Two farmer-owned operations have combined to create a major new grain marketing and input supply business. Grainfarmers and Centaur Grain have merged to form Openfield, which will handle around a fifth of the UK grain market and become one the largest supplier of seed and fertiliser in the UK.

Two farmer-owned operations have combined to create a major new grain marketing and input supply business. Grainfarmers and Centaur Grain have merged to form Openfield, which will handle around a fifth of the UK grain market and become one the largest supplier of seed and fertiliser in the UK.

The newly appointed chairman of the merged business, Richard Beldam, said the new organisation, which will be working with more than 7,000 farmers, gave them the scale and structure to grow in size and influence.

Beldam said: “Openfield will have the flexibility, scale and high level of service, which we believe is needed in today’s marketplace to capture improved value across the supply chain.”

He added: “Increasingly we believe this can only be achieved by companies that combine a national presence with a scale and structure that ensures efficient continuity of supply to its customers, managed through a network of regional offices.

Openfield also plans to increase its existing arable inputs business. Once combined, the business will become the third largest supplier in the UK by volume of seed and fertiliser. It will also be a “significant” supplier of agrochemicals.

The new company will also establish a farmer council to represent the views of the new shareholders. Current Grainfarmers managing director Tim Davies will be the chief executive.

Davies said: “We have an exciting opportunity to combine the best of both businesses.”