2012 saw The Farm Store sowing the seeds of success and reaping the rewards

09 January 2013

2012 was a busy year for leading expert in farming practice and technological advances, The Farm Store, with developments both at home and abroad. Founded in 1976 in Bandon, The Farm Store remains committed to the same local style business philosophy that has been the foundation of their success, and for them, 2012 was no different.

January saw the expansion of business, with the opening of a new store in Belgooly, offering customers the same great products and service they have come to know and trust over the years; but now at an additional, convenient location.

In June, The Farm Store embarked on a new business partnership with Rhyno Mills in Castleisland, Co. Kerry; an arrangement that was a very natural progression for both companies, who have developed a close business relationship over the last number of years, with Rhyno Mills selling their superior animal feeds to The Farm Store on a regular basis. This new venture, named Rhyno Farm Store Ltd. has resulted in a more diverse and comprehensive range of products in the store, better value for the customers, as well as the creation of some new jobs. The two businesses have combined their assets, unique skills and loyal customer base; with Rhyno stocking the range of agricultural products, backed up with the technical knowledge and expertise of The Farm Store.

Another positive partnership formed in mid-2012 was with GEA Farm Technologies, part of the Westfalia Group, a worldwide leading manufacturer of technical innovations, integrated product solutions, and effective animal-hygiene products for cost-efficient milk production. The arrangement has seen both companies team up to offer full reviews of hygiene protocols to dairy farms all over Cork and Kerry. Together, they are assisting dairy farmers with the many challenges they face in achieving the best results with cost competitive targeted products. The response to the introduction of this new service was so phenomenal that it led to expansion of the free service into the Limerick region, as well as the recruitment of Gearoid Maher, who has joined The Farm Store as a sales rep for Limerick and North Cork.

In September Hugh Sisk, owner and Managing Director of The Farm Store travelled to Shanghai by special invitation from some of China's biggest dairy and beef farmers. China's foremost farmers extended the invitation in a bid to learn more about Home n' Dry, the protein based system in which The Farm Store has extensive knowledge, having sold the product for over 12 years, as well as having used it on their own farms. Home n' Dry, which is used to create Alkagrain, the most effective way to utilise home grown grain, actively increases the value of grain in the diet of animals without the associated drying costs.

Hugh's visit was extremely well-received, because, as like farmers worldwide, those in China face higher protein prices, so the introduction of Home n' Dry would be met with delight, as it would allow them to preserve, store and feed all types of grain, straw and wholecrop without specialist storage, drying and further processing, enabling them to reduce their reliance on protein.

Hugh once again travelled to China in December to help with the registration of Home n' Dry and the complementary alkaliser, AlkabupHa; as well as to meet further interested parties. The Farm Store expects to be shipping treated grain and AlkabupHa from Australia to China in early 2013.

Having added four new employees to their team in 2012, Hugh reflects on the positive year they had "2012 saw many new developments for The Farm Store, and with the success we've had in recent months I certainly see our workforce growing further in 2013, as well as an increase in turnover. There is a huge drive from within our business to discover new and better quality agri products that meet the needs of farmers today, and this shows no sign of slowing down in the year ahead."

He added "Agricultural technologies are constantly changing and we are fortunate enough to have our own working farms as a testing centre. In effect, with the team here, we are "our own" customer. It is the personal, actual experience that we believe makes all the difference to the growing success of The Farm Store."

For more information on The Farm Store visit www.thefarmstore.ie.