our participants in our roundtable discussion are involved in co-operatives in some way, whether buying, selling or in machinery use.”, writes Crops magazine deputy editor Adam Clarke. It is no surprise to Edward Hitchcock. His joint venture business is, he feels, key to weathering current challenges, and those ahead.

Explaining advantages of joint venture farming

Edward Hitchcock explained his realisation, through meticulous record keeping benchmarked by JVFG, that hiring is better than owning machines and that sharing machinery in the joint venture gives a important cost advantage before a seed is even drilled.

Why and how a joint venture farming business starts is always worth explaining but the benefits it delivers are what really catches the interest of farmers looking for solutions.

For Edward Hitchcock the evidence that matters is the results of switching varieties to increase yields to 12t/ha, craftily changing cultivation to combat blackgrass, reducing combine costs from £17/acre to £14/acre through hiring, and lowering drilling costs to £13/acre.

Winter wonders: join the joint venture discussion

This season in the farming press and from the conference podium there is a flurry of perspectives and pieces on what British arable farmers can do better.

“With grain prices low, everything comes into sharper focus” says Edward Hitchcock. “As JVFG members we have a lot to contribute. I enjoy the challenge of discussing key issues. Sitting round the table and talking about our different approaches with other farmers is both enjoyable and useful. That’s what we get at JVFG meetings. Through this special edition of Crops magazine perhaps more farmers can get a feel for what we get every time JVFG meets.”