A team of fertiliser industry veterans with 120 years of collective experience has launched a new crop nutrition company in Norfolk.

Payne Crop Nutrition (PCN) will serve farms across the East of England from its new fertiliser blending and bagging plant in Fakenham, which can handle up to 50,000 tonnes a year.

The company sells directly to farmers as well as through buying groups and partner distributors, with its team focusing on 'old school personal service and up-to-date advice'. It will also operate a soil sampling service.

David Harrod, PCN's commercial director, said: 'The fertiliser needs of each farm can vary enormously – field by field, and crop by crop.

'We are convinced that this cannot be serviced properly by ever-larger producers with 'one size fits all' solutions.'

There will be a formal opening event at the new factory on June 9.