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Story: Fertiliser industry

Aerial topdressing

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Aerial topdressing

New Zealand pioneered the technique of topdressing – spreading fertiliser from aircraft. Without this technology, hill and high-country pastures could not have become so productive.

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Agflight Central South Island

by Darren Smith

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How to cite this page

Ants Roberts, Fertiliser industry – Research and quality assurance, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/15855/aerial-topdressing (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Ants Roberts, published 1 March 2009.