We are expecting to transition to a fully electric fleet of ATV’s over the next 5 years.

Use of inorganic fertilizers has been progressively reduced over the past decade now limited to top up foliar Urea applications (6kg/ha/year) occasional use of trace element supplements and low amounts of resin coated fertilizer at establishment. At the same time organic fertilizer use has been ramped up mainly through applications of dolomite, gypsum, seaweed foliar and fish based product. We recognize we are trying to grow the best possible seedling - mycchorihizal association and see our current fertilizer regime as best the path to achieving this.

In 2021 the company commissioned its first electric ATV, partnering with Christchurch based manufacturer Tuatara. This has been highly successful. We are expecting to transition to a fully electric fleet of ATV’s over the next 5 years.

In 2020 the company invested heavily in GPS guided tractor systems and an RTK base station. RTK allows us to position tractors to within 5cm accuracy year on year, allowing the same planting beds to be reused and reducing soil disturbance and compaction. The systems are proving themselves, greatly reducing diesel consumption, increasing productive use of land area and reducing operator fatigue. In 2021 we have two tractors on GPS self-steering systems, one of these to RTK accuracy and hope to commission a third tractor to RTK later in 2022.

Since 1998 we have engaged Aerial Vision from Kerikeri to provide us with crop estimates using drones to collect a photographic record that can then be computed to give us our seedling count. This is another example of our company not only embracing new technology but being industry leaders in its use.