Brief history of Ballance Agri-Nutrients
From a small beginning in the Bay of Plenty, Ballance Agri-Nutrients has grown into New Zealand’s leading supplier of agri-nutrients, selling around 1.5 million tonnes a year. A series of mergers, culminating in the bringing together three iconic regional fertiliser businesses; BOP Fertiliser, Petrochem and SouthFert, created a national business renowned for the quality of its products and service and knowledgeable, dedicated staff. The company name originates with the New Zealand Prime Minister of the late 1890s (John Ballance) who oversaw the legislation leading to New Zealand’s rapid conversion to a farming-based economy.
R&D is a top priority for Ballance, spending well over $1 million annually on product research within New Zealand; working closely with research organisations such as AgResearch and the Fertiliser Manufacturers Research Association. Much of this research is focussed on how the extensive range of specialist products can be best applied to the diverse soils, pasture types, topography and mini/micro climates that are a feature of the varied farming systems in New Zealand today. State-of-the-art business tools and decision support software programmes that match the latest research to specific local solutions, back up the countrywide R&D programme. Ballance also promotes sustainable, environmental farming practices and has sponsored the national Ballance Environmental Farm Awards for many years.
Production Capability
In support of the field based sales activity is a widespread manufacturing operation. Three phosphate manufacturing plants based at Mount Maunganui, Invercargill and Whangarei process raw materials sourced from around the world into products tailored to New Zealand’s unique farming environment.
In addition, Ballance operates New Zealand's only ammonia urea plant, at Kapuni, in the energy and dairy rich province of Taranaki. Substantially upgraded in 1997, the former Petrochem facility now manufactures approximately half of Ballance's requirement for urea and urea products under the brand name n-rich.
Super Air (one of New Zealand's largest agricultural aviation businesses, operating 16 aircraft), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ballance. Ballance owns a 40% stake New Zealand's third largest fertiliser company, Summit-Quinphos.
Ballance is committed to providing all you need to grow.
For more information or to contact CRT Fertiliser, please call 0800 106 460 or email: fert@crt.co.nz