| 109 Technology key to growth & success Green Fertiliser Spreading extends its business over a large area, from Rangitata to the Rakaia River. Sue Russell All Darren’s gear is certified with Spreadmark: “We’re affiliated with them and it means we have access to Synlait properties that demand the contractor carries the Spreadmark credentials.” RURAL SERVICES » Green Spreading Darren Green, of Ashburton based GFS Ltd bought his business in 2001. Today Darren has a team of three working in the company. He says keeping abreast of technology has been key to it’s growth and success. “We use Trimble and Top Con Guidance, Tracmap job management and reporting for farmers to use in their record taking for audits. Darren recalls the amount of change and innovation that the industry has absorbed. He remembers using foam to mark out width of rows he’d be working on whereas today its all guided by onboard GPS tracking systems. “Today, you’re out to really wide widths and today all the systems are computerised, so our operators know exactly what to apply, in what quantity and where. There’s no room for error.” Even to the point where a truck can’t be turned on if it has any fertiliser left in it having completed a variable rate job. He’s satisfied with the gear and technologies on board the fleet these days. In a competitive industry its small differences that have a big impact on the success of the company. One example of this is that Darren had installed some 20 years ago a boundary spread facility on all the trucks. It means no fertiliser is applied into waterways or over fences and lane ways. It’s a busy working life too, with just three months of the year when fertiliser isn’t applied. “That’s when we do important maintenance May through July and once the ground starts warming up and crops need to be put in the ground, we’re off on another season.” With fertiliser prices at an all-time high and supply delays Darren knows his clients need the very best value of service from his team. He has also remained loyal to his brand of machinery including Isuzu trucks fitted with Boundary Systems and Tyre Deflation as well as Bredal and Bogballe spreaders. When conditions are very wet underfoot the trucks tires can be centrally deflated, spreading the weight of them across a larger area. “The winter weather was very wet yet by midSeptember it was just about time to turn the irrigation on. That’s how quickly the soil dried out.” He’s also been really happy to have had such long-serving staff, each staying with him for more than 10 years. Green Fertiliser Spreading extends its business over a large area, from Rangitata to the Rakaia River and from the hills to the sea. All Darren’s gear is certified with Spreadmark, an industry benchmark standard. “We’re affiliated with them and it means we have access to Synlait properties that demand the contractor carries the Spreadmark credentials.” Each job on a paddock is digitally sent by Tracmap to the truck’s Ipad and Darren’s role is to ensure the job is sent to where the machinery is closest at the time, cutting down on driver hours on the road to get to the farm. Looking back on the journey to date Darren says key to his success has been building up a very loyal clientele he services year in year out and having a great team on board. “We’ve been working on some properties so long, they know our standard and we know what they need. We just get on and do the job!” 0800 EUROAG EUROAGRI.CO.NZ ANOTHER BREDAL SPREADER SUPPORTING GREEN SPREADING TO ACHIEVE SPREADING EXCELLENCE Noel Macdonald Territory Manager Ashburton and Timaru M 021 948 289 E noel@smallboneisuzu.co.nz W smallboneisuzu.co.nz 2 Watson Street, Riverside Industrial Park, Ashburton www.wilmech.co.nz 027 287 6725 For all your Mechanical, Auto Electrical, Air Conditioning & hydraulic hose repair jobs. Wilmech also carry out all CoF pre-inspections & repair work, with fully up-to-date diagnostic equipment enabling us to carry out all forms of electrical diagnostic work. We have a full mobile service allowing us to come to you for on-site work. Proudly supporting Green Spreading
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