From Building On What's Going Well, To Keeping Your Consumer Front Of Mind: Top Kiwi Farmers Share Their Tips
The series was created by Ballance Agri-Nutrients and began with tips from Ballance Farm Environment Award ambassadors Hamish and Simon Guild, the two brothers behind High Peak Station, a deer, sheep and beef farm in Canterbury.
The brothers also featured on a recent episode of A New Zealand Food Story with Ben Bayly on TVNZ 1.
Ballance General Manager Customer Jason Minkhorst says the Tips for Good series was created as a way to share knowledge from people who've already 'trodden the path' in creating both sustainable and profitable farming practices.
'This year marks 30 years since we became part of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. We recognised that the previous winners have a huge amount of knowledge to share with the rest of the farming community; what's worked for them, what to watch out for,' he says.
'This was another way for us to bring that advice out to a wider audience.'
The series will run over the next several weeks across social media and through online channels and will feature farmer advice set amongst some stunning rural landscapes across New Zealand.
Jason adds the campaign speaks to the collective nature of the co-operative and its more than 16,000 shareholders.
'We're all in this together, and if our farmers and growers are winning, then so are we. We're much stronger as a collective than we are apart, so why not share what we've learned along the way,' he says.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Gas shortages force Taranaki business to temporarily close
A gas shortage could force a Taranaki business to shut down its fertiliser production plant for up to four months. Ballance Agri-Nutrients is warning if things dont improve, businesses maybe forced onto an energy roster, with rotating times for production. The Kapuni Plant uses gas to power their production and as a raw ingredient for fertiliser that is used by New Zealand farmers and growers. But a shortage of gas means the co-operative can't get a guaranteed supply and the prices quoted are up to 100% more than what they are currently paying. Chief Executive of Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Kelvin Wickham spoke to Lisa Owen. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Kapuni fertiliser plant may temporarily shut due to gas supply concerns
Ballance Agri-Nutrients Kāpuni plant may need to temporarily close. Photo: 123RF One of the country's biggest fertiliser plants may temporarily shut due to concerns about its gas supply. Ballance Agri-Nutrients said its Kāpuni plant might have to temporarily close, with a significant impact on jobs, if an affordable gas supply could not be secured. Chief executive Kelvin Wickham said it was planning for a shutdown of up to four months. He said the business was planning for a range of eventualities and working to keep options open should it not secure gas before its current contract ends on 30 September. "While New Zealand's gas market is dynamic, the increasing pace of declining gas supply and the impact of this on price will continue to pose challenges for the energy sector and for New Zealand. Although we remain optimistic about securing short-term supply, we're also pragmatic and planning for other outcomes. Right now, it's prudent to plan for a short-term shutdown. "We recognise the significant impact even a short-term shutdown would have on our employees, shareholders, the wider agricultural sector and the Taranaki regional economy," he said. "Like many businesses we're impacted by dwindling New Zealand gas supplies. "We've been working hard to secure a reliable gas supply agreement at a price that is affordable for the business and our shareholders as New Zealand farmers and growers. "Our current gas supply agreement expires at the end of September and without a reliable and affordable supply, we are unable to keep the plant operational." The Kāpuni urea plant, operational since 1982 and employing around 120 people, manufactures about a third or 260,000 tonnes of New Zealand's urea annually, specifically for use as a nitrogen-rich fertiliser. GasNZ declined to comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
7 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Grocery Action Group hits out at supermarkets as Kiwis keep paying high prices for groceries
The commission's report found New Zealanders paid 3% more for their groceries in 2023 than the OECD average. 'That puts us in the top five most expensive in the OECD,' Chetwin said. But the report said 2023 prices were closer to the OECD average than previous years. Kiwi shoppers were paying 9% above the OECD average for groceries in 2022, and 14% more in 2021. However, prices for goods in the 'milk, cheese, eggs' and 'fruits, vegetables, potatoes' categories were significantly higher in New Zealand than the OECD average. The report said it was a concern 'that many of the goods in these two categories are produced and sold domestically'. New Zealanders spent more than $27 billion at supermarkets and grocery stores in the year to June 30, 2024, up 5.3% compared with the previous 12 months. Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden said change in an industry this large and entrenched will take time and a deliberate, co-ordinated effort. 'In 2024, retail grocery prices appeared to have stabilised after years of significant growth, which was reflected in a slowing of the major supermarkets' gross margin growth, however, grocery prices remain higher than the OECD average,' van Heerden said. 'Recent data shows retail prices increasing again in 2025 ... there is more work to be done to improve competition.' The report also found barriers to entry for new competitors remain, while the major supermarket chains (run by Foodstuffs and Woolworths) continue to wield their power over smaller suppliers. In addition, the report highlighted geographical inequities in the two major supermarket chains' dominance. In Auckland, the major supermarkets hold 71% of the market compared to 88% in the rest of New Zealand, the report said. 'Consumers in Auckland and other main cities have a range of options, but consumers in smaller towns and rural areas typically have minimal to no choice within their locality, with some stores in small towns functioning as a localised monopoly,' van Heerden said. Supermarkets respond Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin said the co-op was making solid progress across key areas of regulatory reform. 'We back the intent of the still relatively new regulatory framework to drive competition, efficiency and better outcomes for New Zealand consumers,' Quin said. 'We've taken that responsibility seriously from day one and have put in place a broad programme of work to meet our obligations and make the system work well for customers, suppliers and retailers alike. 'Much of this work has been under way for some time and it's being delivered alongside our day-to-day focus on serving millions of customers a week, investing in new stores and technology and keeping our supply chain efficient and resilient.' Quin welcomed the commission's findings that competition in the grocery sector is more developed in areas with higher population density. 'We're pleased the commission has recognised that competition is strongest where demand and population support it, and that concerns about land holdings are not borne out by the evidence,' he said. 'We're focused on opening new stores and providing new jobs in small, remote and growing communities where the need is clear.' Foodstuffs South Island chief executive Mary Devine said the co-op's focus remained delivering for customers in all corners of the South Island and building enduring and trusted supplier relationships. 'The South Island presents unique logistical challenges due to its low population density – approximately eight people per square kilometre. 'Yes, we have supermarkets in cities and major towns, but we also have 37 stores that serve communities of less than 5000 people [and] 56 that serve communities of under 10,000 people and that's a responsibility we take seriously.' The Annual Grocery Report said 90% of Kiwis are within a 10-minute drive from a major supermarkets. Woolworths has been approached for comment.
