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Ravensdown fertiliser
Ravensdown soil testing

Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia - Customer Call Centre 1800 624 122.

CANEGROWERS is encouraging all members to play their part in assisting this new competitor into the eastern seaboard market by purchasing their annual fertiliser requirements from Ravensdown. Ravensdown is looking into acceleration of permanent storage to service the sugarcane industry in regional Queensland if 2010/2011 as sales targets are met. The enormous support shown by CANEGROWERS members during Ravensdown's entry to the southeasten seaboard in 2009, has directly resulted in a range of positive changes to the entry level system offered by Ravensdown in its first year.

Good news from Ravensdown – existing shareholders can now continue to buy increased fertiliser tonnages from RFA without the need for upfront payment for additional shares. But you will still retain all the rebate advantages of the Australasian rebate and the Foundation Member Rebate up to the tonnage you held share quota for at 31 May 2011. Interested First time buyers should contact CANEGROWERS offices or the Ravensdown Customer Centre to place an order. RFA is currently undertaking a strategic review of the operation of its rebate schemes and a final decision is expected to be made by the end of November 2011.

Ravensdown customer centre: 1800 624 122.

The enormous support shown by CANEGROWERS members during Ravensdown's entry years has directly resulted in a range of positive changes to the entry level system offered by Ravensdown. CANEGROWERS is encouraging all members to play their part in assisting this new competitor into the eastern seaboard market by purchasing their annual fertiliser requirements from Ravensdown. There are also several new initiatives introduced as we progressively improve services and infrastructure for members. These include;

Minimizing the amount of paper-work we send to growers. Growers will only receive a flyer advertisement and a copy of the single sheet Early Planting offer letter
An extended planting product range. (We will be advising the ratoon mixes available for Ratooning in due course). Attached is a ‘cheat-sheet’ for office use. This compares opposition products against our newly branded ‘GrowMaster’ planting range to assist your staff.
Minimum ordering quantity of 3 Tonne. (Please note that orders from 3 – 10 tonne will attract a $5 per tonne handling fee)
A new bag will be introduced in 2011. These bags are made of a heavier grade material, have stronger straps, double the Australian UV standard, have a shorter discharge spout complete with a softer rope and are shorter but wider to accommodate growers lifting gear. All bags will now come supplied with a liner as standard which growers should see as cheap insurance following the issues experienced this past year. A sample of the bag will be available at the upcoming meetings. (The new bags will arrive shortly but in the meantime the last of the new 2010 model bags (with liners) will be used, so some growers who take delivery early this planting may receive last year’s model).
A new NPKS granule will form the base for the majority of our mixes. This new granule will supply the Sulphur component of which the Granular Sulphate of Ammonia provided last year. Some mixes will still contain Granular Sulphate of Ammonia which has been screened twice to remove dust but with our new ability to mix and despatch to farm quickly from our own premises in Townsville and Brisbane we are confident we have eliminated last year’s quality issues. A sample of the new granule will be available at the upcoming grower meetings.
Orders may be placed by contacting the Ravensdown Customer Centre by phone (1800 624 122), fax (1800 683 122) or email (customer.centre@ravensdown.co.nz), or at your CANEGROWERS office. A new order form (attached) for offices will simply require the growers details and fertiliser order filled in before emailing (or faxing) back to the Ravensdown Customer Centre team.
Terms and conditions of the offer will not be posted to growers but will be available from the Ravensdown Customer Centre or through CANEGROWER Offices on request. The terms and conditions will contain full pricing for the GrowMaster products and will be forwarded to offices shortly.

Ravensdown soil testing service

Just a year after fertiliser giant Ravensdown put its toe in the fertiliser market on the eastern seaboard, it has already set about its expansion program – launching a new soil test service very much at the behest of local growers. In addition they have consolidated their position in the Queensland and New South Wales market by adding to their local team, based out of Brisbane.

The announcement this week that Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia (RFA) has launched a best management practice compliant soil testing service was well received by cane growers up and down the coast. Ravensdown’s research scientist, Dr Alister Metherell and ARL’s Manager, Michael White have worked closely with Dr Bernard Schroeder of research and extension body, BSES Limited, to ensure the product being launched met the Australian industry’s rigorous best management practice guidelines, and the Queensland Government’s regulatory requirements, especially with the recent introduction of The Great Barrier Reef Protection Amendment Bill 2009 on 1 January 2010.

Cane growers are no strangers to soil sampling - a tool they use to determine input requirements. Crop inputs, including fertiliser which can account for up to a quarter of growers’ yearly spend, are expensive and soil testing is one tool growers can use to determine appropriate nutrients to maximise crop yields cost effectively. Soil testing assists growers to apply the right nutrients at the right time for the lowest cost.

This month, Bruce Keenan joins Ravensdown’s eastern-seaboard team as the Sales and Business Development Manager. Bruce has been charged with developing the Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia business for the sugarcane industry and will facilitate the company’s plans to roll out a locally based sales agronomy team that Ravensdown plans to bring on line in 2010.

Keenan has been spending time with sugarcane growers up and down the coast, bringing with him the hands-on approach for which Ravensdown is becoming known. He intends to continue travelling to the various sugar regions to develop a greater knowledge of the sugar industry and more specifically cane growers’ requirements. Having been ‘born and raised’ on a farm, his passion remains firmly entrenched in all farm systems and the opportunities to improve production. His experience in Western Australia and New Zealand covers a wide range of agricultural experience, which includes sheep shearing, agricultural supplies, managing a sales agronomy team and farm owner.

Ravensdown has confirmed that its soil sampling kits will be available from all local CANEGROWERS offices. The kits will help growers collect samples and take advantage of this comprehensive and price competitive service. The Ravensdown soil testing service undergoes rigorous assessment on an ongoing basis to ensure accuracy, compliance to Australian standards, and to ensure the fast turnaround that the company boasts, is maintained.

According to CANEGROWERS CEO Ian Ballantyne, this is just one prong in the increased benefits under the next growth phase planned by Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia.

“2009 was a good first year for the relationship and considerable benefits flowed to CANEGROWERS members from the moment Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia entered the market, he said.

Mr Ballantyne said 2010 would see the relationship strengthen with some exciting developments, firstly with the introduction of the soil testing service, the appointment of permanent Queensland management and regionally based agronomic staff, and later in the year, the introduction of AgChem.

A timeline of Ravensdown's entry

What’s was new in the 2010 offer:

The offer will be open from 19 April – 21 May with delivery window from July - October.
This offer does NOT require any deposit or up-front product payment, growers will be invoiced directly.
Two payment options will be available: payment on account (20th of the month following delivery) or full product payment upfront (prior to 30 June 2010 or delivery) which entitles growers to a 1.5% discount.
Increase in product range for cane and horticulture - granular urea, muriate of potash, DAP, ammonium sulphate (granular) and five mixes. Minimums of 11 tonnes total for bags and 11 tonne total for bulk.
Using the direct debit payment method or preferring to make the full upfront payment (prior to 30 June) entitles you to a 1.5% discount off the standard product price.
High quality one tonne bags (1250 kg safe load strength, multi-trip 6:1 bags, 320gsm and UV stabilised and which have four corner straps in addition to a single loop) are included in the price.
Plastic liners are optional for an additional cost and provision of pallets is the customer’s responsibility and cost, no exchanges of pallets are possible.

23/11/2010: 200 GROWERS ATTEND RAVENSDOWN FERTILISER AUSTRALIA'S FIRST ANNUAL MEETING

Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia had a profitable first full year of operation, 200 shareholders heard at the company’s first annual meeting in Townsville last Thursday 18 November 2010.

“The support we’ve received from CANEGROWERS and growers has been extremely positive and means we can accelerate our five year establishment plan in the State and continue to develop a more complete offering, Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia Chairman Rodney Green told the meeting.

“One of the major planks in the establishment plan is our intention to invest in the brand new Townsville store we are currently leasing. This will give us good storage facilities in Brisbane and Townsville.

CANEGROWERS Chairman, Alf Cristaudo, said the move by CANEGROWERS over 18 months ago to bring Ravensdown – a leading fertiliser co-operative in New Zealand and Western Australia –to Queensland is paying off. The cane industry, concerned about spiralling prices for a farm input, fertiliser, wanted to bring a strong company with a transparent pricing structure to the eastern-seaboard, said Alf Cristaudo. “What sealed the deal for growers was being able to take a stake in that company and provide growers with genuine competition, he said. “The meeting in Townsville last night followed an equally successful meeting, of approximately 200 CANEGROWERS, in Mackay at their Annual Meeting, he said.

At both meetings Ravensdown CEO Rodney Green explained to growers the current and future initiatives for the co-operatively structured business in Queensland. He also gave growers the assurance that the teething problems experienced by some growers have now been resolved and growers were comfortable with these assurances.

Ravensdown’s entry into Queensland heralded lower prices, but growers who have bought in say their decision was more about the long-term. “Ravensdown’s co-operatively based business principles mean we return our profit to shareholders, we have transparent pricing and we listen to them, says RFA’s Rodney Green.

“Since our entry level offer in Queensland in 2009 we have taken feedback on-board and improved our offer. We’ve introduced agronomic support staff; we’re offering an increased number of products; we don’t require a deposit; we’ve improved bag quality; and we’re offering a range of payment options at the time of ordering, he says.
“Founding members of Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia received an additional rebate of A$20/tonne. This rebate is about rewarding support, particularly those who had the courage and foresight to help establish Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia in Queensland, says Mr Green.

“Expanding operations in Australia and New Zealand gives us economies of scale through sourcing and inventory management, increasing efficiency and spreading our overheads over an increased tonnage.

“Our Queensland shareholders have different requirements to our New Zealand and Western Australian farmers and we will continue to seek to increase the value of our offer.

Mr Green finished the meeting by confirming Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia had a healthy balance sheet and good cashflows. “The board is looking forward to continuing to maintain and develop this new operation so it continues to meet shareholders’ growing and changing requirements.

MEDIA CONTACT: Alan Thomson, Ravensdown, General Manager Australia, +61 (4) 3892 9991

28/01/2010: RAVENSDOWN EXPANDS INTO SOIL TESTING & A LOCAL TEAM

Just a year after fertiliser giant Ravensdown put its toe in the fertiliser market on the eastern seaboard, it has already set about its expansion program – launching a new soil test service very much at the behest of local growers. In addition they have consolidated their position in the Queensland and New South Wales market by adding to their local team, based out of Brisbane.

The announcement this week that Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia (RFA) has launched a best management practice compliant soil testing service was well received by cane growers up and down the coast. Ravensdown’s research scientist, Dr Alister Metherell and ARL’s Manager, Michael White have worked closely with Dr Bernard Schroeder of research and extension body, BSES Limited, to ensure the product being launched met the Australian industry’s rigorous best management practice guidelines, and the Queensland Government’s regulatory requirements, especially with the recent introduction of The Great Barrier Reef Protection Amendment Bill 2009 on 1 January 2010.

Cane growers are no strangers to soil sampling - a tool they use to determine input requirements. Crop inputs, including fertiliser which can account for up to a quarter of growers’ yearly spend, are expensive and soil testing is one tool growers can use to determine appropriate nutrients to maximise crop yields cost effectively. Soil testing assists growers to apply the right nutrients at the right time for the lowest cost.

This month, Bruce Keenan joins Ravensdown’s eastern-seaboard team as the Sales and Business Development Manager. Bruce has been charged with developing the Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia business for the sugarcane industry and will facilitate the company’s plans to roll out a locally based sales agronomy team that Ravensdown plans to bring on line in 2010.

Keenan has been spending time with sugarcane growers up and down the coast, bringing with him the hands-on approach for which Ravensdown is becoming known. He intends to continue travelling to the various sugar regions to develop a greater knowledge of the sugar industry and more specifically cane growers’ requirements. Having been ‘born and raised’ on a farm, his passion remains firmly entrenched in all farm systems and the opportunities to improve production. His experience in Western Australia and New Zealand covers a wide range of agricultural experience, which includes sheep shearing, agricultural supplies, managing a sales agronomy team and farm owner.

Ravensdown has confirmed that its soil sampling kits will be available from all local CANEGROWERS offices. The kits will help growers collect samples and take advantage of this comprehensive and price competitive service. The Ravensdown soil testing service undergoes rigorous assessment on an ongoing basis to ensure accuracy, compliance to Australian standards, and to ensure the fast turnaround that the company boasts, is maintained.

According to CANEGROWERS CEO Ian Ballantyne, this is just one prong in the increased benefits under the next growth phase planned by Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia.

“2009 was a good first year for the relationship and considerable benefits flowed to CANEGROWERS members from the moment Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia entered the market, he said.

Mr Ballantyne said 2010 would see the relationship strengthen with some exciting developments, firstly with the introduction of the soil testing service, the appointment of permanent Queensland management and regionally based agronomic staff, and later in the year, the introduction of AgChem.

Ravensdown thanks growers for support

Ravensdown has extended their thanks to those many cane growers who have had the foresight and conviction to support the establishment of Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia (RFA) in Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Growers and farmers throughout the region have sought not only more competition but transparency and ownership of an alternative fertiliser supplier.

Having entered the Queensland and Northern NSW fertiliser market in May the team at RFA started despatching fertiliser from Townsville, Mackay and Brisbane during mid-July. The successful establishment of RFA is, to a large extent, due to the support and work of CANEGROWERS management, board and staff locally and state wide. Additionally RFA has received the firm endorsement of Agforce and QDO.

The products supplied by RFA have meet the expectations of cane growers, dairy farmers and cropping farmers alike, and RFA will continue to work hard to ensure we bring the quality fertiliser expected by growers and farmers.

The RFA board met for the first time during July. The board is made up of the CANEGROWERS Chairman Alf Cristaudo, CEO Ian Ballantyne, Ravensdown Chairman Bill McLeod, CEO Rodney Green and CFO Sean Connolly. Board members held a series of meeting with growers to get feedback on the operation of RFA to date and grower’s desires for the future direction of the company.

Growers have been quick to ask about ordering for next year and suggested the following to enhance the RFA offer in the immediate future and in that period before full service facilities are able to be established. Of most interest were requests for consideration of:

A longer period of despatch
At least two ordering and despatch periods
A wider product range
Alternatives to the full prepayment of fertiliser

The team at RFA is now working to deliver on these suggestions and will have more news in the coming weeks and months. It is clear that many growers would like to be able to plan for further product in early 2010. We hope that timely announcements about each of these (and other developments) will be made well in time for growers to be able to plan ahead and make decisions about fertilser purchases.

Also of note, RFA parent Ravensdown Fertiliser Co-op this week announced it is returning AUD25.4m (NZD32m) to shareholders after making a profit of AUD28.6m (NZD36m) for the year ending 31 May 2009. Each year the rebate, and where applicable, bonus shares approved by the board are paid to shareholders who have taken delivery of fertiliser before May 31st of that financial year.

Fertiliser delivered in Queensland and NSW from the commencement of the mid July operations will qualify for any rebates and bonus shares approved by the RFC board at the close of the 2009-2010 financial year.

Ravensdown returns $25.4m to shareholders after $28.6m profit

Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia Ltd’s parent Ravensdown has announced it will return A$25.4 million (NZ$32m) to shareholders after making a profit of A$28.6 million (NZ$36m) for the year ending 31 May 2009.

“The 2008/09 year was a challenging one characterised by massively high international fertiliser commodity prices and we’re pleased to be able to report to shareholders that we achieved a satisfactory profit, says Ravensdown Chairman Bill McLeod.

During the year shareholders bought 1.081m tonnes of fertiliser from the co-operative.

“In our first full year of operation in Western Australia we received excellent support from shareholders and this part of the business made a significant contribution to our total profit, says Mr McLeod.

“In Australia we led prices down to give the earliest possible pricing relief to our Western Australian shareholders.

“In New Zealand we buffered our shareholders from the highest prices by holding prices low for as long as possible and then reducing them quickly to give farmers pricing relief.

“Moves such as this demonstrate the benefits to shareholders of belonging to a fertiliser co-operative. We make decisions with farmers’ best interests in mind whereas a corporate will focus completely on their bottom line.

“As well as giving pricing relief upfront we will also return 40% of our profit to shareholders through a rebate of A$12 (NZ$15.10) per tonne and as well as issuing 12 bonus shares. We issue bonus shares to ensure we reflect to our shareholders the growth in the equity of our company.

In addition, Western Australian shareholders who have purchased fertiliser from Ravensdown will also receive A$25 in shares through the Western Australia Shareholder Incentive Scheme rebates (ASIS).

Looking forward

Ravensdown’s Queensland business started operating in this new financial year and Mr McLeod says sales are strong.

“We led pricing down significantly in Queensland providing major benefits for cane growers and farmers who joined Ravensdown in our first year of operation. Many leading Queensland cane growers gave us at least part of their business, he said.

“There is strong commitment to the development of the co-operative model in Queensland and we are committed to ensuring we can continue to exceed price, quality and service expectations.

Mr McLeod assures shareholders Ravensdown will continue to work for them and implement cost efficiencies so their co-operative remains strong, as well as doing whatever it can to ensure farmers’ businesses remain productive.

Ravensdown fertiliser delivered onfarm

Fertiliser is being distributed to grower shareholders of Ravensdown from the ports of Townsville, Mackay and Brisbane.

CANEGROWERS Deputy Chief Executive Officer Ron Mullins said the distribution would continue until the end of August.

“Very favourable comments are being received from growers who have received and applied the Ravensdown fertiliser products, he said.

Mr Mullins said some growers had reported they would increase their future fertiliser orders to Ravensdown.

Ravensdown representatives were on the ground at each port and in regional locations to coordinate the deliveries and source information to be used in developing a suitable model for the future.

All growers who purchased fertiliser from Ravensdown had the opportunity to take up shareholding of the newly formed company.

The inaugural meeting of Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia was due to be held on 24 July in Cairns.

CANEGROWERS Chairman Alf Cristaudo, CEO Ian Ballantyne and Mr Mullins were due to attend the meeting. Mr Cristaudo and Mr Ballantyne are newly appointed Directors of the company.

Ravensdown’s New Zealand Directors were scheduled to meet with a number of CANEGROWERS Directors and new grower shareholders while inspecting harvesting and planting prior to the RFA Board meeting.

The meeting was expected to look into how ordering, delivery and storage would be rolled out in the future.

RAVENSDOWN ARCHIVE:

First meeting of Ravendsown Fertiliser Australia:
The first ships will have barely made the shore, as the first meeting of Ravensdown Fertiliser Australia is convened. With growers keen to see what next year's model will look like, the first meeting will start to look into how ordering, delivery and storage will be rolled out in 2010. A dozen Ravensdown representatives are visiting regional Queensland locations at the moment to help source information which can be used in developing a suitable model.

NEW FERTILISER PLAYER ASSESSING THE MARKET This major deal was aimed at changing the face of fertiliser supply on Australia’s eastern seaboard.

Ravensdown is a “ground-up group which has 30 plus years in the New Zealand fertiliser game and currently boasts 30,000 cooperative shareholders and annual sales of 1.4 million tonnes of fertiliser products. In February 2008 it put a toe in the Australian fertiliser market, merging with Western Australian fertiliser cooperative, United Farmers Cooperative of Western Australia.

Peak sugarcane group, CANEGROWERS, who had been actively scouring the world market for fertiliser options for years on end, came to learn about the Ravensdown Co-operative about the time when the group formalised its arrangements in the west. CANEGROWERS, who has been working with Ravensdown on entry to the eastern seaboard for some 12 months now, believes that an attractive deal will be in the wings for the 2010 season.

CANEGROWERS was the key agitator in attracting Ravensdown to the eastern seaboard, in a move they believe is already starting to bring sustainable competition to the Queensland market. They were immediately attracted by the farmer owned cooperative model which delivers proven price transparency. Ravensdown’s model includes a rebate system, based on the successful and well supported rebate system Ravensdown’s current 30,000 plus shareholders have access to in New Zealand and Western Australia.

“As this arrangement tracks forward, we will need our Member’s commitment that they will acquire a substantial part of their 2010 fertiliser requirements through the cooperative’s arrangement to ensure its success, stressed Mr Ballantyne, who has been at the heart of negotiations to get the arrangement up and running. “Furthermore we will need to build on that commitment in succeeding years.

CANEGROWERS, AgForce and Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation have all committed to support Ravensdown’s entry to the east coast fertiliser market, which they all agree has been suffering lack of genuine competition for far too long. At this stage it is slated that 2010 will build on the basic operating structure implemented in 2009 - as part of a business plan aimed at delivering long term, full service facilities to farmers throughout the State.

Over the past year CANEGROWERS has worked with Ravensdown on a strategy which they believe would be an attractive option for growers if they were able to take a stake in the company. “We have gone for a scheme which gives growers the ability to become directly involved in the business rather than a face-less customer on a balance sheet. Growers are part of and benefit from any profits as the business entity develops, rather than the current scenario where profits are sucked up by large corporate entities.

CANEGROWERS believes the interest by Ravensdown in the east-coast fertiliser market is timely given the unprecedented escalation in fertiliser prices that growers have borne over many years.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION

> CANEGROWERS has for a number of years sought to introduce competition in the fertiliser market place through the importation of Urea. While this strategy was effective in the year of importation, it had no permanent impact on the dominance and non-competitive environment of the current market.

> In the first year of operation Ravensdown is supplying a number of fertiliser products, initially on a pre-paid shipment basis through three ports direct to farms. The proposal is was subject to achieving a minimum level of support. It is intended that the New Zealand fertiliser giant will progressively establish a permanent, full service presence in the Queensland market, as it did in Western Australia when it acquired the United Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative in February 2008.

> Click on the following link to visit the Ravensdown website http://www.ravensdown.co.nz