64 | “Farmers can grow more dry matter from less nitrogen, while significantly reducing the environmental footprint.” BALEAGE, HAY & STRAW BALING, SPECIALISING IN FILMON FILM STRAW AND CONVENTIONAL HAY BALES FOR SALE | EFFLUENT SPREADING FERTILISER SPREADING VIA ONE SYSTEM & BULKY | CULTIVATION, DIRECT DRILLING & PRECISION PLANTING SERVICES | PASTURE RENOVATION | DIGGER WORK NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL For all your contracting requirements call Jim0272328203or Kenny 0210567650 for ano-obligationquote Proud to be associatedwith FertWholesaleDirect Ltd 03 236 2897 www.gladvalefarms.co.nz Delivering honest, prescriptive fertiliser solutions grounded in science Proudly Partnering with farmers to • Balance Soil • Increase Profit • Improve Animal Health • Develop Nutrient Rich Plants Contact Us Today o ice@fertlink.co.nz fertlink.co.nz Another product, SOP PK (Phosta K), includes three forms of potassium sourced sustainably from the Indonesian sugarcane industry. “I bring these products in because I’m focused on nutrient efficiency,” Shane says. “The trouble is that not all fertiliser players do this.” Alongside his work at Fert Wholesale Direct, Shane is also a director of Pastoral Robotics, the company behind Spikey, the tow-behind machine designed to detect cow urine patches and treat them with a spray. Urine patches are one of the biggest sources of nitrous oxide emissions on New Zealand dairy farms, and Spikey’s ability to target and neutralise them has been described as a potential game-changer for the sector. A robotic version of Spikey, the first of its kind, is now under development. “It will be able to come in after the cows have gone and treat urine spots automatically, without any people being involved,” Shane says. “That’s where we need to be – using technology to get ahead, not playing catch-up.” Shane is also backing a new project in Ashburton that converts organic waste streams into stock feed and fertiliser, while producing electricity for the national grid. He says this initiative represents another step towards making better use of what New Zealand already produces. “We’ve got to use what we grow more efficiently,” he says. “Turning waste into valuable products for farmers is a big part of that.” With overseas fertiliser companies racing ahead in nutrient efficiency, Shane is determined that New Zealand farmers are not left behind. He says adopting technologies like ONEsystem®, Spikey, and the Ashburton waste-to-feed project will be critical to ensuring local agriculture remains globally competitive. RURAL SERVICES » Fert Wholesale Direct Ltd • from page 62
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