Fertiliser range promises higher yields and better return for growers

GLANBIA Agribusiness and Boortmalt have jointly launched a new Malt Master range of fertilisers, which they claim deliver a more efficient use of nitrogen.

The partners say the new product maximises nitrogen use by optimising the balance of all the macro elements within a balanced fertiliser programme.

Some 300 farmers learned about the product at meetings this week in Bunclody, Co Wexford and in Carlow, hosted by Tom Bryan, malting manager for Boortmalt.

Glanbia and Boortmalt say the new fertiliser will deliver more grain protein levels towards the middle of the specification, reducing screenings, giving higher yields and leading to improved economic returns for the grower.

Mr Bryan said: “It is Boortmalt’s and Glanbia’s desire that all malting barley growers should produce high yields of the required quality. This collaboration on fertiliser supply is a significant step in this direction.

“Many growers have radically altered aspects of their crop husbandry programmes over the past 30 years, but for many the fertiliser regime has remained the same.

“Growers will have to match fertiliser inputs to crop off-takes if overall yield and protein levels are to improve.”

Mr Bryan also spoke about the trend in recent years of a large volume of the malting barley submitted by growers being outside the required specification for protein.

The meetings were also addressed by Jerry McHoul from K&S Kali, the company supplying Korn Kali, the unique ingredient in Malt Master fertilisers.

Mr McHoul highlighted the importance of each major nutrient in the growth cycle of barley and how the interactions between the nutrients was as critical to optimising yield as the quantity of the nutrient available.