fbpx
Print this page
Wednesday, 17 May 2023 11:55

Co-ops share farm data

Written by  Staff Reporters
Co-ops Ballance and Fonterra are working together to streamline data sharing. Co-ops Ballance and Fonterra are working together to streamline data sharing.

Co-operatives Ballance AgriNutrients and Fonterra are working together to streamline data sharing  to make life easier for their joint customers.

Ballance, a farmer and grower-owned co-operative, has been supporting primary sector communities for over 70 years. Ballance says it actively works with its farmers to help them manage their nutrient usage and help them respond to new regulations.

"We are really pleased to announce that we have developed a solution that will help our custoemrs who supply Fonterra save valuable time and effort," says Jason Minkhorst, Ballance's general manager of sales.

"We recognise that it can be frustrating to enter the same information into multiple systems for different reporting needs, which is why we have worked with Fonterra to create a solution that streamlines the sharing of data between our two co-operatives."

The new solution is very simple, and customers can opt-in to share their nitrogen fertiliser data with Fonterra via a form. "Our customers that opt-in to share their data can rest assured that their data will be available to be automatically populated, allowing them to focus on what matters most - running their farm."

Ballance's focus is on providing farmers with sustainable and innovative nutrient solutions to help them grow more with less impact on the environment. Ballance is committed to sustainability and takes a holistic approach to farming, considering the economic, social, and environmental impacts of their operations, this is packaged up in a programme called Ballance with Nature.

"We offer a range of products and services, including fertilisers, animal feed, and advisory services, to help farmers improve their productivity and profitability. Our nutrient specialists work closely with customers to understand their needs and provide tailored solutions to help them achieve their goals," says Minkhorst.

"By opting into the data sharing we can send Fonterra information about Ballance product use during the season. This will include the amount purchased per product, months of application, and maximum application rate (if known from use of our Nitrogen Limit Management tool and associated Proof of Application data)."

The benefit to farmers is that by purchasing from Ballance, their end-of-season Farm Dairy Record reporting can be auto-populated, saving valuable time.

"At Ballance, we're always looking for ways to improve the customer experience, and this new data-sharing feature is just the first small step to greater data sharing with our trusted partners, like Fonterra," says Minkhorst.

More like this

Winston Peters questions Fonterra divestment plan

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.

Editorial: A new era for two co-ops

OPINION: Farmer shareholders of two of New Zealand's largest co-operatives have an important decision to make this month and what they decide could change the landscape of the dairy and meat sectors in New Zealand.

Should co-op sell its consumer brands?

OPINION: As CEO of the Dairy Board in the 1980s I was fortunate to work with a team of experienced and capable executives who made most of the brand investments that created the international consumer business Fonterra inherited. Soprole in Chile was the largest, but there were more than 20 countries where consumer marketing companies were established and Anchor and other brands were successfully launched.

Featured

'One more push' to eliminate FE

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.

Winston Peters questions Fonterra divestment plan

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.

National

Machinery & Products

New McHale terra drive axle option

Well-known for its Fusion baler wrapper combination, Irish manufacturer McHale has launched an interesting option at the recent Irish Ploughing…

Amazone unveils flagship spreader

With the price of fertiliser still significantly higher than 2024, there is an increased onus on ensuring its spread accurately at…