For a number of years, Northeast Biofuels - a cluster of businesses associated with agriculture and the petrochemical industry, supported by the Regional Strategy for Transport Biofuels, has been promoting an emerging market for winter wheat and oilseed rape crops for biofuel production

We are pleased to announce our 2010 winter wheat for bioethanol demonstration site, which is located at Eryholme near Darlington, arranged with the kind permission of the Gibbon family and co-operation of NEB member company Agrovista UK Limited.

Agenda for the briefing

9.00am      Bacon sandwiches and coffee

                 Briefing by NEB and Agrovista

                 Pete Berry, ADAS – Minimising the Carbon Footprint of Crop Production

                 Ensus – update on bioethanol plant and feedstock requirements

11.20am    Optional visit to the demonstration site

                 Attendance is strictly limited so please ensure you book in good time.

 Contact Chris Glover on 07990 541 278 or email chris.glover@agrovista.co.uk for more details

6 agronomists are planning to complete cycle-ride in aid of two charities in memory of a colleague who died from cancer in October 2009. The six riders, all from Agrovista, will be cycling from Falkirk in Scotland to Litchfield in Staffordshire in memory of Jim Greenhorn, who worked for the company for over 35 years.

The riders, Simon Pretty (Suffolk), Graham Edwards (Leicestershire), Leon Jahae (Herefordshire), Hazel Stockdale-Wright (Leicestershire), Pippa Hutchinson (Derbyshire) and James MacWilliam (Northamptonshire) will be cycling in aid of St Giles Hospice, Lichfield and Cancer Research UK where the monies raised will be equally split.

Jim Greenhorn died in Oct 2009 after a two year fight against Cancer of the Colon. His bravery was outstanding, and through this time and his treatment, he continued to spend as much time as possible out on farm with his customers. Jim was a dedicated rugby fan with roots at Falkirk rugby club, and after his move to Staffordshire got involved with Litchfield rugby club, where he was chairman during the early 1990’s.

The riders will start on Tuesday June 15^th at Falkirk Rugby club, and cycle in stages, arriving at Lichfield Rugby Club on Sunday 20^th June. The route covered will be approximately 320 miles long, and pass through Moffat, Penrith, Skipton, Glossop and Ashbourne.

Commenting on the ride, Simon Pretty, who instigated the idea of a memorial ride said”Jim was a great colleague, and his drive, enthusiasm and sense of humour had a huge impact on all of us that got to know him. He is sorely missed, not just by those of us within the company, but the wider industry as well. This cycle ride is a way of us giving something back to those that cared for him through his illness”.

The riders taking part would welcome anyone who knew Jim to join them on a stage, or part of a stage to cycle in his memory. Sponsorship forms are available from Simon Pretty at Agrovista simon.pretty@agrovista.co.uk and donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/Jimmy-Greenhorn