Source Of Concentrated ‘P’ Revealed

10 September, 2004

Source Of Concentrated ‘P’ Revealed

Ballance Agri-Nutrients has confirmed the secret behind its premium superphosphate superten containing 7% higher concentrations of phosphate than any other superphosphate in New Zealand.

Chief Executive Larry Bilodeau says Ballance has chosen to confirm that Morocco is the exclusive source of its phosphate (‘P’) rock after recent focus groups showed some farmers did not understand how Ballance was able to achieve higher phosphate levels in superten.

“It is vital that farmers can rely on consistently high performance to achieve best practice land management and outstanding productivity. For that reason, five years ago, Ballance committed to finding a source of phosphate of the highest quality and consistency, in order to deliver a product that farmers could trust. We ended up in Morocco, and established a relationship with OCP a mining company there that ensures a supply of consistently superior phosphate rock.”

Independent industry body Fertmark, has certified that superten contains 7% higher concentrations of ‘P’ than any other superphosphate on the market. Mr Bilodeau says this independent recognition is an important step in assisting farmers to identify the difference between the many fertilisers available.

“Farmers can have the confidence to regularly spread less superten than if they were using other superphosphates, and still expect a consistently high-yielding result. Farmers immediately see an impact on costs such as cartage and spreading. For example, we calculate that for every 200ha fertilised, farmers can put about $450 back into their pockets, and that’s without calculating the savings on their time.”

“This is the rationale behind going as far as Morocco to find a single source of rare high concentrated phosphate rock. We couldn’t give farmers the same peace of mind if we went to the open market.

“Sustainable farming is about balance, which we can help farmers achieve through our ‘growing know how’ as a specialist fertiliser company. Like all our products designed with sustainable farming in mind, superten is backed up by our on-farm advice about how, when, where, and what volume to apply.”

ENDS

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