60 | Technology revolutionises spreading business Johnston Spreading has a full range of trucks capable of spreading any material, from solid fert through to various sizes of granulated product as well as organic fertiliser compounds. Bruce Johnston established his Otorohangabased fertiliser spreading business given requests from farmers in his local area to offer the service and after 10 years on the road driving trucks, this opportunity seemed to come along at just the right time. Buying a second-hand truck was the beginning of what, 17 years later, has grown into a team of Bruce, and three owner-drivers, with another driver due to begin in February. Johnston Spreading covers an area extending south to Benneydale, west to Marokopa, Kawhia on the coast, and north through to Te Pahu and Te Awamutu. The brand of choice is Mercedes-Benz which Bruce says he’s found in his driving history to be good reliable trucks. “They are especially good on the steeper inclines where you need an experienced driver and good machinery to get the job done well. We generally maintain the eet ourselves and, when needed, call on the specialist at Mercedes- Benz to repair anything beyond our capability.” RURAL SERVICES » Johnston Spreading Ltd Sue Russell Bruce says that Autumn is a busy time in the year, though after the break over winter, when ground conditions don’t permit too much spreading, the rest of the year is reasonably full-on. Still actively driving most days the plan is that when the next owner-driver joins the team Bruce will step back a little and do more admin and despatch work – that remains to be seen! Drivers are not easy to come by Bruce says. “It’s one thing to be pro cient on the road but when you’re on farms operating a spreader truck it requires a different set of skills that not all drivers possess.” The purchase of a new trailer over winter means that Bruce is pretty well set up for the next few years. He has also just bought a second-hand orchard spreader, sensing that more and more land will be converted into orchards in his region of one form or another. And over the course of his history operating the business Bruce says technologies have evolved hugely, with onboard highly sophisticated pin-point accuracy eld placement software, ensuring farmer clients know exactly where the fertiliser has been applied. “We have Trac Map systems in all the trucks which provides proof of placement for our clients. BULK SPREADERS AND TRAILERS Peter Harrison 06 278 3054 or 027 448 0802 Regent Street, Hawera Made in NZ with NZ components for NZ conditions • Prompt backup service • Drawbeams • Roll bars • Bumpers • Chassis alteration Proudly Supporting Johnston Spreading Ltd Custom built bins and trailers & all associated truck and trailer work We do a lot of dairy work and this information is required by the factories they supply milk to.” The use of computers has also revolutionised how Bruce organises his team of drivers and engages with farmers, as he explains. “Farmers load their farm maps on to Trac Map and that information comes through to the truck so we know exactly where on a farm we’re spreading and the quantities. In this way, it’s a very ef cient working model backed up with hard data to prove we’ve done what we’ve been contracted to do.” Bruce has a full range of trucks capable of spreading any material from solid fert through to various sizes of granulated product as well as organic fertiliser compounds. Bruce says he’s pleased with the current size and capability of the team and the equipment they use. “We’ve grown a solid core of loyal customers who know we understand their farming needs and that we’ll just get on and get the job done in the best possible time.
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