Well-placed to weather conflicts
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
Fertiliser co-op Ravensdown this week paid out an interim rebate of $20/tonne to farmer shareholders.
“This should give farmers confidence as they plan through the winter and head into the spring growth period,” says Greg Campbell, Ravensdown chief executive.
“Those attending National Fieldays will have a little more money in their pockets and we anticipate a flow-on effect to others in the rural communities.”
Ravensdown is also cutting the price of its mainline NPKS inputs. From 10 June, a tonne of potash or urea costs 6% less and granular ammonium sulphate is 9% less. Superphosphate also moves down from $319 to $309 per tonne.
“This price cut is not about shifting more tonnages, but about being more effective and building confidence. The amount of major nutrients we recommend is determined by independent soil testing, computer modelling and input from trained advisors,” says Campbell.
“As a cooperative, our policy is to advise our owners to apply only what’s needed.”
Campbell believes poor quality can be a false economy.
“Prilled urea is good if you’re planning to scatter it by hand, but costly if you’re going back and forth more often in a spreading truck.
Similarly a compacted ammo sulphate will break up and become dusty a lot faster than a strong granule.”
“The early rebate, price competitiveness and spread-ready quality are all about helping farmers optimise value from the land.
“Ravensdown continues to see annual growth in new member shareholders. Hundreds of new shareholders have joined us in the past year.”
This shows the appeal of the cooperative model remains strong, Campbell says.
Rural trader PGG Wrightson has revised its operating earnings guidance, saying trading conditions have deteriorated since the last market update in February.
It's been a bumper season for maize and other supplements in the eastern Bay of Plenty.
Leading farmers from around New Zealand connected to share environmental stories and inspiration and build relationships at the Dairy Environment Leaders (DEL) national forum in Wellington last month.
AgriZeroNZ, a joint venture fast-tracking emissions reduction tools for farmers, is pouring $5 million in a biotech company to develop a low emissions farm pasture with increased productivity gains.
Fonterra is teaming up with wealth app provider Sharesies to make it easier for its farmer shareholders to trade co-op shares among themselves.
Te Awamutu dairy farmers Doug, Penny, Josh and Bayley Storey have planted more than 25,000 native trees on the family farm, adding to a generations-old native forest.