ATS Newsbrief May 2014
It’s almost five years since the creation of ATS Seed—a division of ATS which has gone from strength to strength, well exceeding all early expectations.
Neal Shaw, Group CEO
ATS has always been in the business of selling goods and services to farmers, but until the establishment of ATS Seed, we had not been purchasing from them. This was a significant shift in how we operated.
The decision to enter into the sector was a good fit with our co-operative values. By facilitating deals with both the buyer and the seller, both get value for money. This has certainly proved to be a popular option with many farmers now utilising the services of ATS Seed to secure guaranteed sales with farmers they don’t necessarily know, safe in the knowledge they will be paid. Today the majority of the business transacted is grain trading from farmer to farmer with ATS acting as the broker. The rest of the business involves the sale of forage brassicas, fodder beet, kale, and pasture. More recently there have also been enquiries from other companies for seed procurement. A deliberate decision to not enter the PKE market was made, again with our co-operative values in mind. Co-operatively we acknowledge the importance of our local arable farmers and the opportunity we have to support all local agricultural industry. We all benefit when we enter into the spirit of what co-operatives are all about. ATS Seed does not speculate on grain. It carries out back to back deals, matching buyers with sellers and is successful because of the expectations and trust those involved have with each other and in the quality of grain being procured. This trust is enhanced by the quality of staff involved and much credit should go to Tim Dale, who has been running ATS Seed since it began, along with his team of grain industry veterans, Bob O’Reilly and Tom Patrick, who have decades of experience within the seed industry. ATS Seed has successfully proven itself as another area of the market where ATS can create value for its members and is well placed to continue to grow as it moves forward.
Upcoming Events
Farm Safety Training for Members 20 May 2014 17 June 2014 22 July 2014 19 August 2014 16 September 2014 21 October 2014 18 November 2014 For more information or to RSVP, call 0800 BUY ATS (289 287) or go to www.ats.co.nz/farmsafety
9 June Queen’s Birthday ATS will be closed over Queen’s Birthday Weekend. If members have any urgent requirements call the Duty Manager on 03 307 5100 or 027 487 6865. Upcoming Industry Events
8 May Lincoln University Dairy Farm Focus Day Enquiries: Ph 03 423 0022 Email: office@siddc.org.nz
12–13 May National Certificate in Sheep Farming: Sheep Breeding Level 3 Gain skills and knowledge in sheep breeding. For more information or to discuss your agri-training needs, call Primary ITO on 0800 20 80 20. Courses can also be charged through your Ruralco Card.
21 May Mid Canterbury Biz Start For further information contact Juliette on 021 323 834 or email juliette.lee@dairynz.co.nz
Sort next seasons dairy orders
On the move?
26 May
Have you got your dairy chemical and magnesium orders in for the 2014/15 season? If not contact your rep or come in store today to plan your seasons requirements with the ATS Dairy Schedule.
Do you have new neighbours coming this Gypsy Day? Then tell them about why they should join your local farm supplies co-op.
New Zealand Sheep Dog Championship Trials
If you join the ATS Dairy Schedule before 31 May 2014 you will go in the draw to win one of seven $1,000 Ruralco Supplier vouchers kindly supplied by Deosan, Donaghys, Ecolab, FiL and Orica Farmguard. For more information contact ATS on 0800 BUY ATS (289 287).
If you are moving address please let ATS know so we can keep our database up to date, and to make sure you don’t miss out on any important information. To update your details or to help your new neighbour join ATS please contact us on 0800 BUY ATS (289 287).
To be held at Waihi Station, Woobury road, Geraldine.
26-29 May Tectra advanced shearing course For more information, please contact your regional training manager, Mark Herlihy, 03 310 3024 or 027 292 4767