The Alexander name is synonymous with the picturesque settlement of Puketapu, beyond the hills of Taradale. The first of the Alexanders settled their farm here back in the 1920s, and the second generation, Roger, took over when he was twenty. Geoff & Cheryl Puketapu Type of operation Sheep and Beef Years of dicalcic use 7..

‘Our appreciation for dicalcic stemmed from a desire for improved stock health. We weren’t comfortable with the effect high analysis fertilisers seemed to be having on the stock, so that’s when we began dealing with Hatuma. Farm Size 70ha Stock 180 cows 2.6 cows/ha, 930ms/ha (av) Years of dicalcic use 12 Autumn Dressing No 410..

‘When I took over management of this property in the late seventies, my father had been applying 3cwt of superphosphate each year, with the odd application of lime, even though we’re on limestone country.’ Stock 190ha sheep and beef Years of dicalcic use 20 Application No.8S (80% Dicalcic Sulphur / 20% Cropfi ne lime) 0:3.6:0:8..

‘Up to the early 1990s we were farming the conventional way, using a lot of high analysis fertilisers,’ recalls Selwyn. ‘Come spring time, we’d have the farm shut up with plenty of grass available. The cows would go in and eat it all so we’d apply nitrogen to grow it again, which would cause the..

‘During the late eighties I bought some terrace country,’ recalls Jeff, ‘but it never looked right, it was yellow and the stock wouldn’t graze it properly. After advice from the local fertiliser rep I hit it with two applications of superphosphate, both 500kg/ha. But that didn’t improve anything. I decided to apply Hatuma dicalcic on..

‘My father first applied dicalcic on this place after his spreader operator, Tom Fuller, began expressing the virtues of the product during the 1970s,’ recalls Barry. ‘He later followed up with conversations with Joe Topp at Hatuma who spoke of the advantages to applying a non water-soluble phosphate, and the benefi ts to nurturing the..