| 61 Productivity begins with soil balance FertLink works across the South Island with five very qualified consultants on the ground. Kelly Deeks RURAL SERVICES » Fert Link Across Otago and the wider South Island, an increasing number of farmers are turning their attention below ground, recognising that long term productivity begins with soil balance. For FertLink director Jeff Broomfield, that focus has shaped a business built on independent advice, biological principles, and prescriptive fertiliser programmes tailored to individual farms. FertLink, a subsidiary of AEL, began as a consulting service. Jeff says the move into product sourcing came from necessity. “A lot of the products we wanted to use simply were not available in New Zealand,” he says. “So instead of just writing a programme, we went away and sourced the nutrients farmers actually required.” Today, FertLink works across the South Island with five very qualified consultants on the ground, supporting livestock, cropping, horticulture, and viticulture operations. While the team is small, its reach is wide. The company also imports selected organic products which are wholesaled throughout New Zealand, providing guidance to distributors on how those products can be integrated into balanced soil programmes. Jeff says the company’s point of difference lies in its independence and its focus on soil chemistry and biology working together. “Mainstream fertiliser companies often sell on soluble exchange. But not all of that nutrient is used by the plant. It can break down soil biology and lead to nitrate and phosphate leaching into waterways,” he says. “Many of our farmers are looking at ways to reduce nitrogen losses and improve efficiency. If you get the nutrients right in the soil, the feed grows better, the animals are healthier, and ultimately the consumer is eating healthier crops and meat.” FertLink consultants are trained through Kinsey Agricultural Services and practise the Albrecht system of soil fertility, which emphasises nutrient balance and biological activity. Rather than applying blanket nitrogen applications, programmes are written to address limiting nutrients specific to each soil type. “Soil profiles across a single farm can be vastly different,” Jeff says. “We look at testing data, the farmer’s goals, and where they want to go. Sometimes we find excess calcium, or sulphur in a form that is not as available. It is about correcting imbalance, not just adding more.” Extensive trial work underpins the advice. Jeff says replicated trials in Otago, Canterbury, and Southland have demonstrated measurable reductions in nutrient leaching. Farmers, are you concerned about improving your fertiliser efficiency and environmental footprint? Then Fert Wholesale Direct Ltd can help. The ONE System which through independent trials shows a doubling of response to N. And more recently, our Revolutionary Compound Urea/SOA product where every granule contains both forms of N. Delivering honest, prescriptive fertiliser solutions grounded in science Proudly Partnering with Farmers to • Balance Soil • Increase Profit • Improve Animal Health • Develop Nutrient Rich Plants Contact Us Today fertlink.co.nz “In some cases we have reduced leaching by about 60 percent, and five years on the results are still consistent,” he says. “The research has been reviewed internationally, so the information is robust.” Much of that work has been undertaken voluntarily alongside farmers, avoiding the prohibitive costs associated with large scale institutional trials. “If farmers follow a balanced programme, over time they often apply less fertiliser than they used to. As soil structure and biology improve, nutrient efficiency improves. That saves money and reduces environmental risk.” For Jeff and the FertLink team, the objective remains simple: independent advice, balanced soils, and resilient farm systems. “We partner with farmers to improve productivity through knowledge and care,” he says. “When the soil is functioning properly, everything above it performs better.”
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