July 6 2011

The Fertiliser Quality Council (FQC) today released a DVD at the New Zealand Groundspread Fertilisers Association Conference in Masterton giving the reasons farmers should only use Spreadmark accredited spreaders when applying fertiliser. The DVD features Professor Ian Yule from the Centre for Precision Agriculture at Massey University.

FQC president, Neil Barton, said the DVD was an important tool in the march towards precise accuracy when spreading fertiliser.

“We only want to apply fertiliser where it is needed to replenish the soil,” Neil Barton said. “We don’t want it spread on roads, in streams or on a neighbour’s paddock.

“Further Massey research has shown inaccurate spreading can cost a farmer a good $50 a hectare in lost grass. In today’s conditions that is a lot of money.

“What the DVD shows is that farmers need to use Spreadmark accredited spreaders to be environmentally responsible as well as growing more grass. Non-Spreadmark operators may try to compete on price but that will, invariably, involve short cuts. It is, simply, false economy.

“Farmers need to know that Spreadmark accredited operators have trained drivers or pilots, their trucks or planes have been independently audited for spreading patterns and the company has also been audited for proper procedures.

“Given the way the international food trade is developing the requirement to use quality assurance schemes such as Spreadmark is inevitable. I believe the trendsetters in New Zealand agriculture are already benefitting from Spreadmark use,” Neil Barton said.

The DVD is available on the FQC website -

www.fertqual.co.nz.

ENDS

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