Converte Quarterly Newsletter Update from the team at ConverteFires and floods continue to impact growing regions across Australia with greater frequency. In SA floods have ripped through paddocks leaving large scars on the landscape and farmers contemplating their management options. We continue to advocate for a focus on resilient landscapes with healthy functioning soils and diverse plantings to incorporate natures protection mechanisms into our food production systems. A transition is underway to farming on a lower energy and carbon footprint. Converte products assist in this transition by driving the efficiency of applied fertiliser and chemical inputs and ensuring that soils are biologically active and soil nutrients are cycling and plant available. Small adjustments in the farm inputs planning can deliver big changes, none more striking than improvements in soil moisture retention. 2021 was a tough year for businesses and everyone dealing with COVID and its consequences on health, trade and life in general. But our agricultural sector kicked some serious goals in 2021 and kept food on the shelves and supply chains moving. There is no better place to work than in sustainable food production and reaping the benefits of managing soils, stock and nature for a healthy, prosperus future. There are many challenges ahead but by working together and pooling knowledge and expertise we can find innovative solutions for future food and farming. Best Wishes to all, Converte Awarded Federal Government Supply Chain Resilience Grant for Agriculture The Australian Federal Government recently announced grant awards as part of its $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy. These grants were set up to help Australian businesses build or scale their capabilities towards a supply chain vulnerability for agricultural production chemicals. Phase 1 awards were announced earlier this month and were aimed at offering 27 projects a share of $33 Million Dollars. Converte are delighted to be one of the recipients of this important grant, which will be used to build automated liquid filling lines for its Bio-Fertiliser range. The new production lines will mean a significant increase in manufacturing capacity and greater efficiency in bottling and product handling. The grant recognised the role of Converte’s products in relation to fertiliser efficiency of applied and in ground Phosphorus. The grant application included submitting extensive research with independent scientists behind the increases in enzymes associated with the availability and cycling of NPK nutrients. Soil Testing Can Help Drive Fertiliser EfficiencyFertilizer costs are at 12 year high and supply shortages are impacting farmers across the country. Now is the time to take advantage of soil testing to ensure that soils are optimally balanced to maximise nutrient availability and cycling. A good soil chemistry test is really worth its weight in gold and can guide soil and fertiliser management for the year ahead. In response to recent fertiliser prices, we have decided to help fellow farmers with a Free Soil Test and detailed interpretive report (Valued at $165)Claim Your Free Soil Test below ↓Maximising Seed Potential'high nutrient seed primer'High nutrient seed coating or priming has to be one of the most cost effective treatments a farmer can apply to improve his crop health. The Converte seed primer has been specially formulated to deliver the most complex and balanced nutrient treatment directly into the seed. The seed embryo is enriched with access to nutrients, vitamins and biological processes that support optimum germination and build vigorous growth towards maximum yield. For less than $35 per tonne of seed the benefits include: • Faster speed of emergence Seed priming will assist in building a more vigorous and biological diverse root system. Roots emerging from the germinating seed already have access to important nutrients and their early development empowers the availability and uptake of soil nutrients. High phosphorus (P) levels in the seed primer are essential for plant growth and are a component of macromolecules that build essential proteins. Vitamins also play a role and research shows that Cotton seed germination and the subsequent growth of the sprouts has been enhanced with vitamins B1 and B3 by up to 30%. Canola Trial delivers on Yield and Oil ContentOur 2021 Canola trial delivered impressive results. We measured the underlying improvements in soil quality and function, including an increase on the control site in VAM fungi 74% (single dose plantfood) and 245% (double dose). This has also resulted in the nutrient accessibility increasing from 8.9% to 15.5% and 30.7% in the control, single dose and double dose Plantfood rows respectively.Seed Primer plus Plantfood application 250ml / ha and double Plantfood application 500ml both delivered similar yield increases of 9.5% and 10.5% respectively. Across all treatments the oil content increased on average 2% over the control.The net Return on Investment was between $141 and $179 per hectare in a season when Canola was selling for $900 per tonne. A handy return per hectare and an investment into soil health and function that will pay dividends in the season to come.Click the button below to view our online store Farmer Feedback SegmentAfter the major weather events that have happened, which have negatively impacted a lot of farmers all over Australia, this is some of the recent feedback that we have been provided by customers using our products.
Urana, NSW- Stuart Urquhart
Staff Profile - Lakshmi BalaIn other news we welcome a new team member, Lakshmi Bala. She had recently joined us in October 2021 as a Brand & Marketing manager. Lakshmi’s formal background was in Psychology however after graduating from university, she decided to use principles learned in her degree to delve into the world of marketing & advertising. Lakshmi then founded an advertising agency & later an ecommerce store both of which were online based businesses. After travelling the world and witnessing some of the dire impacts climate change has had on our environment, Lakshmi decided to dedicate her skills to working in industries that help achieve a sustainable future for our planet. Don't miss a quarterly newsletter!Your Converte Support NetworkJulie Vereker – Griffith, 1800 108 940, julie.vereker@converte.com.au Isabel Bruekers - Ag Scientist, Griffith Isabel.Bruekers@converte.com.au Mal Paterson - Queensland 0477 783 734 Stuart Davidson - Wagga Wagga Area 0400 539 153 John Ridley – general business enquiries, investors and international +61-419 120 447, john.ridley@converte.com.au *Don't forget to follow Converte on Social Media by clicking the links below and please forward this newsletter to interested friends and family. Employment Opportunities Call 1800 108 940 or email info@converte.com.au for further details. Distributors: For those in the Central West NSW you can buy your Converte Products at: AgriWest Parkes 20 Clarinda Street, Parkes NSW 2870 Agwise Rural Supplies, 2 Naylor St, Cudal NSW 2864 Tel. (02) 6364 2240 |