Ballance Agri-Nutrients - Rakaia

Ballance is a New Zealand farmer-owned co-operative that helps its customers to farm more productively, profitably and sustainably. From our core business of fertiliser manufacturing, supply, sales and advice, we have grown to offer farmers a full range of science-backed nutrient products and services. This enables us to help farmers achieve soil and animal nutrition and productivity with a minimal environmental footprint. Our agri-nutrient advice is complemented by award-winning web-based farm systems software, which enables farmers to capture and analyse a wealth of information, and so make the best management decisions for their business. As well as supporting New Zealand farmers, Ballance also supplies products to a range of industrial businesses. Its origins can be traced back to the late 1800s, when sulphur was mined at White Island, an active off-shore volcano situated in the Bay of Plenty. Conditions were bleak and health and safety non-existent - at one point an eruption killed 14 men working on the island. The mined sulphur was shipped to Tauranga, where it was refined before being sold both in New Zealand and Australia.