Warm Comfort for Oil Users - Countrywide Farmers

Your newsletter from CountrywideAutumn Season 2008Image ©Aga aga-rayburn.co.ukWarm Comfort for Oil UsersOne and a half million householdsin the UK have no access to themains gas network and rely ondeliveries of heating oil. Statisticsshow that these households haveseen an average of £430 added totheir annual bills since the middleof March last year, bringing thetypical cost of heating with oil toOrder YourWinter HeatingOil now andSave the VATTo find out how you cansave money on your winter billfor heating oil call0800 626348see back page for termsand conditions£1,135. This compares with averagehousehold expenditure on mainsgas of £650 a year.Shaun Cooper, Countrywide’s FuelManager, reports for Countrytalk onhow heating oil customers arebearing the brunt of escalatingcrude oil prices but looks at howcustomers can prepare for a worryfree, warm winter.Nobody knows what will happen withthe escalating prices. Crude oilcontinues to hit record highs and sowe are all going to be faced withmuch bigger heating bills in thefuture. As a local supplier and not aproducer, Countrywide has littlechoice but to pass on the increases inwholesale costs of heating oil to itscustomers.In the light of these hikes,Countrywide are advising theircustomers to switch to a BudgetAccount where the cost of heatingcan be spread over a full 12 months.Shaun explains: “Cost worries mayhave meant customers delaying theirorder, but then resulting in heatingfailure due to low levels of oil in thetank. By spreading payments over a12 month period customers don’thave to worry about huge heatingbills landing just at the wrong time.Our Premier Account members alsobenefit from automatic oil deliverywhen the tank is low. This really isworry free-heating, fuel arrivesautomatically, when you need it,which is paid for over a period ofmonths”An added bonus to ease the worry ofheating costs, Countrywide is offeringto deduct the VAT element oncustomer’s first winter oil order. “Wereally do recognise that heating costshave more than doubled in somecases in the past 12 months, so tohelp our customers Countrywide willdeduct the 5% VAT on their first oilorder this winter” explains Shaun“Then, the customer also has theoption to pay for half of their orderwhen they open a budget accountand pay for the other half over aperiod of time. We are confident thatthese steps will really help ourcustomers keep warm this winter”To find out more aboutCountrywide’s Fuel services, BudgetAccount and Premier Account callthe Fuel Customer Services team on0800 626348.Shareholder Privilege CardJohn Hardman (MD) has announced the launch of the Shareholder Privilege Card.The card will entitle Shareholders with 500 shares or more to 5% discount off fullprice retail merchandise in any of the Country stores.For information on how to apply for your card contact the Registrar on0845 603 5534 or email shareholder@countrywidefarmers.co.ukShareholder Privilege Card1234 5678 91011AN OTHER 12345www.countrywidefarmers.co.ukShareholder NumberSupplying the rural commmunity

News in Brief...Non-Executive DirectorAppointment for CountrywideStuart Crebo has been appointed as anon executive director with effectfrom 1st July 2008.Stuart is currently Director, Mergersand Acquisitions at Ernst and YoungLLP based in their Exeter office.Nigel Hall (Chairman) comments“Stuart’s experience strengthens andsupports the Board including theimportant areas of corporate financeand banking and I am delighted thathe will also become Chairman of theAudit Committee of the Board in duecourse.”UKLPG chair for Countrywide’sDavid AsquithWith the recent merger of the LPGAand ALGED comes the announcementthat Countrywide’s David Asquith hasbeen appointed as the first Chairmanof the newly formed association,UKLPG.Commenting on his appointment,David said: “Countrywide is now thelargest independent supplier of LPGin the UK by some considerablemargin.My appointment is testament, Ibelieve, to our position in the marketplace and to the hard work andexpertise of the Countrywide energyteam in supplying customers anddelivering the best possible service.”SPOTLIGHT on Animal HealthCountrywide’s Animal Health Expertise Continues to GrowAnimal health products are a key sector for all of Countrywide’s stores andso investment in developing the product range and specialist training forstaff continues. And so it is pleasing to report that during the past 12months alone over 42 fully qualified and 9 part qualified members of staffhave gained their qualifications and Countrywide are on target to achievethe provision of 4 per country store by the end of 2008.On 30 October 2005 new Animal Medicine Regulations came into force. A newCode of Practice governing the distribution of animal medicines wasintroduced with stricter guidelines on their sale and supply. This resulted inevery animal medicine sale needing to be supervised by a qualified member ofstaff placing a huge demand on the number of qualified personnel available ineach of the stores.A further fundamental change under these new regulations stated that allpersonnel able to sell animal medicines are required to have a nationallyrecognised qualification approved by AMTRA (Animal Medicines Training andRegulatory Authority). “Not only were significantly more qualified personnelneeded by animal health suppliers such as Countrywide, but the level of thequalification was also stepped up, placing more demands on the provision ofextensive and high quality training that Countrywide has to provide” explainsJo Croxton Countrywide’s Rural Affairs Advisor. “Countrywide has embracedthis demand alongside the need to provide an exemplary level of customerservice and has launched an initiative to increase the number of qualifiedpersonnel throughout the store network” Jo continues.All members of staff that are nominated to undertake their AMTRAqualification are selected because of their knowledge of the local area,understanding of local customers and their overall knowledge of theagricultural industry.AMTRA qualified staff have a breadth of knowledge and are located in allstores to help you whether you have farming, equestrian or pet health needs.Select & Collect TrialsLedbury store will be trialling a ‘Select& Collect’ system on all animal feedsuntil Christmas 2008. Theintroduction of the system aims toprovide customers with easier accessto ordering animal feeds.As easy as 1 - 2 - 3!1 - Select your feed2 - Take the ticket to a till point3 - Collect from the loading pointDid you know…?Countrywide now stocks a mouthwatering range of local food and drink in 13 of its Country stores. Working through regionalfood groups Heart of England Fine Foods and Taste of the West, Countrywide is committed to offering customers locallygrown and produced food and helping reduce food miles. The range called “Local Flavours” can be found in: Bearley,Ledbury, Hereford, Gloucester, Evesham, Bridgnorth, Bromsgrove, Chertsey, Chipping Norton, Crewkerne, Thornbury,Melksham, Bridgwater and Cirencester.Page 2Customer Care on 0800 055 6761

CARL HESTER invitesCountrywide customersto his yardEver wondered what it’s like toprepare a horse for internationallevel competition, or howprofessional riders always seem toproduce outstanding results eachand every time?To celebrate the launch of the NewCarl Hester Performance Range,Countrywide and Net-Tex offereddressage enthusiasts the chance of alifetime, to peek behind the scenes,with top international dressage riderCarl Hester at his purpose builtde-luxe yard in Gloucestershire.Renowned for producing horses fromnovice through to Grand Prix, Carl isone of the UK’s most prolific ridersand trainers and this was anopportunity to give riders the chanceto see and gain knowledge onproducing horses at top level.On the 22nd July, the audience ofCountrywide customers and staffwere invited to a talk and ridingdemonstration by Carl on one of histop horses, as well as gaining theknowledge of how training andcorrect stable management canachieve the results at whatever yourlevel.The informative session also gave theaudience a chance to discover moreabout the range of supplements thatCarl and his team have personallybeen involved with from concept,through to testing the products onCarl’s own horses before its launch inSpring 2008.The proceeds from the event went toCancer Research and James WhaleFund for Kidney Cancer.Carl Hester equine supplements can be purchasedon-line at www.countrywidefarmers.co.ukRide safely. Countrywide always recommend youwear a riding hat and body protector. Ask staff instore for fitting advice.Feed theBirds...According to the RSPB over half of the adults in the UK feed birds in theirgarden! As winter approaches and the days start drawing in, peoplenaturally start to think about feeding the birds in their gardens.By following a few simple guidelines we can all play a valuable role in helpingthe birds that visit our gardens.• In hard weather a small bird may eat up to a third of its body weight each day,spending up to 85% of the day feeding or looking for food. Look out for seedmixes which contain lots of energy – black sunflower seeds and sunflowerhearts are best ingredients.• Feeders will normally work best if placed in or close to cover, at least until thebirds get used to them.• The winter nights can be long and cold, so try to avoid disturbing the feedingarea in the first and last hour of the day, when the birds may be frantically tryingto store or replenish their energy.• If you are putting food on the ground or on a bird table remember to keep thefeeding area as clean as possible, and ideally move the feeding -station regularly.Countrywide’s own brand feed uses ingredients only suitable for wild birds toprovide them with the essential nutrients they need. The range includes wildbird seed and peanuts in 20kg bags, whilst offering more specialist feeds such assunflower hearts in large packs. Countrywide even stocks specialist productssuch as Nyjer seed, feeders, bird tables and accessories.Did you know?Countrywide are keen to support local events, shows, causes, charities and community functions. We passionately believein rewarding the customers who shop in our stores by supporting local activities that are important to them. For moreinformation on local marketing opportunities please contact the store manager at your nearest Countrywide store.Shop online at www.countrywidefarmers.co.ukPage 3

Where there is Muck...Around the businessRemember, Remember the 5th ofNovemberCountrywide are pleased to announcethat Country stores will be stocking arange of quiet fireworks this autumn.So, all the sparkle and pizzazz withoutthe big bang that disturbs livestock.Visit your local store for more details.New Countrywide Training AcademyopensThe new Countrywide TrainingAcademy was opened for business inAugust. The excellent fit for purposeTraining Centre, based above theWitney store in Oxfordshire, will notonly host internal staff training but isplanned to be an examinations centrefor AMTRA qualifications.“The Training Centre is an importantstep forward in developing our peopleto the highest industry standards”explains Michelle O’Connor Group HRand Training Manager.Where there is MUCK there is POWER!With energy prices rising faster than most people expected and demandcontinuing to rise, alternative sources of energy are becoming increasinglyattractive. One of these is the production of methane gas from manureswhich are freely available on many livestock farms and represent apotentially valuable resource particularly as the process for obtaining thegas means that none of the nutrient value of the manure is lost.How does it work?Bacteria are largely found to be either aerobic (requiring oxygen) or anaerobic(not requiring oxygen) and it is the second type that allows organic materials tobe broken down to release methane (CH4). The capture of this gas which canthen be burnt to drive a generator, produce heat or sometimes to power anengine is the key to obtaining power from manure.However, in most cases manure alone is not sufficient and a further source ofcarbohydrates and sometimes nitrogen is required to produce an efficient andbalanced product. In most cases this can be provided either by food wastes(from a local council or supermarket) or by growing another crop like maize.Countrywide are currently investigating the viability of installing bio-digesterunits on several dairy farms where there is plenty of manure available and lookforward to being able to advise our customers on how best to go aboutinvesting in this process.For further information, please contact our customer services teamon 01386 757314Calf CampaignSeptember sees the launch of theCountrywide Calf Campaign whichincludes the relaunch ofCountrywide's calf milk replacersand top-spec calf feeds, plus theintroduction of the newlyformulated Countrywide CoarseCalf Mix.Animal Health products are alsofeatured in the campaign including10% off Vecoxan - a product to aidin the control of coccidiosis in calves.A new concept for calf rearers is onoffer with the introduction of a "1tonne pallet package" delivereddirect to farms throughout Englandand Wales, offering calf milk andstarter / grower feeds sufficient for6 calves, plus a free whisk,measuring jug and thermometer.The campaign will be featured atthe Dairy Event and Livestock Showand key regional dairy eventswithin the Countrywide tradingarea throughout the autumn. (seeback page for show dates)Please contact your local salesspecialist for full details of thecampaign or telephone CustomerServices at 0800 432 0466 orDirect Sales at 0845 6732100.Did you know...?Countrywide has teamed up wth Mastergrass to offer a unique and unrivalledlawn treatment service. Mastergrass is an independent family run businessthat has treated thousands of lawns since its formation in 2004. With morethan 20 years of sports turf and lawn experience Mastergrass offers a full lawn care programme as well as dditional serviceswhich include aeration, scarification, wetting agent application, seeding and organic treatments.For further info call 0845 6027456.Page 4Customer Care on 0800 055 6761

Routine Soil AnalysisIt is not surprising that our farmers are feelingshell-shocked at the astonishing increases in the pricesof phosphate and potash fertilisers. A 10 tonne/hectarewheat crop, with straw baled, removes from the soil86kg/ha of phosphate and 118kg/ha of potash. The costof replacing that with fertiliser is now about £235/ha(£95/acre) and is likely to rise further.It may be tempting to “take a PK holiday”, and miss anapplication for a year, but nothing will be gained if PKfertilisers are even costlier next year. Without knowing soilreserves, this is a risky option as crop yield could becompromised.forearmed with knowledge of the level of nutrients in thesoil. Routine soil analysis, aiming to test a quarter of thefarm each year, is the only way to achieve this and at a costof approximately £13 per test, is a small investmentcompared to the cost of fertiliser. This is also a requirementfor all of the farm assurance schemes.Once the analysis results are known, farmyard manures andfertilisers can be used in a precise, targeted way rather thanby guesswork.For soil testing advice please call01386 757372It is important to have a planned approach to fertiliser use,“ELITE TRANSITION” Better Dry Cow Management for Improved Profit.Ask your self this question: if you were going to run inthe New York marathon would you prepare before theevent to ensure a good performance? Of course youwould! So why do we expect a 7,000 to 10,000 litre cowto calve down and give us a good performance withoutus helping her to prepare? She is definitely in amarathon!A recent survey of several top performing dairy herds inAmerica has shown that the most critical problem affectingproduction, health and longevity, after forage quality wasdry cow management, or rather lack of it!Here Countrywide’s Ken March discusses the issues of drycow management.Elite Transition is a new concept in dry cow managementaddressing the five most crucial nutritional elements thatwill positively effect the dry cow when calving and helpalleviate the health problems that can adversely affect thefreshly calved cow such as:-• Ketosis • Acidosis • LDA • Retained placentas• Metritis • Milk feverElite Transition will help to maintain a smooth transitionfrom the dry period to the next lactation which isparamount if peak yields, good milk quality and goodreproductive performance with a healthy cow are to beachieved. When fed as part of a balanced dry cow rationElite Transition will ensure that dry matter intake isstimulated, energy intake is increased, liver function isenhanced and rumen efficiency and the immune system isimproved.It is vital to the post calving performance that farmers helpto close the negative energy balance the dry cowexperiences prior to calving and enhance liver function sothat when mobilizing body fat , as all cows will, she doesthis efficiently without experiencing metabolic problems.Elite transition will help achieve this.For more information on dry cow management contactyour feed specialist on 01386 757300Did you know...?Countrywide agronomists can offer full advice on farm saved seed cleaning together with ensuring that the correct seedtreatment for all growing situations is applied. All operators are NPTC qualified to fulfill ACCS requirements. For furtherinformation on on-farm seed processing or for a quotation please contact your local Countrywide sales representative or callthe arable team on 01386 757314Shop online at www.countrywidefarmers.co.ukPage 5

Countrywide OpensThird Hampshire StoreCountrywide opened its thrid newstore in Hampshire at Waterloovilleon Friday 4 July at Unit 2 RockvilleDrive, Cosham, Hampshire PO77HR. The 45th store forCountrywide, open from 8.30am to5.30pm Monday to Saturday and10.00am to 4.00pm on Sunday,offers products, services and advicefor the farming, equestrian andrural customer including a widerange of outdoor and countryproducts, including equestrian,gardening, machinery, smallholding,clothing, sporting, animal healthand pet supplies.Hampshire is at the heart of the keytarget area for retail outlets and thisexpansion compliments the longstanding agricultural operation. Therange of products in Waterlooville,Totton and Liphook perfectly fits theneeds of customers within the countyparticularly with the extensive rangeof equestrian products and our instore Animal Health Specialists. MarieRowden is the Animal Healthspecialist for the Waterlooville store.Marie, who is AMTRA qualified,explains “Customers can be confidentthat when they come into the store Ican answer their questions on thehealth and nutrition of their pets,horses and livestock”.For further information pleasecontact the Waterlooville store on02392 269590.Countrywide UnveilsNew Look StoresBridgend and Thornbury storeshave recently benefitted fromsignificant investment to refurbishand refresh both sites.A five year investment programme isin place to improve layout,merchandising and overall customershopping experience at all Countrystores. The investment includes newranges of local produce in over 10stores, sourced from Heart ofEngland Fine Foods and Taste of theWest, and 17 stores now haveupgraded garden centres.During the autumn a further threestores will undergo re-fit: Ledbury,Melton Mowbray and Chepstow. Inaddition to local produce and thegarden centre, Ledbury will feature aSelect & Collect system for animalfeeds and the coffee shop has beenmoved to the conservatory area,allowing more space for the clothingdepartment.Countrywide’s brightmove for electricitycustomersIn a move which enhances itscommitment to sustainability,Countrywide has announced that itis using award winning GoodEnergy as supplier for all electricitycustomers.By using Good Energy, a 100 per centrenewable electricity energy supplier,Countrywide, will be able to maintainor even lower customers’ electricityrates, whilst offering the obviousenvironmental benefits of a fullyrenewable provider.Countrywide’s Renewables ManagerJulie Jones-Ford is excited about thedevelopment: “Good Energy is a likemindedcompany to Countrywide,sharing our values of sustainability,excellence in customer service andthe philosophy of working closelywith individual customers,” sheexplains. “To this end, in addition tothe existing service offered, we areworking together to develop apackage with our farmer customerswhereby they can generate their ownelectricity and be able to put theremainder back into the grid.”Good Energy has won numerousawards, amongst which are theSunday Times ‘Best GreenCompanies’ award and the ‘BritishRenewable Energy’ award from theRenewable Energy Association.For further information onCountrywide’s renewable energyproducts and services, pleasecontact Renewable ManagerJulie Jones-Ford on 01386 757333.“Customers will see lots of excitingdevelopments in these stores” saysRetail Operations Manager AndrewStevens “We are committed todelivering unbeatable customerservice and the re-fit programme inour stores is key to achieving this”Andrew continues. “For example, theclothing departments now have newflooring, lighting and racking andgreatly improved fitting rooms. Newinternal and external signage hasbeen designed to make the wholeshopping experience much morefriendly”.Page 6 Customer Care on 0800 055 6761

WOULD YOU? COULDYOU? CERTAINLY WOOD!Certainly Wood, based inHerefordshire has been supplyingfirewood and kindling toCountrywide for the last twelveyears and is now the largestspecialist firewood producer in theUK. With energy costs rapidly risingthere is a surge in demand forwood burning stoves and boilers.Many people are looking to usewood for secondary heating andtoday’s stoves areextremely efficientif the right fuel isused.Certainly Wood specialises in thesupply of ‘seasoned’ and premier ‘kilndried’ firewood and kindling. Theimportance of dry wood cannot beunderestimated. Not only does itprovide a ‘clean’ burn but it alsoprovides far more heat output andburns much slower than less well‘seasoned’ wood.All the firewood from Certainly Woodis hardwood, sourced from localsustainable woodland and taken aspart of the natural thinning processwhich improves the overall habitatwithin the woodland. “Over the lastten years many woodlands have beenneglected because the income fromthinnings has not even covered thecost of the operation” said CertainlyWood’s Managing Director GeorgeSnell, who looks after procurementand production. “Now that the pricefor wood is much higher, farmers andlandowners are able to pay moreattention to proper woodlandmanagement and actually makemoney from trees. We workparticularly closely with the forestrymanagement company Pryor &Ricketts and between us we are keento work with more woodland owners”This season, in conjunction withCertainly Wood, Countrywide will beoffering a new service CustomerDirect Deliveries. Not only will thisallow customers to have bulkdeliveries to their homes, but also agreater range of product. Thestandard lines of ‘seasoned nets’ or‘kiln dried’ logs and kindling inminimum quantities of 50 units canbe delivered as well as theopportunity to purchase large (approx1 cubic metre) or extra large (approx1.4 cubic metres) bulk bags. Inaddition the new Certainly Wood logstore can be delivered direct to yourhome as a flat pack with easy toinstall instructions.For more information aboutCertainly Wood and interestingfacts about firewood visitwww.certainlywood.co.uk or visityour local Countrywide storeIsolationThis year, Countrywide has chosen the Rural StressHelpline as its corporate charity of the year. Karen Ellisfrom the Rural Stress helpline talks to Countrytalk abouthow the stresses of everyday life can affect us all andhow it can be difficult for those in rural areas to knowwhere to turn for help and support.Panic attacksFeeling tearful or irritableDrinking or smoking moreHeadaches or raisedblood pressureChanges in eating orsleeping patternsFeeling useless, hopeless or guiltyRuralStressHelplineWhy is isolation such an issue for the rural community?Karen: Living in the countryside can be great! We’re told it’sgood for our health and wellbeing. But the rising cost offuel, cutbacks in rural transport and the closure of manyrural post offices, shops and other services can make lifelonely for many people, sometimes going days on endwithout seeing anyone. Moving to a rural area in retirementor to start a new life away from the bustle of urban livingcan seem very idyllic but people can often find they aresuddenly very isolated from family and friends.How does isolation affect people?Karen: Isolation affects people in many ways. Some of thesigns to be aware of can include:Lack of self confidence and worries about the futurePoor concentrationWhat help is available?Karen: There is help available and that’s where Rural StressHelpline can play its part. The Helpline offers aconfidential, non judgmental listening service for anyone ina rural area who may be feeling anxious, troubled, stressedor needing information. We offer to put callers in touchwith other organisations, where appropriate, that offersustained practical and emotional support. This can befrom a local source if it meets the caller’s needs. We canalso provide ongoing support, if necessary, until thedifficulty is resolved or other help is in place.If you are feeling isolated, stressed, worried pleasecontact Rural Stress Helpline on 0845 094 8286. TheHelpline operates Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.Rural Stress Helpline is a project of The Arthur RankCentre.Shop online at www.countrywidefarmers.co.ukPage 7

Snap Happy competition results.The Countrywide Photography Competition in the Summer issue of Countrytalk wasa huge success and from the hundreds of entries we received, choosing a winnerproved more difficult than we thought!. Thank you to everyone who entered thecompetition and congratulations to the winners!David FurseCategory Winner: PetGraham ColeCategory Winner: Country LivingKaty GamblesCategory Winner: SmallholderKate HendersonCategory Winner: FarmingRene Box - OVERALL WINNER!Equestrian CategoryYour chance to win a Vito Patio Furniture Set worth nearly £350Simply visit www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk and sign up to the Countrywide Email newsletter tobe in with a chance to win.The Vito Patio Set has a sleek modern design made from rust proof, lightweight aluminum and blacktoughened glass. The chairs come in textaline and polyester woven material which withstands allweathers. Ideal for any garden large or small.Closing date for entries 30th November 2008. A winner will be selected at random and notified bye-mail within 14 days.Order Your Winter Heating Oil nowand Save the VATTo find out how you can save money on your winter billfor heating oil call• Customers will be required to open a budget account• Countrywide will deduct the 5% VAT on the first winter heating oil order• Customer can opt to pay for half of their first order at time of orderand then pay the other 50% on Direct Debit over a period of time• The offer will run from 1st October 2008 to 1st March 2009• The customer will need to remain a budget account holder for a minimum of 24 months• The Direct Debit will need to start 1 month from date of delivery of first order.• The offer applies to kerosene only.SHOW TIME - Dates for your diarySeptember 13th:Kington Show, Usk Show,Frome Agricultural and Cheese ShowSeptember 17th and 18thDairy Event and Livestock showSeptember 20th and 21stRoyal County of Berkshire ShowOctober 1st – South West Dairy ShowOctober 21st – Welsh Dairy ShowDecember 1st and 2ndRoyal Welsh Winter FairCountrywide Customer CareWe aim to provide the best possible service to all of our customers. We will continually pursue improvement to provide excellence and your feedback is themost valuable source of information to help us succeed. We would really like to hear about your experience as a Countrywide customer. Please contact uson 0800 0556761 or e-mail customercare@countrywidefarmers.co.ukEvery care is taken in the preparation of this newsletter, but it should only be used as a guide. In the absence of its negligence, Countrywide Farmers plc does not accept any responsibility for any loss ordamage, however caused, as a result of any reliance placed upon information given in this publication by the reader or anyone to whom such information is communicated.© Copyright Countrywide Farmers plc, 2008. E&OE. This newsletter has been printed using vegetable based inks and paper from sustainable resources.