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.
Three New Zealand agritech companies are set to join forces to help unlock the full potential of technology.
As the sector heads into the traditional peak period for injuries and fatalities, farmers are being urged to "take a moment".
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.
OPINION: Dipping global dairy prices have already resulted in Irish farmers facing a price cut from processors.
OPINION: Are the heydays of soaring global demand for butter over?