Tim Gurney at the Cowell site where Agfert will soon start building its EP facility. Photo: Agfert

SOUTH Australian family company Agfert Fertilizers has announced plans to build a distribution centre at Cowell to service growers on Eyre Peninsula.

The EP model is based closely on Agfert’s home operation at Balaklava in SA’s Mid North which has been operating for almost 50 years and sources product imported direct from manufacturer via Port Adelaide.

Fertiliser bound for the depot west of the Cowell township will be imported via the private port of Whyalla, which Agfert chief  business growth and relations officer Tim Gurney said is supportive of new business and extra revenue.

Mr Gurney is coordinating the EP supply chain and site, with earthworks expected to start in coming weeks ahead of opening in time for seeding next year.

He said Agfert’s facility at Cowell will offer an alternative to the existing “bottom up” EP supply chain founded on bulk imports arriving into Port Lincoln, 165km south of Cowell.

“Ours is built on a top down and across approach, and that’s something new,” Mr Gurney said.

Agfert’s Cowell site will include an 80m automated weighbridge and nearly 1ha under cover, with a high-capacity loading plant at its centre.

Mr Gurney said EP growers will have the option to reduce their exposure to price volatility by being able to buy product at a low decile value and store it for free at the Cowell site for use the following season.

“With EP’s trends of product unavailability heightening risks for growers, this new facility will give surety of supply and lower their risks substantially.

“EP farmers know the benefits of supply-chain competition and with Agfert being in control of our purchasing, importation, local stock levels, pricing and distribution, it will give EP growers the confidence and product security they’ve been looking for.

“We’ll work alongside our customers and resellers; it’s a partnership.

“It’ll be an impressive facility that will be user friendly and offer a large range of product blends and treatments.”

N-Shield part of offering

Mr Gurney said Agfert’s Cowell facility will support clients who use soil-test results to calculate types and amounts of fertiliser required at planting, and during the grower season.

“We want to offer EP farmers high levels of customer service, and industry-leading products like N-Shield along with all the straight products, blends and treatments.”

Agfert sales manager Ryan Wood talks to two interested growers at last week’s Eyre Peninsula Field Days at Cleve. Photo: Agfert

N-Shield is one of Agfert’s leading products.

Rather than using a micro-plastic coating to reduce the risk of volatilisation into the atmosphere, and leaching into groundwater, it uses a solvent-based treatment absorbed by each granule.

Apart from its environmental benefits, N-Shield keeps nitrogen within the root zone for longer, therefore promoting better plant take-up and growth.

N-Shield builds on technology developed by Belgium-based company Solvay, and allows growers more flexibility in terms of timing of application.

Trials have shown that fertiliser rates can be reduced by up to 25pc to return crop yield increases of 5-15pc, and with a halving of greenhouse gas emissions.

Agfert Fertilizers is owned and operated by Grant and Megan Jaeschke, who also farm roughly 4500ha around Clare in SA’s Mid North.

“As experienced farmers, we are well aware of growers’ needs and our Agfert business ethics are firmly centred around those needs,” Agfert director Grant Jaeschke said.

“If there’s two things farmers really care about, it’s the land they farm and the bank accounts that help them do that,” Mr Jaeschke said.

“N-Shield delivers an immediately positive outcome for both those things.”

Source: Agfert