Ballance Launches AI Assistant for Fertiliser Ordering
A new digital assistant is now helping Ballance Agri-Nutrients farmers speed up nutrient information and ordering.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients is expanding its fixed price offer to help customers manage input costs with greater certainty over the coming season.
Following a successful pilot last year, the initiative has been broadened to include a wider product range, so more farmers and growers can benefit from fixed pricing.
From today, eligible Ballance shareholders can apply for the set price for a period of seven months starting from the 1 May.
Ballance general manager customer Jason Minkhorst says the offer helps shareholders seeking more certainty around their input costs.
“Much like fixing an interest rate for your mortgage, this offer allows farmers to lock in their fertiliser requirements at a set price, helping them mitigate risk and plan ahead,” he says.
Building on last year’s success, the range has also been expanded beyond the initial pilot products, Nrich Urea and SustaiN to include a wider range.
Minkhorst says a common customer concern is price fluctuations across the board are making it difficult to plan ahead.
“This offer gives flexibility to help manage margins for fixed prices on outputs like milk and grain,” he says.
Offer details
Shareholders can access the fixed price offer for half or all of their order for a seven-month contract period from the 1 May to the 30 November 2025.
A minimum contract volume of ten tonnes, or five tonnes for YaraMila Complex, and a maximum contract volume of 500 tonnes or 100 tonnes for each of the Yara range.
Range includes:
Applications open on 9th April 2025. Further details can be found here: https://ballance.co.nz/fixed-price
Esther Guy-Meakin has been announced as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
According to a progress report on the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan (AHAP), New Zealand's horticulture sector is making real progress on the big issues facing growers.
A team effort that is paying dividends for the wider New Zealand economy.
A strong sense of community involvement is what propelled the Federated Farmers' North Canterbury president Bex Green to the honoured title of the Feds' Advocate of the Year 2026.
The country's second largest milk processor is warning against 'complacency' during a review of competition regulations in the dairy sector.
Oamaru-based livestock handling specialist Te Pari has bought Combi Clamp, the New Zealand manufacturer of Combi Clamp manual sheep handlers.

A fair question has been raised about how member-funded organisations should conduct themselves when taking a public position on any…
OPINION: It really is getting harder to lampoon government bureaucrats when they do such a good job of it themselves.…