Ballance has a team of expert technical sales representatives covering the country from North Cape to Bluff. All Ballance sales staff are tertiary qualified in the use of the Overseer nutrient budgeting software; most have university qualifications in a farming-related subject, and most also come from a strong farming background. Ballance sales staff work with their customers to provide nutrient recommendations that will help maintain or enhance productivity and profitability, without harming the environment.
The Ballance North Island sales team comprises the following:
Geoff Barclay joined Ballance in November 2006 as a technical sales representative for the Matamata - Te Poi region.
After an early career in land surveying, Christchurch-born Geoff joined Alfa Laval and learnt about the dairy industry directly from his customers. A transfer to Matamata gave him the opportunity to study other aspects of farming when he joined Wrightson, and later RD1.
Over the years, Geoff has built up considerable expertise in cropping, pasture renewal, fertiliser use and forestry conversions to dairy. Always keen to learn, Geoff says most of his knowledge has a strong practical slant, since it has come from farmers themselves.
When he's not working, Geoff enjoys spending time with his family, coaching junior cricket in Matamata and playing squash.
Sarah grew up on her family's 1000-acre sheep and beef farm in the central North Island, and went to university in Canterbury, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in physical geography.
After a brief stint working on the family farm, Sarah joined the Bay of Plenty Regional Council as a resource consent officer, managing applications from a range of businesses in the wider district. She subsequently took a role with Fonterra's farm milk supply service team at Edgecumbe. She joined Ballance in August 2010.
Sarah and her partner live on a 400-cow dairy farm in Opotiki, and when she's not working Sarah enjoys a range of sports, including mountain biking, hockey, adventure racing and fishing.
Vicky Brough joined Ballance in January 2011, having previously been employed at Fonterra, in a customer service role.
Born and bred in Northland, Vicky grew up on the family dairy farm in Hikurangi, and started her working life with RD1. The part-time job she initially held quickly turned to a full-time position, and she stayed for three years before leaving for her OE. On her return from England, Vicky again joined RD1 and spent another three years working for them, before moving to Fonterra, and then to Ballance.
When she is not working, Vicky enjoys fishing and playing hockey.
Michael Cammock joined Ballance in April 2010, bringing with him extensive experience of rural sales and a comprehensive knowledge of the local farming scene.
Michael grew up on his family's farm near Dannevirke, where his parents ran a dairy, deer and contracting operation. After completing his schooling, Michael worked for Williams & Kettle, first in Dannevirke and later Masterton. After nine years with Williams & Kettle, Michael moved to Elders, where he helped to establish the Masterton branch and managed their farm merchandise.
In his spare time, Michael enjoys a wide range of sports, including rugby, fishing, squash, skiing and tennis.
Phil Clout joined Ballance in June 2010, bringing with him both practical farming experience and an academic appreciation of the industry.
Phil grew up in Wellington, and after studying at Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre in Masterton, he worked on sheep and beef farms, first near Taihape and later in the Wairarapa. He then completed a Diploma in Farm Management at Lincoln University. Having graduated, Phil moved to Australia and spent several years working on a 10,000-acre cropping farm in Western Australia, where they grew wheat, canola, barley and lupins.
When he is not working, Phil enjoys outdoor pursuits such as fishing and hunting, along with the occasional social game of tennis, squash or golf.
Neil Crowson joined the Ballance sales team in July 2005, as a technical sales representative for the Far North district. Prior to that he had spent 12 years with the company, first as a plant operator, then as a department supervisor and finally as a despatch controller in customer services at the company's Whangarei branch. In October 2010 he moved south to look after customers in the Whangarei district.
Together, these roles have allowed Neil to gain a wealth of information about the fertiliser industry and the challenges faced by farmers in the north of the country. To further his understanding of the science behind the use of fertilisers and other agricultural practices Neil is studying for a Bachelor of Applied Science through Massey University.
Neil enjoys the outdoor lifestyle and when he is not working he can be found either fishing or playing the guitar.
Jackie Dale joined Ballance in June 2008, eleven months after emigrating to New Zealand from her native England. Having grown up on the family dairy farm, Jackie went to college to gain an agricultural qualification, and as part of her studies spent six months working on a high-input dairy farm just outside New York.
After graduating, Jackie reared AI bulls on a high-input farm, and later worked as an AB technician, before becoming a product advisor in forage and dairy hygiene. Attracted by the positive images of farming in New Zealand, Jackie and husband Chris emigrated in mid 2007.
When she is not working, Jackie spends time preparing her show dog, Angus, a Bassett hound, and she has her eye firmly set on getting involved in more traditional Kiwi pastimes, such as fishing and surfing.
Andrew Duncan commenced with Ballance in 2008 as technical sales representative in the Te Aroha district. Very much a local, Andrew grew up on his family's 180-cow dairy farm at Walton before going to Massey University, where he completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, with a focus on soils and engineering.
After travelling and working in Europe, Andrew returned to New Zealand in the late 1980s to take over the family farm, which he later converted to a goat farm. In addition, he spent a number of years working as the district manager for LIC in Matamata and Morrinsville.
Andrew's strong practical farming background, combined with his university education and experience of working with farmers in a service-oriented role make him the ideal person to contact for your fertiliser needs.
Dave joined Ballance in June 2011, bringing with him a wealth of experience in agriculture and horticulture. Born in the Manawatu, Dave was educated in the Hawke's Bay, and spent time working in agriculture in Australia (sheep and beef) and the USA (process crops), before returning to New Zealand to join the family horticulture business.
A technical advisory with Skelton Ivory followed, allowing Dave to develop in-depth knowledge of production crops such as potatoes, onions, pipfruit and stonefruit. He then advanced to the Swiss multi-national, Syngenta, where he was a territory manager for the northern North Island, again focusing strongly on the horticultural market. His move to Ballance fulfills a desire to have a more hands-on role, where he can make a positive difference through his practical approach.
In his spare time Dave enjoys a range of sports, including polo, snow skiing and dirt bikes, and has crewed for a New Zealand V8 team.
Martyn Ebbett joined Ballance in June 2005, having spent the previous ten years working in the rural banking sector, much of it in the greater Waikato district.
Spending time on his uncle's Te Puke sheep and kiwifruit farm was enough to convince Martyn that his future lay in agriculture. A season dairy farming helped fund him through a Bachelor of Agriculture (Rural Valuation) at Massey University, after which he added to his practical experience by working on several different farms in New Zealand, Australia, England and Scotland.
Away from work, much of Martyn's time is spent with his family, out on the road cycling, and playing the guitar.
Phil Fleming joined Ballance in September 2004, bringing with him a considerable depth of knowledge of plant science.
Phil has a Bachelor of Horticultural Science, a Masters in Applied Science and a postgraduate diploma in plant science, which have all been earned at Massey University.
These qualifications complement Phil's practical experience of agriculture - he grew up on the family dairy farm at Pungarehu, spent some time working on a cropping farm in the USA and for the six years prior to joining Ballance he was training and racing horses, an activity that he still pursues in his spare time.
Grant Gillard joined Ballance in June 1999 as a technical sales representative in the Northland region. In July 2003 he transferred to Morrinsville.
Although born and bred in the city, Grant has substantial knowledge of the farming industry. After leaving school he spent two years working on a 900-hectare sheep and beef unit, then managed a kiwi fruit orchard in Te Puke, before joining Dalgety Crown as a horticultural representative in the South Auckland area. Prior to joining Ballance, Grant spent twelve years working for Wrightson as a rural supply manager.
When he's not working, Grant spends time supporting the sporting activities of his three children, landscaping, fishing, playing golf and tackling lots of DIY work.
Janelle Gillum joined Ballance in January 2009, bringing a number of years of practical dariy farming experience, mostly gained around the Rangitikei region. She also has a Certificate of Applied Science from Massey University and a Certificate in Agriculture with AgITO.
Prior to commencing with Ballance Janelle worked for Goldpine industries, initially as a salesperson, being promoted to store manager of the Wanganui branch in April 2007.
Janelle has a love for the outdoors, whether it is horse riding, hunting, fishing or working on her lifestyle block in Marton. She is also a keen photographer.
Damian Hart joined Ballance in March 2011, having completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) at Massey University.
Having grown up on on a dairy farm in Reporoa, Damian furthered his practical knowledge of agriculture by working on a variety of farms both before and during his studies.
He is passionate about agriculture, and when he's not working he is keen on outdoor pursuits, including hunting and fishing. He is also enthusiastic sportsman, and represented Massey at rugby in the Agricultural XV.
Matthew Holwill commenced at Ballance in 2006 as technical sales representative for the Otorohanga region.
Matthew enjoys applying his theoretical knowledge and practical farming experience to help customers reach their farming objectives, especially in relation to nutrient management and fertiliser inputs. He has practical work experience in a range of dairying situations, from smaller grassed-based systems to larger herd intensive feeding operations.
Matthew has a Bachelor of Applied Science from Massey University, majoring in Agri-business.
Having married into a dairying family, Matthew would jump at the opportunity to manage the home farm.
Jo Honey first joined Ballance in March 2005, and returned to the company in November 2008, after a brief foray into city life.
Jo has a Bachelor of Resource Studies from Lincoln University and a broad farming background encompassing sheep and beef, avocado, kiwifruit and citrus. Her horticultural knowledge and sound business sense, as well as her strong knowledge of Ballance and its products are invaluable to her customers.
Jo and her partner hail from Gisborne, and she is glad to return home after working for the Taranaki Regional Council on sustainability initiatives, travelling extensively and running her own business.
Will Meads joined Ballance in January 2007 as the technical sales representative for the Pahiatua district.
Will was raised in Waituna West, situated 25 minutes north of Feilding, on his family's 800-hectare sheep and beef farm, where his interest in agriculture developed.
In 2006, Will graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Business Studies majoring in agri-business and marketing. During his university holidays, Will worked on the family farm, which is run in conjunction with two lease properties in Halcombe and Cheltenham and totals around 18,000 stock units.
Prior to joining Ballance, Will was employed for just under a year in a customer services role for Toyota New Zealand, which gave him an understanding of the importance of building good customer relationships.
Outside of work, Will is a keen rugby player, and also enjoys the occasional game of tennis, and socialising with friends.
James Parsons joined Ballance in October 2005 as the technical sales representative for the Pahiatua district and later transferred north to look after the area around Waipukurau.
Brought up in the Hawke's Bay, where his parents managed a sheep and beef farm running 9500 SU, James pursued his rural interests by studying first for a Certificate in Agriculture and then for a Diploma in Farm Management at Lincoln University. He subsequently worked in Australia, UK and Europe in the contracting and harvesting business. A four-year stint in the agricultural contracting industry in New Zealand preceded his move into the fertiliser business.
Away from work, James relaxes by playing a round of golf with friends or sitting on a boat doing a spot of fishing.
Don Pescini joined Ballance in December 2000, bringing with him a wealth of experience in the wider agricultural industry.
Born and bred in the Horowhenua, Don grew up on his family's cropping farm, where they primarily grew onions and potatoes. Having completed a Diploma in Horticulture at Massey University, he took up a position as a research technician at the Horticultural Research Station based in Levin. He then spent three years overseas, which included a stint working on a stud cattle farm in Scotland. This was followed by over twelve years with Shell, in their agro-chemicals division.
When he is not working Don enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, hunting and many other outdoor activities that help keep him fit.
Shaun Pulham joined Ballance in August 2006, having graduated from Lincoln University with a Diploma in Farm Management and a Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture). He spent two years as a technical sales representative in the Bay of Plenty, before transferring to Te Awamutu.
Having grown up on his family's 450 ha sheep and beef farm at Kinohaku, on the southern side of the Kaipara Harbour, Shaun widened his farming knowledge by working for a season on a 300-cow Waikato dairy farm before going to university. He subsequently worked in the dairy, cropping and contracting sectors.
When not working, Shaun enjoys a variety of sports, including hunting, snowboarding, surfing and fishing.
Hadleigh Putt joined Ballance in March 2007 as the technical sales representative for the Tirau and South Waikato region, having previously worked for the Agriculture Industry Training Organisation.
Having grown up on a 260-cow dairy farm in the South Waikato, Hadleigh gained a Bachelor of Applied Science before working in biological forestry research for PF Olsen & Company. He also has a Diploma in Sustainable Land Management, and gained practical agricultural experience working as a relief milker during his study breaks.
Outside of work, Hadleigh is a self-confessed family man, who also enjoys outdoor pursuits such as hunting, fishing, tramping and vegetable gardening.
Sarah Ries joined Ballance in August 2010, having previously worked as a land management officer with the Taranaki Regional Council.
As a child, Sarah spent much time on her grandparents' sheep and beef farm near Stratford, and this fuelled her desire to work in the rural sector. To support this ambition she studied for a Bachelor of Applied Science at Massey University, majoring in agriculture. At the same time, Sarah worked in a variety of farming-related roles, including herd testing for Dexcel. She also gained practical experience of working on a dairy farm.
In her spare time, Sarah enjoys a range of outdoor activities, including tramping, camping and getting away to the Coromandel.
Nick Riley joined Ballance in November 2007 as the technical sales representative for the South Auckland region.
Nick began his career in the agriculture industry by working on farms for several years, then formalised his practical experience with a Bachelor of Applied Science at Massey University, majoring in Rural Valuation and Farm Management.
Prior to joining Ballance Nick worked in the agri-business finance industry.
Outside of work, Nick is involved in a farming partnership and enjoys spending his spare time there, as well as pursuing a range of outdoor sports.
Louise Shepherd joined Ballance in January 2004 as the technical sales representative for the mid-north region, covering Opononi, Kaikohe and Kerikeri.
Prior to this, she was employed by Wrightson's in Waipapa, and also spent time working on the family sheep and beef farm at Kaio. To complement this practical experience, Louise spent three years at Massey University studying towards a Bachelor of Applied Science degree, specialising in agriculture.
When she is not in the office, Louise enjoys a range of water sports, including water-skiing and fishing. In the winter she takes the opportunity to ski on snow, or just to relax with a good book.
Kevin Stanbra joined Ballance in June 2010, bringing with him considerable experience of farming and of rural sector industries.
Born into a family with its roots in farming, it was inevitable that Kevin would work in the agricultural sector. He started out as a milking assistant on a dairy farm at Atiamuri, moved on to an Edgecumbe dairy farm, then into the earthmoving business, serving mainly rural clients. A stint as a farm manager followed, before he joined Hynds Pipe Systems as a rural sales representative.
When he is not working, Kevin's focus is on his family, and when he gets the chance, he likes to get out on his mountain bike or his motocross bike, indulge in a bit of waterskiing or wakeboarding, or tackle a bit of snowboarding.
Caroline Tatere joined Ballance in January 2005, having returned to New Zealand from a year working in Australia. Her experience there - working as a ‘jillaroo' on a 1.3-million acre station in Kimberley and a contract musterer on a 3.4-million acre station in Katherine - added to the practical knowledge of farming that she had developed growing up on the family sheep and beef farm in Tokomaru Bay.
Caroline attended Massey University and graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in agri-business. She followed this with two years working for an animal health/nutrition company in the North Island.
When she is not working, Caroline likes to spend her time schooling and competing horses, playing tennis and swimming.
Carolien Udema joined Ballance in January 2006, having completed three years at Massey University studying for a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture).
Having grown up in Hamilton, Carolien's main exposure to the rural sector came through her grandparents, who had farmed in Holland. Her interest led her to a job with RD1 in Te Awamutu, and it was this experience that led her to study full-time at Massey, supplementing her study with practical work on both dairy and sheep and beef farms.
When she is not working, Carolien enjoys a variety of outdoor pursuits, including fishing, camping, travelling, horse riding and even a bit of golf.
Joshua Verhoek joined Ballance in January 2010, having graduated from Lincoln University the previous year.
Growing up on his family's 600-hectare sheep and beef farm near Wanganui gave Joshua a good grounding in the fundamentals of farm life. His farming experience expanded while he was studying for his Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Lincoln. This degree exposed him to a wide variety of farm types, including market gardens and even salmon farms. During the course of his studies he worked on a 650-cow dairy farm and on a deer farm, both in the Manawatu-Wanganui district.
When he is not working, Joshua enjoys most sports, especially football (the round ball version), waterskiing in summer and snowboarding in winter.
Neil Walker joined Ballance in January 2011, having previously been the assistant farm manager on a 1500-cow farm in Hawke's Bay.
Born in Zimbabwe and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Neil spent his early work years in the retail, motor and property sectors. He and his family immigrated to New Zealand in 2008, and Neil embarked on a career in agriculture. While working on dairy farms, Neil took the time to complete a number of agricultural qualifications, to ensure that he could gain as much knowledge of the industry as possible.
Neil's combination of customer service and practical farming experience make him an ideal representative for Ballance and Far North farmers. When he is not working, Neil is an avid runner and keen fisherman.
