Data sharing initiative wins national award for saving farmers time
The work Fonterra has done with Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, LIC and Ravensdown to save farmers time through better data connections has been recognised with a national award.
The $30 million facility, opened last week, brings economic and environmental benefits throughout the supply chain, says Ravensdown chief executive Greg Campbell.
Located on a 7.5ha site, the plant is a huge capital project for the co-op; production starts March 5.
The project has been a great example of teamwork with the council and contracting partners, Campbell says. “There were 27km of roofing and cladding involved in the construction.”
The newly installed precision blending plant will make precise blends and coatings of fertiliser to order and of better quality. Environmental performance has been ‘designed in’ to the facility’s operation.
The new site has enclosed operation for mixing, handling and bagging fertiliser to reduce dust and prevent trucks tracking product out of the store site. All stormwater is collected using a site water capture and bioremediation system to strip nutrients from the water.
“Farmers will be able to order custom blends of fertilisers tailored from their soil test results. Using these precise blends with our precision spreading technology and digital mapping system will enable smarter farming,” says Campbell.
“Farmers being able to spread the exact amount of nutrients required reduces the environmental impact onfarm.”
Imports help port
The new plant is reckoned good news for Port Taranaki and the western and central North Island.
Ravensdown imports 100,000 tonnes of mineral fertilisers through the port each year, supplying 150,000 tonnes to about 4300 farms.
“We also have strong control of our supply chain, from the port through our 17 stores across the western and central North Island to farm gates, ensuring quality, consistency and competitive pricing,” says Campbell.
This is the second precision blending plant in Australasia; the company opened one at its Christchurch site in 2016.
