72 | RURAL SERVICES » Mainland Minerals - Southern Customised mixes can go a long way They’ve been working closely with the farming community for long enough (since 1938) to have a deep understanding of the ups and downs. Virginia Wright With their headquarters in Gore, Mainland Minerals Southern supply their custom-made fertiliser mixes to farms from the Waitaki River to the bottom of the South Island and everywhere in between. Paying close attention to the results of soil tests from different paddocks across the farm they’ll apply their customised fertiliser mixes, whether fine- particle, granular or a mix of both, from a ground spread truck, a plane or a helicopter as required. They’ve been working closely with the farming community for long enough (since 1938) to have a deep understanding of the ups and downs farmers, especially sheep and beef farmers, have been facing in the last few years. With things starting to improve a little they’re hoping that farmers who may have held off fertilising while things were tough will be able to play catch-up. “But the key thing is understanding exactly what to catch up. So we soil test first to understand what each paddock or block of paddocks needs, because across the farm there’s often two or three different types of nutrient status that need different mixes. Then we customise the mix specifically to give you the best bang for your buck, and if you want it to be organic we can do that too,” explains co-owner Murray Cockburn. Mainland Minerals combine their products depending on what your soil’s nutrient pantry needs, with an in-depth service provided by their trained and experienced people who meet with farmers to walk the farm and get an understanding of what those nutrient needs are. That first-hand look along with the results of the soil tests means their recommendations are accurately suited to the individual farm’s needs. “We want to understand you and the philosophy of your farm, and understand your nutrient status across the farm, so that’s why we come in person whether you’re farming 50 hectares, 400 hectares or 4000. We’ll interpret the soil tests’ results with you so that you only put on the fertiliser you need and nothing you don’t,” says Murray. They’ll spread the right fertiliser customised to the right area on your farm to offer a sustainable, economically viable solution to fertiliser needs over both the short and the long term. Their fine particle fertiliser helps with other issues such as nutrient leaching at the same time, Murray explains. “We grind ag lime and all the other nutrients down to a really fine powder, mix it into a slurry and spray paint it over the pasture so it works differently. It’s typically not water soluble so it doesn’t leach and you don’t end up risking losing half of it when it rains like you can with Super Phosphate which is up to 82% water soluble phosphate. With our granular phosphate we reduce that to less than 35% and our fine particle phosphate is fully non-water soluble and available within the first week to a month. We do phosphate retention tests when we’re figuring out what sort of soil you have across your farm, how full or empty the soil’s nutrient pantry is, and then what we need to feed into that pantry to make sure that the plants and animals feeding above perform the best they can.” Dairy farmers increasingly use Mainland Minerals for their fertiliser needs, recognising over time that it helps lift milk production, reduce metabolic issues and improve empty rates. Mainland Minerals Southern help to ensure the productivity gains from fertilising correctly, by oversowing at the same time with clover and cocksfoot which produce nitrogen which feeds the surrounding grasses and makes the pasture more Proudly supporting Mainland Minerals palatable to the stock grazing it, whether beef or sheep or dairy. Whatever the farm is, with a reputation built on personal service, credibility and trust, Mainland Minerals do what they say they’re going to do, doing their bit to help farmers and the environment at one and the same time. • Improve soil Health and Performance • Improve Yield • Enhance Fertiliser Inputs • Improve Root Structure • Improve Germination • Reduce Soil Compaction • Improve Organic Matter Breakdown P. 03 374 6323 E. paul@emnz.co.nz W. www.emnz.com EM will improve yield and performance in agriculture through enhancing soil biological activity and fertiliser inputs.
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