Ballance celebrates 50th Anniversary at Fieldays

15 June 2005

Ballance celebrates 50th Anniversary at Fieldays

Ballance Agri-Nutrients is celebrating 50 years in the fertiliser business at this year’s Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek, Hamilton.

Corporate communications manager Peter Mourits says the 100% farmer-owned co-operative is proud of its history and the role it has played in the development of New Zealand agriculture.

“Fifty years in any industry in New Zealand is a long period of time. The agricultural industry is one of the oldest in this country, and Ballance has been at the forefront of developing the fertiliser sector in support of the growth and development of New Zealand’s highly efficient world-class farming systems. Farmers in New Zealand should be proud of their achievements and contribution to the growth of our economy. It is important we take time to celebrate our past achievements and tell the stories of those who were involved” says Mr Mourits. “We are also looking ahead to the next 50 years and the important part we have to play in the continued development of Agriculture in this country.”

“Traditionally, agricultural people are also strongly community focused people, which is part of what makes this industry so rewarding. To reflect and honour that community tradition, and Ballance’s part in it, our Fieldays site is a time-warp back to a 1950s community hall. It looks like the sort of place where people met to vote on whether to forge a new co-operative called Bay of Plenty Fertiliser over tea and scones.

“We have also produced a paper called the Ballance Tribune, which is a one-off publication stylised as a 1950s publication including old-style advertising. With its mix of historical stories and the latest in fertiliser information, the Tribune is a good showpiece for what the co-operative prides itself on today – leading into the future based on a rich history,” Mr Mourits says.

Further celebrations are being organised for later in the year, to coincide with the co-operative’s Annual Meeting.

Bay of Plenty Fertiliser, a Tauranga-based fertiliser co-operative, and Southland based SouthFert Co-operative were both formed in 1955. These co-operatives merged in 1997 and today trade as Ballance Agri-Nutrients with 18,000 shareholders, four manufacturing plants, and a comprehensive distribution network with stores and personnel to cover all regions of the country.

ENDS

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