A significant fertiliser breakthrough?
Former ACT MP and Federated Farmers president Owen Jennings believes he's come across a new fertilising method in Australia that yields "outstanding results".
Ballance Agri-Nutrients has formed a team to help farmers deal with councils in sorting their compliance with environmental regulations and in applying for consents.
The team will provide a direct link between farmers and regional councils, the company says.
Team manager Alastair Taylor comments that, for example, the Sustainable Dairying Water Accord is ‘pressuring’ farmers to manage nutrients on their land.
“Farmers need to navigate through regulations on effluent management, nutrient use and environmental performance. Our new team will provide a direct link between farmers and regional councils to take the hassle out of environmental compliance.
“Regional councils are monitoring farms using the Overseer nutrient management model, which is jointly owned by the fertiliser industry, AgResearch and the Ministry for Primary Industries….
“Throughout New Zealand there is myriad of environmental regulations, by region and within regions. Our specialist team, with local experience and knowledge, helps farmers comply with their local land and water plans.”
The Ballance business extension services team provides nutrient budgets for resource consents, compliance and sale and purchase agreements.
It started in Canterbury and now is also working in the Horizons, Otago and Southland regions.
“In addition to our knowledge of Overseer and modelling farm systems, we also work with the Ballance science and sales teams to give farmers science-related advice,” Taylor says.
The team recently offered all Ballance dairy customers in Canterbury help in obtaining their nitrogen baseline, required under the regional land and water plan.
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Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.