84 | Smart fertiliser solutions closely linked Richard Loader RURAL SERVICES » Fert Solutions Entering its fourth year of operation, Mid Canterbury agricultural contractor, Fert Solutions, is one of those endearing family owned and operated businesses that have blossomed through a strong desire to make a difference for the farming community. Arable and dairy support farmers Ricky and Rebecca Taylor could see change was needed in the fertiliser industry. While liquid fertiliser is popular overseas, it was not commonly used in New Zealand and the couple saw an opportunity for Kiwi farmers to make better use of it. “A key driver for us starting the business was how we could help farmers be more ef cient in their fertiliser use and reduce the impact on the environment,” says Rebecca. “Liquid fertiliser has a quicker uptake by the plant and therefore there’s less leaching and less volatilisation into the atmosphere.” While the business was established to apply liquid fertilisers, in year-two the business expanded into granular fertiliser so that the whole range of fertiliser application methods could be offered to the growing customer base. “Our business is about working with our clients to understand their fertiliser needs and helping them work to be more ef cient with their fertiliser,” explains Ricky. “Fertiliser is getting more expensive and with the restrictions on how much you can now apply, we can help with the journey farmers are on to apply less by being smarter with the use of their fert. Soil health is the key to growing good pasture and crops. We work closely with a lot of soil experts across the industry and apply what they recommend, based on soil testing to understand the current nutrient levels.” Based in May eld, Fert Solutions operates throughout Mid Canterbury for the full gamut of farming clients including dairy, sheep and beef and arable, and farms of all sizes. “We’ve grown largely through reputation and word of mouth,” Rebecca says. “It’s the service that our clients are looking for and that’s what we feel we can provide, along with a relationship. It’s about understanding their needs, their business, and building good working relationships with the clients’ agronomists. Ricky has been working with farmers in this district for twenty years in other contracting businesses. It’s not just our understanding of our own farming business, that helps, we understand the broad range of farming businesses.” Along with service, the machinery and technology utilised by Fert Solutions provides a real point of difference. “We now have two liquid fert machines,” says Ricky. “One is a tow-and-fert machine in which we’re able to mix granular fertiliser and minerals with water and spray it on to a paddock in suspension. We have a boom sprayer new this season which just sprays a liquid. And we have two spreader trucks that spread granular fert, enabling us to do all fertilisers, as well as lime. “We also offer variable rate spreading, so that different amounts of fertiliser can be used in different places on a paddock. This year with the new sprayer we’re able to do variable rate liquid fertiliser, which can provide more precision around environmentally sensitive areas, so we can turn spray nozzles off over creeks and drains.” Re ecting on the success and growth of their business, the couple say the service offered to their clients, along with the options and quality of job have been key factors. “It’s also thinking ahead all the time, in terms of where the industry is heading and how we can help our clients continuously improve with their fert application, and not just do what has always been done. We’re also part of a reasonably small community in May eld and being part of our community is another key part of our business.” Arabale and dairy support farmers Ricky and Rebecca Taylor run Fert Solutions.
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