Business Rural North Spring 2024

58 | Unlocking the full potential of your soil Directors Julia Uffindell and Fred Harvey. Karen Phelps In the quest for sustainable and productive farming, a humble substance is making a big difference to farmers’ operations Humates, organic compounds derived from ancient plant matter, are helping farmers unlock the full potential of their soil and boost crop yields while reducing environmental impact. “Humates are essentially the world’s oldest form of compost,” says Julia Uffindell, Director of New Zealand Humates. “They’re incredibly rich in carbon and contain humic and fulvic acids, which have a profound effect on plant growth and soil health.” Founded in 2006 in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand Humates has been at the forefront of introducing this technology to Kiwi farmers. The company sources its raw humates from high-quality deposits in Victoria, Australia, known for their elevated levels of fulvic compounds. According to Julia, the benefits of humates are multifaceted. “Humates increase plant growth, sugar content, and yields through deeper root growth and enhanced nutrient capture capacity,” she explains. “They also promote healthier soils by stimulating microbial activity and increasing levels of organic matter.” One of the most significant advantages of humates is their ability to improve fertiliser efficiency. “Humates can unlock tightly held nutrients in the soil. This allows for improved fertiliser effectiveness, which can substantially reduce costs for farmers and growers.” Environmental benefits are another key factor driving the adoption of humates. With increasing concerns about nutrient runoff and its impact on waterways, humates offer a promising solution. “Humates have a high cation exchange capacity,” Julia explains. “This means they can hold onto nutrients in the soil, reducing leaching RURAL SERVICES » NZ Humates WHY do we do what we do? We help clients identify and get straight to the point of legal issues. We provide a simple straight up summary to enable informed decision making. When we satisfy our Why, you have certainty and knowing your best interests are always first and foremost. We also do other stuff, like rural business and commercial activity, wills, property law, trust law. Give Terry a call for a straight up chat and see Why we can help you. 0221626198 | Terry@ablaw.co.nz | www.ablaw.co.nz PUKETOTARA SHEEP STUD Breeding performance recorded Romney, Poll Dorset and Black face rams. These three fl ocks are all tested for Facial Eczema tolerance, and worms. Get the benefi t of these quality genetics in your fl ock. Contact: Ken and Rebecca Haywood 07 877 8586 Email: krhaywood@farmside.co.nz – Romney and keeping those valuable elements available for plants when they need them.” Climate change mitigation is yet another potential benefit. “Humates can help increase soil retention of CO2 by building up soil organic matter, we’re Book your free consultation today: www.akeaccounting.co.nz 07 307 0099 Unlocking potential Proud to partner with NZ Humates Strategic Planning Business Advisory Land Use Studies Māori Trust Administration Tax Planning Business Valuation

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