Feeding the world’s growing population

New Zealand’s reputation as a quality food producer is growing.

Optimising food production

Over the next 50 years farmers around the world will need to produce more food than has been grown over the past 10,000 years.

Best use from a limited resource

Fertiliser helps farmers produce food efficiently by replenishing the soil. But fertiliser needs to be used responsibly.

Responsible and sustainable nutrient management

The Fertiliser Association invests in research and tools to ensure farm profitability while minimising nutrient losses to the environment.

The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand promotes and encourages responsible and scientifically-based nutrient management.

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Fact Sheets

Advisory: Winter fertiliser P application

After receiving questions on whether it is appropriate to apply phosphate (P) fertiliser during the winter months, the Fertiliser Association has produced an advisory on good management practice principles.

As well as providing basic guidance, this advisory refers readers to our Code of Practice and nutrient management booklets. We also provide questions to help land managers step through a risk assessment process.

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How fertiliser helps to create productive soil

Our soils are the foundation of our food system. Healthy soils produce healthy crops that in turn nourish people and animals. Well managed and productive soils are directly linked to food quality and quantity. Soils supply the essential nutrients, water, oxygen and root support that our food-producing plants need to grow and flourish. 

But how do we ensure that our soil is in the best condition possible to enable our food system to prosper? And what role does fertiliser play in achieving this?

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Phosphorus Use Guidance Note

This Guidance Note clearly explains why we need to manage phosphorus losses and why we need to build on the international principles of the '4 Rs' for good management of nutrients.

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Projections indicate nitrogen fertiliser use has decreased

This fact sheet discusses government projections that indicate nitrogen fertiliser use has decreased over the last few years.

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Uranium – in soil, plants and fertiliser

Uranium at trace levels in soil and plants is a natural occurrence. While the levels of uranium in soils are very gradually increasing due to phosphate fertiliser application, this represents no threat to human health or the environment.

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What drives fertiliser use in New Zealand?

This factsheet provides a snapshot of the factors that drive fertiliser use in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand and Dairy NZ funded development of the Nutrient Management Adviser Certification Programme (NMACP). This industry-wide certification aims to ensure that advisers have the learning, experience and capability to give sound nutrient advice.

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1 March 2024

The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand recently updated its Fertiliser Use on New Zealand Dairy Farms booklet to ensure farmers get the best value from fertiliser applied and to align the advice with the Code of Practice for Fertiliser Nutrient Management.

28 June 2023

Dairy farmers milking cows on a farm area of more than 20 hectares are required to record synthetic nitrogen use on their dairy platform land, including a zero-kg record if no synthetic nitrogen is used. The regulations require data to be submitted by 31 July each year for the preceding year ended 30 June. 

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