From Balaklava to Cowell – Agfert Fertilizers almost set to take first delivery on the Eyre Peninsula
If you’ve driven through Cowell lately, you’ve no doubt noticed a change to the landscape, with a multi-million dollar fertilizer storage facility cropping up on the western side of town.
Agfert Fertilizers is the company behind the monstrous 165-metre-long shed, which is due to be supplying fertilizer to Eyre Peninsula farmers in time for the 2025 growing season.
The family-owned and operated business has been supplying fertilizers to farmers since 1975, growing its storage facility at Balaklava from 400 tonnes to 40,000 tonnes, with a blending plant and two load-out facilities.
The new Cowell facility will mirror the Balaklava operation, including five multi-hoppers and an 80-metre-long weigh bridge to accommodate triple road trains. Product will be shipped directly to the Whyalla Port and trucked to Cowell, creating employment for local carriers, as well as up to four staff on-site.
Agfert’s Business Growth and Relations Chief Officer, Tim Gurney, who’s had 30 years of experience in bulk handling across SA’s grain industry, said Eyre Peninsula farmers had shown a keen interest in bringing the facility to the region, providing extra competition in the supply chain, cutting travel time and cost and taking the huge expense out of on-farm storage.
“Agfert’s point of difference is that it’s very customer-centric,” he said. “Growers can basically order and pay for their fertilizer, and tell us when they want to pick it up.
“They’re also dealing with a business owned by a farming family, who know growers’ expectations.”
With SA’s 2024 grain growing season a widespread drought, Gurney said the Eyre Peninsula had faired surprisingly well, given the gross seasonal rainfall.
“Farmers on the EP have been focused on soil improvement in recent years, and it’s really paid off,” he said.
“Hats off to them for their farming techniques, and even the plant breeders. It certainly hasn’t been as bad as what we saw in 2018.”
Currently in Cowell, the massive fertilizer storage shed has gone up, weigh bridge footings have been poured, lighting installed, and cladding almost finished, with concrete flooring currently being poured, ready for the first delivery early in the new year.
Fertilizer pricing has been released, and orders or queries can be taken at various EP resellers, including Cleve Rural Traders, Agave Merchandise, Nutrien Ag Solutions Wudinna and Cendua, Lock Agricultural Services, Bawdens Rural and Carrs’ Seeds.
