66 | Waikato / King Country - Trade services & equipment directory Agricultural Contracting DICKIE DIRECT J.W.CARSTON CONTRACTORS LTD AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS JOSH 021 921 196 GRASS/CEREAL & MAIZE HARVESTING ´ BALEAGE & HAY CULTIVATION ´ DIRECT DRILLING ´ EARTH MOVING ´ MANURE & EFFLUENT SPREADING ´ SUPPLEMENT FOR SALE • BALING / WRAPPING • GROUNDWORK / FULL CULTIVATION • DRILLING • CARTAGE • CHOPPING • CROP SPRAYING • LIQUID FERTILISER SPRAYING • LOADER WAGON • MAIZE PLANTING / STRIP TILLAGE Mike: 021 942 120 • Chris: 021 942 121 • Office: 07 871 9565 agreymer@gmail.com • www.reymerag.co.nz 768 Pironga Rd, RD6, Te Awamutu REYMER AG Testing gear in the Spreadmark scheme at a recent Spreadmark promotional day in Fielding ( photo by Jim Laird of Manawatu Mini Spreaders ). The Spreadmark scheme is a voluntary fertiliser placement quality assurance programme, that guarantees accurate fertiliser distribution by trained operators, using spreading machinery and a management system that puts economic and environmental farmer/grower outcomes first. Established by the NZ Groundspread Fertiliser Association in 1994, the Spreadmark programme was subsequently expanded by a group representing Federated Farmers, the NZGFA, New Zealand Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA), fertiliser companies and the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand (FANZ). The Spreadmark scheme operates closely with its sister scheme, Fertmark. The two schemes operate to ensure that high quality fertiliser is manufactured, mixed and spread in a way that precision agriculture is fostered and the environment is protected. Governed by the NZ Fertiliser Quality Council (FQC), Spreadmark’s Code of Practice is currently under review. Tony Michelle, NZAAA Executive Officer and one of the leaders of the review says the Code has been heavily weighted towards agronomic outcomes in terms of quality and evenness of spread, and was not robust in terms of the environmental risk management elements. “That is one of the main drivers for its review, especially given the amount of environmental regulation that we have coming down the pipe in terms of freshwater management and sensitive areas. In terms of environmental stewardship, the Code as it is being reviewed, identifies where the risks are in terms of fertiliser going where it is not wanted, and provides the tools for applicators to ensure that they manage those risks. The revised code will support Spreadmark’s four pillars; having the right product, in the right place, at the right time and at the right rate.” The review, will take into account the expectations and interests of a wide range of stakeholders and is being undertaken by representatives from each of the stakeholder groups. “Farmers and growers are key stakeholders because of their own environmental risk management obligations, the quality of fertiliser application, and their expectations of us as applicators,” says Tony. “Environmental regulators responsible for implementing the environmental and freshwater management regulations currently being set by Government are a key target audience of the revised code. Producers and processors exporting to overseas markets are another important audience for the revised code. More and more we are seeing overseas customers and regulators placing demands on processors or exporters, wanting to know how the food was produced and whether it was produced in an environmentally sustainable manner. Once the processors place demands on the farmers/growers, the farmer/growers will place demands on their contractors. So that will be a big driver of the uptake of Spreadmark by applicators.” But Tony makes the point that the code is also very much about meeting the expectations of the general public in New Zealand. “If we want to continue to have a social licence to operate as fertiliser applicators we have to bring the general public along with us. If we do not, the pressure will come on us and the environmental regulators will write rules that will further limit things like fertilisers. Beef + Lamb New Zealand estimate that the application of fertiliser to pastoral hill country farms adds $2.75b to New Zealand’s GDP. If fertiliser was to cease being applied to hill country New Zealand, Richard Loader Accurate distribution always assured the productivity would be halved in a five-year period. But it’s also important that we meet the environmental aspects, by not contaminating waterways, wetlands or sensitive areas where the regulators and the public don’t want to see fertiliser applied.” Following three days of intensive workshops, the group charged with reviewing the code are now awaiting the collation of the output which will be put to FQC for ratification in early May. “Our target time to have the review completed and ratified is the end of June this year.” RURAL SERVICES » NZGS Spreadmark
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