SQ fights back over downplayed SustaiN trial

For immediate release

3 July 2009

SQ fights back over downplayed SustaiN trial

Summit-Quinphos is fighting back over claims by the NDDT and DairyNZ that its coated urea product SustaiN did not out-perform standard urea in a recent NDDT trial.

Dr Jamie Blennerhassett, SQ's Technical Services Manager, says he is at a loss as to why DairyNZ chose to downplay the positive SustaiN results by averaging across all Agrotain rates.

"The purpose of the trial was after all to test whether there was an extra benefit at 1L/t - the commercial rate used by SQ to manufacture SustaiN, compared to other Agrotain rates.

"It isn't a surprise to see that there was less benefit at application rates other than 1 L/t - this is exactly what we told them before the trial. But it is amazing to read DairyNZ downplaying this by saying the best performed Agrotain treatment (SustaiN) in the trial 'produced only an extra 240 kg/DM'.

"That's a great response, which when converted into milk solids could deliver a net benefit from SustaiN of more than $50/ha compared to standard urea. That's what farmers buy SustaiN for - to boost pasture yield and convert that into saleable product."

Dr Blennerhassett says DairyNZ downplayed the benefits of SustaiN by choosing to average across all Agrotain application rates, even though SQ told them beforehand that 1L/t was the SustaiN manufacture rate and the rate they should be focusing on.

"SQ has never made claims for other rates of Agrotain addition. SustaiN is made at 1 L/t and the results at 1 L/t in this trial are in line with what has been found in other trials and show a significant financial benefit from using SustaiN."

ENDS

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