Management
I have been involved in the banking and finance areas since 1970 and was a foundation share holder and Director for Foliafeed Fertiliser Limited. Have been a Board Member also with Healthy Soils.
Presently General Manager of the Company ensuring that all the "I's" are dotted and the "T's" crossed. I am very lucky to have a group of positive people on the Board and an even more positive group out selling our products to the farmers.
I thought that coming from being a Board Member for some 17 years, and being very closely associated with the day to day operations, the transition to General Manager would be reasonably easy. This was never further from the truth and the vertical learning curve started from day one and continues today.
I can say that we never stop learning and this is part of the challenge of this position. We have a number of products available for you, the farmer, from liquids through to solids, and everyday we learn more about Soil Biology and how everything interacts.
Our Mission Statement is proof positive of what we do, with the emphasis on Healthy Soils, Healthy Livestock and Healthy People. Reducing farmer's fertiliser costs is our main objective, along with getting their soils balanced and using the stored minerals and trace elements within the soil over future years to further reduce fertiliser costs.
Born and bred in Dunedin , coming from a town background, hobbies include horse riding and reading.
Owner of a small holding running horses and a few sheep.
I have been with this company since 1997, and are currently the Office Manager, a position which is both challenging and rewarding.
George Shuttleworth
A foundation share holder and Director of Healthy Soils and Humatech. I have a passion for the environment in correcting soil balances to harness their full potential. (We can not solve the problems of today using the same thinking that we used to create them - Albert Einstein)
A current Director of Healthy Soils Limited, a Senior Account Manager and I assist the new Account Managers with their day to day dealings with farmers. I am also very involved in the day to day Research and Development for the company.
Have been involved in the farming industry for over forty five years.
Agents
from Aparima, Western Southland, where Joanne and Jeff are still farming.
It has been from previous farm experience of sheep, bull-beef, cereal cropping, silage grass production, dairy grazing and dairy wintering that has lead Jeff into the soil health field, recognizing that over the last 25 years of his farming experience, that some fertiliser processes are very inefficient.
Jeff over the last 10 years, has been experimenting with different fertiliser practices, in the process changing his farm's fertiliser programme to a more sustainable way. It has been this background that has convinced him that the future of farming, and human health, are at a cross roads. If we don't do something about this, the future for farming is very bleak.
Jeff's responsibilities, within the Healthy Soils organization, extends to working in the field as an account manager, training up new account managers and providing backup to them, and presenting the company's programs at field days. He is also involved in research and development work with the company and is on the company's board of Directors.
I have been involved in farming for most of my life, working on the family farm, shearing for five years, then farming on my own account for 22 years.
I sold the farm, and had a hotel for 3 years. I started with Healthy Soils in 2002.
I am very passionate about the health of our soils as I believe human health is related to the health of our soils, unhealthy soils, unhealthy humans.
Bill Thompson
Bill is a born and bred Strath Taieri man. Both his parents were members of pioneering families, having arrived in the Strath in 1862, and later acquired their own farms in 1884.
Bill was educated at the local primary school in Middlemarch and John McGlashan College in Dunedin where he gained his school certificate. After three years at home farming he attended Lincoln Agricultural College for two years, gaining his Diploma in Agriculture.
A keen rugby player, he represented both Otago and Canterbury at colts level and played for Canterbury B while at Lincoln. A year after his return to the farm, he represented Otago at the top provincial level.
In 1967, a year after his return home following a 9 month trip to the U K, Bill married and two years later took over one of the family farms. He has two sons and a daughter, but as neither son wished to go farming, the farm was sold in 1992, and he and Jeanette moved to Dunedin.
From his early farming days Bill had an interest in Angus cattle, his father having established a stud in 1949. This led to his involvement in the breed at all levels, including many years on the Council and one year as the breed President. Through this association he met and became firm friends with George Shuttleworth, also an Angus breeder.
It was from this friendship and long phone conversations, and eventually two trips with the late Wayne Vorrath to see George's farm at Wakefield, that Bill was convinced that George was on the right lines as to how he was looking after his farmed soil.
David Stark
Has been associated with the Agricultural Industry for over 30 years.
Currently Account Manager covering the South Canterbury
and North Otago areas.
John Richardson
I have lived in the South Otago area for most of my life and have a strong farming background. Farmed in the Owaka area for 25 years, and now operate a small business supplying safety products and work clothing to farmers in addition to being a Healthy Soils rep.
Other interests include music (involved with Balclutha Brass Band) and gardening (particularly growing produce using organic fertiliser).
For the last 15 years, Roger and I have been farming in an equity partnership which includes a Contact Energy lease of 212 ha and ownership of a further 350ha at Beaumont. Prior to that, we worked on farms in Millers Flat, Clydevale, Oamaru, Heriot and Northern Southland areas.
My interest in biological farming started with a strong interest in biochemistry during my study for a BAg degree at Lincoln University.
We have been using Healthy Soils products on our brassica crops since the early days of the company and for the last three years have been using both solid and liquid recommendations on all our fattening country.
We have been so encouraged by the changes we are seeing, that the programme has been extended over the whole farm this year.
I am enjoying the challenges of working for the company and appreciate the support of senior company members, when advice is needed. I look forward to continuing my association with existing clients, and also passing on my experiences, and knowledge, to new farmer clients in my area.
Rob Ballantyne
As a farm manager, I thought I had a reasonable handle on fertilisers, but I know now that there’s an enormous amount of misinformation out there, particularly surrounding chemically derived products. The fact is, I was flying blind and since being with Healthy Soils, have discovered a whole new way of working with nature to create better soils, pastures, crops, stock and of course, an improved bottom line.
Sadly, many farmers are still addicted to rebates. I used to be one of them, not knowing any better. Now I want every farmer to know how to get better results for less money with products that last longer and dramatically improve soil health.
So, if you’re a progressive, intelligent business operator, always searching for better ways to do things, we should talk. If you’ve found this page, you already know that soil health is important and the biology beneath your feet is one of the most critical factors in determining your future wealth.
I look forward to having a chat, and offering some positive options that I know will benefit your whole farming operation.
I grew up on the family farm in Te Anau. I went to Lincoln College, gaining a Diploma of Agriculture in 1984.
My farming experience to date includes; married couple for Landcorp, share farming in South Canterbury, leasing a sheep and cattle farm back in Te Anau, then purchasing our own property at Merrivale – Western Southland, on which we currently farm deer, cattle, plus dairy support.
I have worked for Healthy Soils since moving to Merrivale, applying soil feeder’s etc. on client’s farms throughout Southland and into Otago. I use the Healthy Soils fertiliser programme and products on my own farm and I am now converted to the principles of biological farming, having seen the improvements on my own farm and also to Healthy Soils client’s farms over the years.
I am a keen sportsman and supporter of most sports, having played representative rugby for Southland Country and Southland B Teams. I am now a keen golfer and committee member of the Tuatapere Golf Club.
I have been an Account Manager with Healthy Soils for the last two years and see an exciting future with the company as more and more farmers realise the benefits of a sustainable biological approach to their fertiliser programmes.
Mike is originally from Wellington but has been living on the West Coast for over ten years. Here he has worked with rural communities on ecological and sustainability issues.
He started out as a rural advocate assisting rural communities to take action on local environmental issues. In 2005, wanting to be more involved in sustainability at a grass roots level, he began training in the design of wastewater systems based on humus biology. He also became the West Coast representative for the QEII National Trust. An organization set up by farmers to protect forest and wetlands on private land. These roles have involved him in work with rural landowners: designing wastewater systems utilizing humus in the treatment of effluent; and placing covenants over bush, wetlands and riparian margins on farms and rural properties.
Mike enjoys working with people in the rural sector; especially farmers with their action orientated approach to life. His interests include: swimming, tramping, West Coast history, Acapella singing and rugby. He lives with his wife, new baby and dogs on a bush block south of Westport.
Based in Auckland; I have recently joined Healthy Soils, coming from a back ground of sales.
My career path has lead me to many challengers of opportunities; hospitality industry; real estate; retail sales; trainee valuer; owner of a valuation company; insurance adviser and sales in the fertiliser industry.
I have recently joined the team at Healthy Soils. I am from a farming family, growing up on a sheep and beef farm in the Nelson District. I have been involved in the fertiliser industry since August 2010 which has taken me on a steep learning journey.
I enjoy meeting clients and helping them to increase the efficiency of their fertilizers in their soils. I am committed to achieving the best results by providing ethical, honest and professional service to my clients which is most important to me. I understand that the decision you make when choosing your fertiliser is very important and I will do my very best to help you with your Healthy Soils programme.
I look forward to helping you with your fertiliser needs and together
we can make a difference.
I have moved home with my fiancé Anna and daughter Olive to the family farm in Kurow, North Otago after a science degree at Lincoln University and 10 years travelling and seeing the world.
I have recently joined Healthy Soils as I believe in what they stand for and the positive effect they have had on farms in the Waitaki Valley. I’m excited about the future of New Zealand agriculture fuelled by productive, alternative thinking, combined with ongoing new research and technologies while learning from the past and working together to achieve results.
There is a wealth of information throughout Healthy Soils on how to effectively re mineralise your land and feed the biology in the soil, use it to your advantage.
Directors
Married to Amanda and we have 3 children 1 girl and 2 boys.
Lived in Kurow all my life.
Farm 1100ha at Kurow - Second year in dairying having converted from sheep and Beef in 2008.
Brent Wheeler is an economist specialising in finance, governance and business development. He has a Ph.D from the University of Otago and is chair of the Board and director of several companies in the agri and other sectors. His 30 years career has included public and private sector roles and training executives in N.Z. and S.E. Asia. At present his work is centred on his directorships, investment management, capital markets valuation and governance.
Have been farming in the Popotunoa South Otago area all my working life. Originally mixed faming sheep, beef and cropping including, wheat, barley, oats, oilseed, rape, carrots, ryegrass, clover, peas, radish.
In 1995 set up an equity partnership to convert a 323 hectare cropping farm to dairy in Clydevale. In 2003 converted 200 hectare farm to dairying.In 2008/9 converted a 300 hectare sheep farm to a dairy farm.Also farm 364 hectares of dairy support.
Director of 3 other farming companies Director of foliafeed for over 10 years Married to Wynette and have two sons Ian and Nigel. Other interests lawn bowls and travel.George Shuttleworth
Director and technical advisor and Account Manager.
Jeff Broomfield
Director, technical advisor, farmer Western Southland and account manager.
Bill Thompson
Director, and account manager.