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Story: Topdressing

Aerial topdressing

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Aerial topdressing

Spreading fertiliser over the land is referred to as topdressing. Applying it from aircraft was pioneered in New Zealand, and has been the main factor in the development of hill-country farming.

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by Allan Gillingham

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How to cite this page

John Maber, Topdressing – Fertilisers and spreading methods, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/16543/aerial-topdressing (accessed 13 June 2026).

Story by John Maber, published 1 March 2009.