Ipswich based e-Business experts A Recipe For Success & CPB Twyford are pleased to announce a new service allowing arable farmers to select and buy a range of oilseed rape varieties on-line over the Internet.

The new site includes a range of early order introductory packages, most notably a 'buy seven get one free' deal for credit card orders for hybrid varieties. Thus for every seven, 3/ha packs ordered on line, you'll get a further 3ha pack for free.

'Our market research shows that farmers are happy to embrace e-commerce, provided the back-up advice and supply package are up to scratch,' says CPB Direct sales manager, Nick Hartwell.

'We can now provide competitively priced seed of high performance varieties through this route to suit a wide range of individual needs and conditions. This is backed by an efficient delivery and accounting service and a tailored package of agronomic advice.

'Independent market research tells us that 58% of all farmers would purchase seed direct if this meant access to exclusive varieties or a modest price saving. And in our own customer survey of CPB Direct purchasers last season, 100% of respondents said they would be happy to buy direct from us again,' he says.

22% of last year's direct orders were received over the Internet and 52% of those chose to pay for the seed by credit card. The new, fully-secure web site is easy to navigate and includes full agronomic data and growing guides plus news updates.

Ordering couldn't be easier. Using standard web site technology, growers place orders in their 'shopping basket' before entering payment details and moving to the checkout. Growers requiring more information from the breeder have direct e-mail access to the breeder.

CPB Direct expects that more than 50% of all orders will be made on-line during 2002.