Saxon Agriculture Limited — UK Grain Trader & Alfalfa Meal Importer

Bill of Lading Data — HS 12141000 Alfalfa Meal and Pellets

Transaction Date: 2026-07-01 — UK Importer of Alfalfa Meal and Pellets (Lucerne Meal)

Saxon Agriculture Limited — Company Profile Firm Card

AI Summary — Key Findings

Contents

Bill of Lading Data — Field-by-Field Breakdown

The table below provides the complete, field-by-field breakdown of the bill of lading record for Saxon Agriculture Limited's 2026-07-01 import of alfalfa meal and pellets (HS 12141000) into the United Kingdom.

Buyer Profile — Saxon Agriculture Limited (UK)

Saxon Agriculture Limited is a United Kingdom-based grain trading and seed supply company headquartered at 1 Acorn House, Turbine Way, Swaffham, PE37 7XN, Norfolk. The company has over 25 years of industry experience serving UK farmers and grain processors, connecting them with the best quality cereals, pulses, and oilseeds for the most valuable markets. The company is a UK subsidiary of GrainCorp — one of the world's biggest grain trading organizations, headquartered in Sydney, Australia.

Saxon Agriculture's tagline — "Your Crop. Your Choice. Our Expertise." — captures the company's positioning as a trusted advisor and partner to UK farmers and grain processors. The company describes itself as a "trusted seed supplier and grain merchant", combining personal real-world expertise with secure global market access through GrainCorp's international network.

Business Segments

• Grain Trading: Flexible contracts and premium markets for cereals, pulses, and oilseeds — expert logistics support and international market access
• Seed Supply: Access to latest, top-performing varieties across wheat, barley, oats, rye, beans, peas, linseed, and oilseed rape
• Organic Grain Supply: Certified organic feed supply and demand matching — connecting buyers with trusted organic sources
• Animal Nutrition: Sourcing and distributing animal feed ingredients including alfalfa meal and pellets (HS 12141000)

Why Choose Saxon Agriculture

Saxon Agriculture emphasizes six key competitive advantages on its website:

• Premium Contracts: Buy-back deals that reward quality, not just volume
• Personal Preferences: Helping match the right crop to the right contract
• Proud Partnership: With the financial strength and support of GrainCorp
• In-House Lab: Smarter decisions with inclusive grain quality testing
• Flexible Marketing: Trust their expertise to maximise returns
• Global Access: Import/export relationships extend worldwide

Swaffham, Norfolk Location

Saxon Agriculture's headquarters at 1 Acorn House, Turbine Way, Swaffham, PE37 7XN is located in Norfolk — one of the UK's most important agricultural regions. East Anglia (Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire) is the UK's primary cereal production area, particularly known for wheat, barley, sugar beet, and oilseed rape. Swaffham is a market town in west Norfolk, approximately 30 miles west of Norwich and 20 miles east of King's Lynn — a strategic location for serving the East Anglian agricultural community.

Commodity Analysis — Alfalfa Meal and Pellets

What is Alfalfa (Lucerne)?

Alfalfa (Latin: Medicago sativa; also known as lucerne in UK, Australia, and New Zealand English) is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is widely cultivated globally as a forage crop for livestock, prized for its high nutritional value, particularly as a source of protein, calcium, vitamin A, and digestible fiber. Alfalfa is one of the oldest cultivated forage crops — records of its cultivation date back over 6,000 years to ancient Iran (Persia).

Alfalfa Meal and Pellets Production

Alfalfa meal and pellets are produced through the following process:

1. Cultivation and harvesting: Alfalfa is cut 3-5 times per growing season. The cutting is typically done in the early-bud stage when nutritional value is highest.
2. Field drying: The cut alfalfa is left in the field to dry (wilt) to reduce moisture content from approximately 80% to 15-20%.
3. Baling and transport: Dried alfalfa is baled and transported to a processing facility.
4. Dehydration (optional): Some processing facilities use artificial dehydration to further reduce moisture content, producing a more uniform product with consistent nutritional profile.
5. Grinding: Dried alfalfa is ground into meal — a powder form used as a protein supplement in mixed animal feed rations.
6. Pelletizing: The meal can be compressed into pellets (typically 6-8 mm diameter) for easier handling, transport, and feeding. Pellet form is more dense (reduces transport costs) and easier to feed to livestock.

Nutritional Profile

Alfalfa meal and pellets typically contain:

• Crude protein: 15-20% (one of the highest protein contents among forage crops)
• Crude fiber: 25-30% (highly digestible fiber for ruminant animals)
• Calcium: 1.5-2.0% (significantly higher than grass hays — important for dairy cattle, lactating animals, growing young stock)
• Vitamin A (carotene): High — important for animal health, reproduction, immune function
• Vitamin D, E, K: Moderate levels
• Magnesium, phosphorus, potassium: Important minerals for animal nutrition
• Metabolisable energy: 8-10 MJ/kg DM (dry matter basis)

Animal Feed Applications

Alfalfa meal and pellets are used in various animal feed applications:

• Dairy cattle: High-protein supplement to boost milk production and butterfat content
• Beef cattle: Protein supplement for growing and finishing cattle
• Sheep: Ewe feeding during late pregnancy and early lactation
• Horses: Premium forage source for equine nutrition — alfalfa pellets are popular for horses
• Goats and camelids: Protein supplement
• Rabbit and small animal feed: Common ingredient in commercial rabbit feed
• Poultry (limited): Some inclusion in poultry feed rations
• Aquaculture (limited): Source of plant protein in some fish feed formulations

HS 12141000 — Lucerne (Alfalfa) Meal and Pellets

HS Chapter 12 — Oil Seeds and Oleaginous Fruits

HS Chapter 12 covers "Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder". Major subheadings include:

• HS 1201 — Soya beans
• HS 1202 — Groundnuts (peanuts)
• HS 1203 — Copra (dried coconut kernel)
• HS 1204 — Linseed
• HS 1205 — Rape or colza seeds
• HS 1206 — Sunflower seeds
• HS 1207 — Other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits
• HS 1208 — Flours and meals of oil seeds or oleaginous fruits
• HS 1209 — Seeds, fruit and spores, of a kind used for sowing
• HS 1210 — Hop cones
• HS 1211 — Plants and parts (including seeds and fruits) of a kind used primarily in perfumery, pharmacy, or for insecticidal purposes
• HS 1212 — Locust beans, seaweeds and other algae, sugar beet and sugar cane, fresh or dried
• HS 1213 — Cereal straw and husks, unprepared (whether or not chopped, ground, pressed or in pellet form)
• HS 1214 — Swedes, mangolds, fodder roots, hay, lucerne (alfalfa), clover, sainfoin, forage kale, lupines, vetches and similar forage products, whether or not in the form of pellets

HS 1214 Subheading Breakdown

HS 1214 covers forage products — animal feed crops. The subheading is structured as follows:

• HS 1214.10 — Lucerne (alfalfa) meal and pellets
• HS 1214.90 — Other (swedes, mangolds, fodder roots, hay, clover, sainfoin, forage kale, lupines, vetches, and similar forage products)

EU CN 8-Digit Extension — 12141000

The 8-digit extension 12141000 is used by the EU Combined Nomenclature (CN) for customs declarations within EU member states including the UK (post-Brexit, UK still uses the same 8-digit structure for trade continuity). The extension preserves the 6-digit HS 1214.10 international classification while providing additional statistical detail for EU/UK customs purposes.

UK Tariff Treatment for HS 12141000

For UK imports of alfalfa meal and pellets under HS 12141000:

• Import duty: Typically 0% under the UK Global Tariff (UKGT) — most forage products classified under HS 1214 enter the UK at zero or very low duty rates to support UK livestock industry competitiveness
• VAT: 20% standard UK VAT applies (note: animal feed products may qualify for VAT zero-rating under certain conditions in the UK, particularly when supplied for animal feed use)
• Preferential tariff treatment: UK has Free Trade Agreements with major alfalfa-producing countries including EU, USA, Canada, Australia, and others — preferential tariff access may apply depending on origin
• Phytosanitary requirements: Imported alfalfa products must comply with UK plant health regulations (certification of origin, freedom from pests, contamination limits)

Global Alfalfa (Lucerne) Sources

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is cultivated globally, with major producing countries including:

Major Alfalfa Producers

• USA — the world's largest alfalfa producer, especially California (especially the Imperial Valley and Sacramento Valley — known for premium dairy-grade alfalfa), Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota. US alfalfa is exported globally as both hay bales and dehydrated meal/pellets.
• Spain — Europe's largest alfalfa producer. Major production regions include Castilla y León (especially the Duero Valley), Aragon, Catalonia, Navarra. Spanish alfalfa is particularly important for European dairy industry.
• France — significant alfalfa production in the Champagne-Ardenne, Burgundy (Bourgogne), and Centre regions. French alfalfa is used both domestically and for export.
• Italy — production concentrated in the Po Valley (Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Lombardy). Italian alfalfa is typically consumed domestically.
• Canada — production in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba provinces. Canadian alfalfa is exported to Pacific markets (Japan, China, South Korea).
• Argentina — production in the Pampas region (especially Buenos Aires province). Argentine alfalfa is used domestically for beef cattle production.
• China — emerging large producer, especially in Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Ningxia. China's domestic demand exceeds supply, but some exports to East Asian markets.
• Australia — production in Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales. Australian alfalfa is exported to Asian markets (Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan).
• South Africa — production in the Eastern Cape, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

Typical UK Sourcing Pattern

UK importers like Saxon Agriculture typically source alfalfa meal and pellets from:

• USA — for premium quality dehydrated alfalfa meal and pellets (highest protein content)
• Spain — for EU-sourced alfalfa, logistics advantage (shorter transit), EU quality standards
• France and Italy — for high-quality European alfalfa
• China — emerging source for cost-competitive alfalfa products

UK Animal Feed Market Context

The UK animal feed market is one of Europe's largest, driven by the country's substantial livestock industry — dairy cattle (approximately 1.5 million dairy cows), beef cattle (approximately 2 million), sheep (approximately 22 million breeding ewes — the largest sheep flock in Europe), horses (approximately 1 million horses including racing, sport, and leisure), poultry, and pigs. UK livestock farmers consume approximately 30+ million tonnes of compound animal feed annually, with protein ingredients (soybean meal, rapeseed meal, sunflower meal, alfalfa meal) being significant import categories.

UK alfalfa production is limited due to climatic factors — the UK's cool temperate climate (cool summers, mild but wet winters, low sunshine hours) is suboptimal for alfalfa cultivation, which prefers warm temperate climates with hot dry summers and well-drained soils. Consequently, UK domestic alfalfa production is minimal (primarily in southern and eastern England under irrigation), and the UK imports the vast majority of its alfalfa meal and pellet requirements from major international producers (USA, Spain, France, Italy).

Saxon Agriculture's import activity (HS 12141000) documented on this bill of lading reflects this UK supply-demand dynamic — UK livestock industry demand for high-protein animal feed ingredients exceeds domestic supply, requiring significant import volumes from major alfalfa-producing countries.

Parent Company — GrainCorp

GrainCorp is one of the world's largest grain trading organizations, headquartered in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1916 as the New South Wales Grain Elevators Board, GrainCorp has grown into a major international agribusiness with operations across Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe (including the UK), and Asia.

GrainCorp Business Segments

• GrainCorp Grains: Grain storage, handling, marketing, and trading across major grain-producing regions
• Saxon Bulk Handling: UK bulk grain handling operations
• CropConnect: Digital grain contracting and management platform
• Animal Nutrition (AU & NZ): Animal feed manufacturing and distribution in Australia and New Zealand
• Human Nutrition: Edible oils and food ingredients for human consumption
• Oilseeds (Pin and Peel): Oilseed crushing and oil processing
• Energy (Auscol): Used cooking oil collection and biodiesel production
• Sustainability Ventures: Sustainability initiatives including carbon reduction, regenerative agriculture

Saxon Agriculture within GrainCorp

Saxon Agriculture Limited operates as GrainCorp's UK subsidiary, providing UK farmers and processors access to GrainCorp's global grain trading network, financial strength, and international market access. The relationship between Saxon Agriculture and GrainCorp is captured in Saxon Agriculture's marketing: "With over 25 years' experience and the backing of one of the world's biggest grain trading organisations, we combine personal, real-world expertise with secure global market access."

GrainCorp's values are shared across the group, including Saxon Agriculture: (1) We care — for each other, our customers, our company, our communities and environment; (2) We deliver — accountable for decisions, actions, and results by taking ownership; (3) We stay safe — prioritizing staying safe and creating an inclusive environment; (4) We do what's right — prioritizing what's right for GrainCorp, customers, and each other.

Vision Portal — Real-Time Grain Tracking

Saxon Agriculture operates Vision, a secure customer portal that gives customers 24/7 access to:

• Contract history
• Lab results (grain quality testing results from Saxon Agriculture's in-house laboratory)
• Haulage arrangements
• Invoices

This digital infrastructure supports Saxon Agriculture's positioning as a modern, technology-enabled grain trading partner — providing customers with real-time visibility into their grain contracts, quality results, and logistics arrangements.

Bill of Lading & Customs Data Search

The bill of lading data documented on this page is a single record from the comprehensive ithalatihracat.biz bill of lading (konşimento) database covering UK and international trade. To identify additional Saxon Agriculture imports — including other animal feed ingredients (HS 1214 forage products, HS 2309 compound feed, HS 2304 oilcake, HS 1201 soybeans), suppliers, ports of loading, vessels, container numbers, and dates — search the ithalatihracat.biz bill of lading (konşimento) search page using any of the following strategies:

• Search by company name — "Saxon Agriculture", "Saxon Ag" to identify all imports by this UK grain trader
• Search by HS code — 12141000 (alfalfa meal), 1214 (forage products), 2309 (compound feed), 2304 (oilcake)
• Search by product keyword — "alfalfa meal", "lucerne meal", "alfalfa pellets", "animal feed"
• Search by country of origin — "USA", "Spain", "France", "Italy", "China" (major alfalfa producers)
• Search by import country — "United Kingdom" to identify all UK animal feed imports
• Search by port of discharge — UK ports including "Felixstowe", "Southampton", "Liverpool", "Immingham", "Teesport"

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact and Next Steps

For official inquiries and direct contact with Saxon Agriculture Limited, visit the company's official website at https://saxonag.co.uk/. The website offers information about grain trading services, seed supply programs, organic grain supply, animal nutrition, and contact details for grain trading specialists.

For deeper market intelligence — including shipment data, supplier networks, HS code analysis, customs data, and competitive intelligence on UK animal feed imports and other Saxon Agriculture activity — explore the ithalatihracat.biz bill of lading (konşimento) search page.

The ithalatihracat.biz team can compile custom shipment-level datasets covering: (a) Saxon Agriculture's complete import history; (b) UK animal feed import market analysis; (c) HS 1214 (forage products) UK imports by month, port, and importer; (d) competitive intelligence on other UK grain traders' supplier networks; (e) USA-UK, Spain-UK, France-UK alfalfa trade flow analysis. Use the WhatsApp button below to request a tailored briefing, a specific customs dataset, or a custom market intelligence report.