Nutrien’s global leaders meet with Australian farmers

Nutrien’s Board of Directors and executive leadership team recently travelled from North America to spend time with the Nutrien Ag Solutions business in Australia.

The global leaders enjoyed a full itinerary which included site visits to a wool store, livestock selling centre, and Nutrien’s retail stores.

Nutrien CEO and President Ken Seitz said the trip was a valuable opportunity to connect with the regional team and Australian farmers.

“Australia is an important country for our business and the global agriculture industry, so it was a privilege to be back there with our colleagues and customers,” said Mr Seitz.

“We have 4,000 employees across Australia, and those boots on the ground matter because while agriculture is global, farming is local. As a strong, global business, we invest in the programs needed at a global scale and then through our local agronomy network we can tailor those solutions to fit the distinctive needs of each individual farm and paddock,” said Mr Seitz.

During the trip, the group had the opportunity to visit the Fowler family (Kooroogong Pastoral Company) in Wagga, NSW.

“I recently came across a statistic that an Australian farmer produces enough food each year to feed 600 people. That's enormous and not possible without generations of commitment to efficient and sustainable improvements on farm. This is exactly what the Fowlers are doing at their property in Wagga and was a great showcase of Australian innovation for our global visitors,” said Kelly Freeman, Nutrien Ag Solutions Managing Director.

Kooroogong Pastoral Company is a mixed farming enterprise that consists of cereal and oil seed crops, prime lamb production, and beef cattle breeding and trading.

“We were honoured to be able to host the Nutrien Board and their global leaders on our farm,” said Jock Fowler.

“It was great to be able to explain our family farming operation, talk about our livestock production system and the integration of our dual-purpose crops in finishing our lambs on our mixed farm enterprise. No doubt a highlight for our North American guests would have been the group witnessing some sheep shearing during their visit as well,” said Mr Fowler.

        Photo: Mecardo Business Development Manager Olivia Agar

Following the regional tour, Nutrien’s leaders met with more than 100 farmers in Melbourne to hear first-hand about their priorities for the season ahead.

Mecardo Business Development Manager Olivia Agar moderated a panel discussion where farmers had the opportunity to ask questions to Nutrien’s local and global leaders.

“It was an absolute thrill (and a big first) to moderate the panel which included senior business leaders from Nutrien. It was great to hear their insights into supply chain reliability for farm inputs, what transformation will look like for Australian agriculture, and what’s ahead in crop protection and fertiliser markets. It was also such an amazing opportunity to spend time connecting with some of our producers and growers from all over the country,” said Ms Agar.

        Photo: Nutrien CEO and President Ken Seitz.