Business Rural Winter 2021

78 | High quality feed, when you need it Photos: Hot off the press: the team bag off another fresh ton of sheep nuts. Grain manager Cory Loper loads up for another delivery. Jordon Loper and manager Cory Loper. The South Otago Grain plant in Balclutha. Karen Phelps S outh Otago Grain Company manufactures its own stock feed products, designed by a nutritionist,with ingredients that are freshly sourced locally. This means high quality feed that farmers need, when they need it, says company general manager Cory Loper. The range of products includes sheep nuts, dairy feed, calf feed, hen mashes, horse feed, pig feed and whole grains. In order to offer farmers a com- prehensive service South Otago Grain Company can produce individual mixes as required to meet specific animal health requirements. “We can also put customers in contact with the right nutritionist if they are having a specific animal health issue to help them to find a formula to suit,” says Cory. Since 1970, when it began, South Otago Grain Company has built its reputation on giving farmers the right advice when it comes to their stock feed. This expertise is not surprising as the company was started by a group of local farmers to meet their own needs for grain drying and storage facilities. The company later purchased a stock feed busi- ness, which allowed it to offer an additional service. South Otago Grain Company is now owned by a group of local shareholders. South Otago Grain Company is the largest local grain drying, storage and stock feed manufacturer in Balclutha. The company’s longevity has made it a trusted name for local farmers, along with its experienced staff. South Otago Grain Company offers a coal fired dryer capable of drying three to four tonnes of grain per hour. Also offered are extensive storage facili- ties with capacity to hold around 3500 tonnes of grain. Silos are prepared before the grain is stored to ensure a quality product. South Otago Grain Company is a member of the New Zealand Feed Manufacturers Association, which represents the interests of almost all the stock feed manufacturing companies in the country. The Association works to establish industry standards for the production of compound feed that comply withall food safety requirements, and devel- ops and administers industry Codes of Practice and internal audit documents. On behalf of its members the NZFMA also collects and circulates technical information and statistics, promotes research and development RURAL SERVICES » South Otago Grain and industry training, which Cory says helps keep South Otago Grain up-to-date. South Otago Grain Company largely services clients within a 60 to 70 km radius of the business. The company has a small truck and can deliver if required including bulk delivery into silos. Located at 170 Owaka Highway, a mere two “We can also put customers in contact with the right nutritionist if they are having a specific animal health issue to help them to find a formula to suit.” kilometres from Balclutha, the South Otago Grain Company is farmers’ one stop shop for all their animal feed requirements.Although the company has the size and capacity to meet any customer demands it has still retained its focus as an ex- tremely personal local service, which Cory says is something customers highly value. “The know us, we know them and we under- stand their business. Those personal connections are important in the rural community and enable us to assist our clients to the high level so we have become instrumental in helping farmers in the South Otago region to feed their stock for over 50 years.” 0800 GOWASTE 0800 469 278 e: admin@jdsouness.co.nz w: www.jdsouness.co.nz Servicing Balclutha & Gore Areas WASTE SERVICES & TRANSPORT OPERATERS RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL PEST CONTROL DUNEDIN, OTAGO & SOUTHLAND SINCE 1979 Ph: 03 4880277 office@pestgone.nz www.pestgone.nz “Call the Best to Kill that Pest” Pest Management & Fumigation Specialists