SpreadingAccurate spread. Reliable return. Environmental investment.

The information in this brochure is correct at the time of printing (July 2013), and is subject to change.

Our spreading operators 3

Why use Ravensdown spreading? 4

Benefits of Ravensdown spreading 5

Ravtrak 6

What others are saying 8

Ravensdown: putting on a good spread 10

How does variable rate application work? 11

Contents

Ordering is easyTo order simply call 0800 100 123 to speak to your local spreading contractor.

How to get the most from spreading

• Use our Spreadmark certified trucks• Track your applications using our proof

of placement technology

• Get a fertiliser plan for your farm

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Because we’ve partnered with local ground spreading businesses throughout New Zealand, you now have access to great spreading technology wherever you are.

Plus we have aerial spreading and spraying. All fixed wing aircraft and helicopters use GPS for guidance and offer full proof of placement maps for spreading and spray applications.

Our spreading operators

Spreading Waikato

Spreading FBTSpreading SandfordsRural Bulk Spreading

Rae Brothers

Spreading Buckley

Tait and McKenzieSpreading

Spreading Canterbury

North Otago Ground Spreading

Advanced SpreadingSpreading Southland

Spreading Northland

Wanganui Aeroworks

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Accurate spread

• Spreadmark certified trucks• Proof of placement maps • Ravtrak guidance system

Reliable return

• Precise spreading means you can get the most out of your pasture or crop

• Local investment• A quality spread means no

wasted money

Environmental investment• Fertiliser placed away from

waterways

• Only necessary nutrients are applied and recorded in proof of placement maps

• Keep a record of what fertiliser has been put on your farm

Why use Ravensdown spreading?

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Good for your community

Good for your farm

Good for ease of mind

Benefits of Ravensdown spreading

• Better planning for your pasture or crop

• One application of urea on your dairy farm using Ravtrak could increase your production by an extra $15 - $22/ha*

*(100kg/ha Urea applied, $8 kg/MS payout. Conversion factor of 15kgs/DM to 1 kg/MS.)

• Product applied in an environmentally responsible way, avoiding high run-off areas, effluent blocks and waterways

• Skilful and knowledgeable operators

• Staff are committed to developing skills through the New Zealand Groundspread Association driver training programme

• Support your local community through employment and use of local services

• Local knowledge and established relationships

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SMART VEHICLE REPOSITIONING

(starts from where spreading last stopped)

VARIABLE RATE SPREADING

AUTOMATIC FLOW VALVE CONTROL(controls flow of fertiliser to minimise wastage)

SPREADMARK CERTIFIED

SPREADS A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS

UNIQUE AUTOMATED GUIDANCE CONTROL

(helps the driver know where to go)

Feel confident with our spreadingIntroducing Ravtrak, the most accurate spreading technology in New Zealand, ensuring increased productivity for your farm.

Call 0800 100 123 now to get the most from your spreading.

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Ravtrak

AUTOMATIC FLOW VALVE CONTROL(controls flow of fertiliser to minimise wastage)

DIFFERENTIAL GPS (accurate to 20cm)

SPREADMARK DRIVER

TRAINING

UNIQUE AUTOMATED GUIDANCE CONTROL

(helps the driver know where to go)

LOW EXHAUST EMISSIONS

FOUR WHEEL DRIVE

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We use Ravensdown spreading as it’s an easy one-stop shop with everything done with one phone call from ordering the products to spreading them.

Proof-of-placement maps are useful as we employ staff and this way everybody knows what’s going on and where.

What other users are saying...

It’s convenient. The main benefit for me using Advanced Spreaders is that my spreading’s done when I want it. They do the job they’re supposed to.

I have a grazing block for wintering the cows that’s quite steep so I tell the drivers to go where they’re happy to go. It is good to look at the proof-of-placement maps and see where they’ve actually put it.

John den Baars, Milton, Dairy farmer

Eric Van Druten, Taranaki, Dairy farmer

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Continual improvements to GPS and computer technology have allowed aspects of my business to move on alongside Spreading Southland. They’re forever updating their systems and are interested in new technology.

Graeme Spittle, Northern SouthlandSheep and Beef farmer

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The modern farmer has a range of farm management tools to implement a farm fertility strategy but none of the benefits from your fertiliser investment are available until the fertiliser is spread.Many shareholders don’t realise the true value of an accurate fertiliser spread, or the cost of a poor spread. It may seem obvious, but the closer the spreader is to applying the fertiliser at the targeted rate, the closer the pasture or crop will be to achieving the targeted response. Ravensdown has invested heavily in spreading and spreading technologies to improve shareholders’ production responses to the fertiliser products they purchase.

precision agriculture to its shareholders. The tools for achieving a more precise spread are not cheap, but by sharing costs with our spreading partners, automating proof of placement reporting, standardising GPS, flow control units and sharing the differential correction costs (which give our trucks greater positional accuracy), shareholders receive a superior service at a similar market price. All other spreaders operate to a standard GPS accuracy of (± 8m) and do not have flow control or reporting systems as sophisticated as ours.

To take advantage of Ravensdown’s spreading system just tell the Customer Centre when you place your order or discuss your spreading plans with your local Ravensdown account manager.

The in-paddock variation of spread improved between 9 and 17% by adding flow control and automatic start and stop features to our differentially corrected GPS signal that is accurate to 20cm. So, what does this mean for farm revenue?Applying urea at 80kg per ha on moderately high fertility dairy flats carrying cows converting 15kg of dry matter to 1kg of milk solids; at a payout of:$6.50 per kg of milk solids it is $12.55 - $18.02 per hectare $7.25 per kg of milk solids it is $14.00 - $20.10 per hectare$8.00 per kg of milk solids it is $15.45 - $22.18 per hectareBy using Ravensdown technology (available through spreading subsidiaries and joint ventures) the increased response to high analysis fertiliser is often greater than the cost of the spread. Ravensdown is committed to providing the benefits of

Ravensdown: putting on a good spread

By Fabian Kopu, Application Manager

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Precision agriculture and variable rate application can be critical for helping farmers manage their environmental responsibilities. And of course, there are financial benefits of being able to apply nutrients only on the areas that need them.

But how does variable rate application actually work? Due to our integration with ground and aerial spreaders, fertiliser recommendations and Nutrient Management Plan information can be electronically fed into the vehicles’ GPS equipment in the form of a prescription map.

Data from ARL tests or yield maps and electromagnetic maps (that are converted into variable

rate zones via our partnership with Agrioptics) are then supplied to the Ravensdown Application Technology Team as spatial (shape) files. This is converted to a single ‘truck-ready’ file which is sent to the spreader’s on-board computer over the 3G network using our custom-built SpreaderComms software.

Once loaded, the map automatically controls the application rate of the spreader based on its physical location or zone rate as set in the prescription map.

As the spreader enters each zone, the controlled application rate automatically changes to that of the new zone and any exclusion zones recorded in the map will stop the spreader’s

application altogether thereby only applying nutrients to those predefined areas.

After the application, the operator saves the proof-of-placement map and sends it back to our server over the 3G network using SpreaderComms. The maps are automatically validated then processed and uploaded into our internationally awarded GIS (Geographic Information System) and made immediately available for farmers to see via their secure online service www.myravensdown.co.nz.

As well as the download and upload of the files, the SpreaderComms software enables us to remotely support ground spreaders and sprayers from virtually anywhere.

How does variable rate application work? By Michelle Quirke, Application Technology Manager

Driver can refer to the accurate map and request in-cab support.

A proof of placement map is automatically uploaded to the farmer’s secure web area on

www.myravensdown.co.nz.

Once application is complete, the data is uploaded back to Ravensdown’s systems.

The onboard computer ensures placement of fertiliser in right place and amount.

A file is constructed from tests, maps and other data, before being converted into a truck-ready file.

The file is sent to the spreading truck’s onboard computer.

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www.myravensdown.co.nz

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