How farmers make spring count
OPINION: Spring is a critical season for farmers – a time when the right decisions can set the tone for productivity and profitability throughout the year.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients has launched SimplyFert, an ex-hub and therefore lower-cost offering said to give its shareholders choice and flexibility for purchasing nutrients.
The co-op says this is its second new service innovation this quarter, following the announcement of its Fixed Price Nitrogen last month.
Ballance says SimplyFert gives its shareholder access to quality fertiliser without the extra cost associated with Ballance's wider distribution network, nutrient specialist support and advice, or digital support and services through MyBallance, its online digital platform.
"We know that most of our shareholders value the full service that Ballance provides through our nutrient specialists, our digital solutions, world class supply chain and products developed for the NZ industry. There are some though, who, in some instances, don’t require the support and convenience of our full distribution network, or who may not want access to our full suite of services,” says Jason Minkhorst, general manager customer at Ballance.
“SimplyFert demonstrates our deep understanding of our shareholders’ evolving needs, whether that be on farm solutions or more recently, ways to provide more cost-effective nutrients on farm.”
SimplyFert will offer Ballance’s core products with a minimum order of 12 tonnes. Further, shareholders who purchase SimplyFert forgo the additional services Ballance offers, including the convenience of accessing fertiliser from the local service centre as they must pick up their fertiliser directly from Ballance’s hubs located at Mount Operations, Maru Street, Timaru and Awarua.
“We are really pleased that we’ve been able to offer our shareholders two new service offerings in the past few weeks. While we acknowledge that they may not work for all shareholders, these innovations will benefit the cooperative as a whole,” says Minkhorst.
Craighead Diocesan, Darfield High School and Christchurch Boys' High School took out the three age groups at the Canterbury Clash of the Colleges, which was held at the recent Ashburton A&P Show.
The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) is expanding its collaboration with TextileGenesis to deliver full traceability for 100% of ZQ certified wool and ZQRX regenerative wool.
According to Federated Farmers, Environment Southland has mishandled the consent process for Waituna Lagoon, leaving the community with numerous bad outcomes.
Metallica's charitable foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), teamed up with Meet the Need this week for a food packing event held at the New Zealand Food Network warehouse in Auckland.
After two years, Alliance Group has returned to profit.
According to Zespri's November forecast for the 2025/26 season, returns are likely to be up for all fruit groups compared to the last forecast in August.
OPINION: Is it now time for the country's top agricultural university to start thinking about a name change - something…
OPINION: If David Seymour's much-trumpeted Ministry for Regulation wants a serious job they need look no further than reviewing the…