Kerry Agribusiness will source the majority of its fertiliser from Grassland Agro in a new partnership coming into effect soon, Agriland understands.
According to sources, both businesses will work together in delivering for Kerry’s dairy sustainability programme, Evolve.
The partnership will ensure optimal nutrient and soil health, along with increased carbon reduction across the Kerry catchment.
Grassland Agro will not sell fertiliser directly to Kerry Agribusiness farmers, but they can continue to purchase fertiliser through the Co. Kerry stores and the branch network.
Kerry Agribusiness Evolve
Kerry’s dairy sustainability programme Evolve is a concept designed to support the science-based sustainable action and best practice across family farms.
The €6 million dairy sustainability programme is for more than 3,000 milk suppliers.
It provides farmers with educational and financial support to help them with the transition to more sustainable farming practices.
The programme focuses on energy and production efficiency; knowledge transfer; herd health; and grass, fertiliser and soil management.
Payments are given for lime, protected urea, slurry analysis, milk recording, herd health testing, grass measuring and low protein feed – but this is all subject to certain terms and conditions being met.
Depending on the actions taken by suppliers, they could earn up to €2,000/herd.
Grassland Agro provides an environmentally friendly fertilisation programme considerate to the environment through the utilisation of existing soil reserves, organic manures and crop residues.
Fertiliser
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has said that sales of nitrogen (N) fertiliser in the first quarter (Q1) of the fertiliser year for 2024 stood at 13,714t.
This is down by 83% compared to the same period last year.
DAFM previously confirmed that total fertiliser sales in 2023 fell by 18% to 1,135,860 tonnes compared to 2022. This marks a 33% reduction in fertiliser sales since 2021.