New Zealand 2024: strong nitrogen savings in a normal season
Four leading New Zealand growers ran trials with Messium in the 2024 season. In more typical growing conditions, the story was consistent: cut nitrogen substantially, hold or improve yield, and turn the saved fertiliser straight into profit.
Less nitrogen, same or better crop
Each trial compared the grower's farm-standard nitrogen plan against Messium's recommendation on the same crop. In every case Messium identified that the crop was carrying more nitrogen than it needed, and confidently advised applying less - without giving up yield.
On the third and fourth splits the crop was clearly over-fertilised, and Messium confidently recommended less - lifting protein without extra nitrogen.
Why it matters
A more normal New Zealand season let the nitrogen-saving side of Messium show clearly. Where the crop was already well-supplied, the most profitable move was to apply less - and Messium had the confidence, backed by satellite data and crop modelling, to recommend it. On the Watson farm that meant a third less nitrogen for a $283/ha profit gain.
New Zealand is also where Messium first moved to a fully satellite-led model for in-season data - image data processed within three days, versus the ten-day average turnaround for lab tissue tests. Faster data means recommendations land in time to act on.