A brief history of the association
Our Association has now been in existence for 100 years. We started out as the British
Hay Traders Association. How we came about is uncertain as most of the early
records were destroyed in an Air Raid in the Second World War. It can, however, be
safely assumed that its existence was due to the huge logistical requirement to feed
the near million horses that had been requisitioned to aid the First World War effort in
France and Belgium. The Government were in overall control of the supply effort and
there was a Forage Committee formed. A highly esteemed Colonel H G Morgan CB
and DSO was brought out of retirement and put in charge of procurement. One of the
members of this very select eight man committee was one John Inns who was a
Director of a large and successful Forage Merchant, Turner, Byrne and John Inns Ltd.
It seems obvious that they were one of the founding members and continued to be so
until the 1960s.
Records since 1938 indicate that we have been at the forefront of all aspects of the
evolution of our industry in the last 100 years. It has gone from the traditional harvest
being done by horses and manual labour to combines and very large balers. Since its
formation the Association has always been recognised by the Government and NFU
as the official body acting for the Trade. This came out very forcibly in the Second
World War when there were regular meetings with the Ministry of Food, NFU and the
War Agricultural Committee
There were also frequent and often contentious meetings with the Paper Makers Straw
Trading Company who at that time were using over ½ million tons of straw annually
for paper production. J N Perkins was the Association’s President during the War
years and he ably and successfully steered the Association during these very
demanding years. Also during that time he was ably assisted by the Honorary
Secretary one Charlton Abbott who was the Managing Director of Abbott and Co Ltd
started by his father (who may have been one of the founding members) and whose
sister company Abbott and Co (Wessex) Ltd are still members. Incidentally during the
war and for some time after a Government licence was required to trade. It should
also be noted that the Association made a very substantial charity contribution to the
Red Cross totalling £894 for the war years, the equivalent of almost £27,000 today.
Originally the Association was run by an elected Executive Council Committee who
met in London for a minimum of 4 times a year with an AGM where all members
could attend. The President and Vice President are traditionally elected for a two year
office but there have been some exceptions. Originally most members were
recognised well established businesses but nowadays it is very much open to
established merchants and individual traders.
In 1952 it changed its name to the British Hay and Straw Merchants Association. In
the late 1960s and early 1970s the Executive Council was abandoned and a more
flexible and sociable Association evolved. From then on there were two general
meetings and one AGM each year. These meetings were held in locations around the
country and visits to places of interest were often organised to coincide with them.
The current membership has been constant for some years at between 45 and 50 but at
its zenith just after the Second World War it nearly attained 180.
After several years of lobbying by a very persistent secretary of the European
Association of Forage Merchants (CIPF), we were persuaded to join in the early
1990s. The merchants in the European Association were from France, Spain, Italy,
Switzerland, Germany Holland and Belgium. This connection encouraged UK
merchants to do considerable trade with their near continental neighbours. Three years
ago CIPF ceased to exist but a new European Forage Association was formed (EFA)
headed by Graham Lawman, a past BHSMA President. The EFA membership
consists of the UK, Holland, Belgium, Denmark and recently Germany with an ex
officia member from France. This Association with Europe has resulted in one major
meeting a year at which each country is represented and ordinary members are
encouraged to attend. Each country member takes it in turn to organise the meetings
and visit places of local interest over 2 – 3 days.
Hay Traders Association. How we came about is uncertain as most of the early
records were destroyed in an Air Raid in the Second World War. It can, however, be
safely assumed that its existence was due to the huge logistical requirement to feed
the near million horses that had been requisitioned to aid the First World War effort in
France and Belgium. The Government were in overall control of the supply effort and
there was a Forage Committee formed. A highly esteemed Colonel H G Morgan CB
and DSO was brought out of retirement and put in charge of procurement. One of the
members of this very select eight man committee was one John Inns who was a
Director of a large and successful Forage Merchant, Turner, Byrne and John Inns Ltd.
It seems obvious that they were one of the founding members and continued to be so
until the 1960s.
Records since 1938 indicate that we have been at the forefront of all aspects of the
evolution of our industry in the last 100 years. It has gone from the traditional harvest
being done by horses and manual labour to combines and very large balers. Since its
formation the Association has always been recognised by the Government and NFU
as the official body acting for the Trade. This came out very forcibly in the Second
World War when there were regular meetings with the Ministry of Food, NFU and the
War Agricultural Committee
There were also frequent and often contentious meetings with the Paper Makers Straw
Trading Company who at that time were using over ½ million tons of straw annually
for paper production. J N Perkins was the Association’s President during the War
years and he ably and successfully steered the Association during these very
demanding years. Also during that time he was ably assisted by the Honorary
Secretary one Charlton Abbott who was the Managing Director of Abbott and Co Ltd
started by his father (who may have been one of the founding members) and whose
sister company Abbott and Co (Wessex) Ltd are still members. Incidentally during the
war and for some time after a Government licence was required to trade. It should
also be noted that the Association made a very substantial charity contribution to the
Red Cross totalling £894 for the war years, the equivalent of almost £27,000 today.
Originally the Association was run by an elected Executive Council Committee who
met in London for a minimum of 4 times a year with an AGM where all members
could attend. The President and Vice President are traditionally elected for a two year
office but there have been some exceptions. Originally most members were
recognised well established businesses but nowadays it is very much open to
established merchants and individual traders.
In 1952 it changed its name to the British Hay and Straw Merchants Association. In
the late 1960s and early 1970s the Executive Council was abandoned and a more
flexible and sociable Association evolved. From then on there were two general
meetings and one AGM each year. These meetings were held in locations around the
country and visits to places of interest were often organised to coincide with them.
The current membership has been constant for some years at between 45 and 50 but at
its zenith just after the Second World War it nearly attained 180.
After several years of lobbying by a very persistent secretary of the European
Association of Forage Merchants (CIPF), we were persuaded to join in the early
1990s. The merchants in the European Association were from France, Spain, Italy,
Switzerland, Germany Holland and Belgium. This connection encouraged UK
merchants to do considerable trade with their near continental neighbours. Three years
ago CIPF ceased to exist but a new European Forage Association was formed (EFA)
headed by Graham Lawman, a past BHSMA President. The EFA membership
consists of the UK, Holland, Belgium, Denmark and recently Germany with an ex
officia member from France. This Association with Europe has resulted in one major
meeting a year at which each country is represented and ordinary members are
encouraged to attend. Each country member takes it in turn to organise the meetings
and visit places of local interest over 2 – 3 days.