The dirt on soil: Why healthy soil matters
OPINION: Every year, December 5 marks World Soil Day. This date wasn’t chosen at random, it’s the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, a passionate advocate for soil stewardship.
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
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.
Fears of a serious early drought in Hawke’s Bay have been allayed – for the moment at least.

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