ATS Newsbrief February 2014
As the New Year is upon us all it is an ideal time to review a number of things within your co‑operative. As always, our focus is on customer service and the value your co-operative can bring to your business.
Neal Shaw, Group CEO
ATS’s focus remains on servicing our customers as best we can. While price is undoubtedly at the top of the list for many shareholders, the quality of service we offer is equally important, and in today’s world the two are not mutually exclusive.
Upcoming Industry Events
Employers Workshop 11 February Culverden 12 February Ashburton 13 February South Canterbury 14 February South Canterbury/North Otago For more information on a workshop in your area, visit www.dairynz.co.nz/events.
Dairy Women’s Network Morning Tea
It is very easy in a business to sit in an office and think you know what your customers want, rather than going out and asking them. In reality, customer service means different things to different people, and different farming practices have vastly different requirements.
10 February Ashburton
The challenge for ATS is to determine exactly what our customers actually want and need. This is much harder to achieve in a co-operative setting which endeavours to treat all shareholders equally regardless of the scale of the operation and farm type.
Ecan Land/Water Regional Plan Farmer Briefing
ATS is constantly reviewing how it engages the farming community as over time, expectations regarding what’s expected from the co-operative tend to change. It’s paramount for us to be able to anticipate those changes. Surveys have become one of the most effective ways for us to gather information. While we appreciate our farming family’s lives are busy, the information gathered from surveys is crucial to the decision making process and we strongly encourage you to take part. During January, ATS commissioned independent research surveying 250 of its dairy farming families in a bid to get some clarity on what ATS offers in the market, and how ATS can better support them as shareholders. While this survey is dairy-specific, it follows a similar DNA Survey which went out to all ATS shareholders last year in which sheep, beef and arable farmers had the opportunity to have their say. It is easy to be dismissive of surveys as we all seem to be surveyed constantly by various organisations. If you are truly a customer centric business then asking your customers how you can improve would seem to be the logical strategy in any business. Of course, not everyone wishes to take the time to participate in these surveys but at least the offer has been made to source feedback and ultimately, any decision taken will be based on the feedback received. Surveys are like elections, if you didn’t vote, you aren’t entitled to criticise the outcome.
The ATS calendar
For more information, visit www.dwn.co.nz/ events.
17 February Ashburton 19 February Waimakariri 20 February Timaru 26 February Kaikoura 27 February Waihora For more information, contact Tony Fransen at tony.fransen@dairynz.co.nz .
Farm Safety Manual and Training for Members 18 February, 18 March, 22 April & 20 May 2014 For more information please contact Peter Jacob on 03 307 5124 or 0800 BUY ATS (289 287), email book@ats.co.nz or book online at ww.ats.co.nz/farmsafety
Cashflow Budgeting Workshop 4–5 March Timaru 6–7 March Ashburton For more information, contact Catherine Ibell at catherine.ibell@dairynz.co.nz.
Milksmart—The Next Generation 11 March North Canterbury 13 March South Canterbury/North Otago For more information, contact Catherine Ibell at catherine.ibell@dairynz.co.nz.
ATS produced a special 50th Anniversary calendar for 2013 to celebrate the co-operative’s 50th year. This was a onetime production however we have had much feedback from members wanting the ATS calendar to be annual. ATS are therefore looking into creating a calendar for the year 2015. If you capture a beautiful moment in agriculture throughout the year which you would like to be considered for the 2015 ATS calendar, please send your high resolution photo to marketing@ats.co.nz or for assistance please contact us on 0800 BUY ATS (289 287).
50 CELEBRATING
YEARS
ATS sub accounts—making accounts easy
Are your cards up to date?
ATS sub accounts provide members with the opportunity to create an account under their main ATS accounts, saving you time and money when it comes to doing your bookwork. A sub account allows you to separate your personal spending from your main farm account, or to create separate accounts for different enterprises within your farming operation.
If you need to cancel your Ruralco Card or Mobilcard, please let us know. Simply cutting the card up means it can’t be used, but it will still be active in our system and a replacement will be generated when it expires. For more information, call 0800 BUY ATS (289 287).
Sub accounts are attached to a shareholder account, and each application must be approved by the shareholder. The shareholder is the account owner and is ultimately liable for any non-payment. A shareholder account can have a number of sub accounts attached to it—including family members, a farm manager or an employee.
If you need extra Ruralco Cards for your account, please contact ATS on 0800 BUY ATS (289 287).
Sub accounts receive the same discounts and benefits, and operate in the same way as shareholder accounts, but no shares are purchased and there are no rebates paid on these accounts. However, spend from sub accounts are included in the shareholder’s account when calculating rebates. The monthly invoice is sent direct to the account holder giving them extra privacy, and payment is made by direct debit from the account holder’s bank account on the 20th of each month. For further information, please contact the Customer Service team on 0800 BUY ATS (289 287).
Burning agricultural wraps and plastics now illegal As of January 1 2014 it is now illegal for Canterbury farmers to burn polyethylene agricultural silage/ bale wraps as released by ECan. It follows changes brought about under the Natural Resources Regional Plan (NRRP) in 2011, stopping farmers from burning many waste generated from domestic and business activities including metals, treated wood, used plastic chemical drums, empty containers and other wraps. Penalties will apply for offenders. Untreated wood and green waste can still be burned, but remember to check fire restrictions. ATS members are encouraged to dispose of agricultural wraps and other unwanted used containers, agrichemicals, paints and used oil using accredited product stewardship schemes such as Plasback, Agrecovery and Resene Paintwise. Agrecovery and Plasback packs are available for purchase from all ATS stores, the liners are also available at $51.75/ 3pack of large liners and Plasback will charge the farmers $40+gst/liner for collection. Wareings and Tai Tapu-based McCarthy Contracting are the collectors. For collections, call 0508 338 240 or for more information, please visit: ecan.govt.nz/news-and-notices/news/Pages/ burning-agricultural-wraps-illegal.aspx
Ashburton Trading Society Ltd 97 Burnett Street, PO Box 131 Ashburton
Improving direct debits Improvements to ATS’s Direct Debit process excludes returns, which means the amount on your statement will now be the same as the amount taken from your bank account. If you have a query regarding a Ruralco Supplier, ATS Retail, Ballance Fertiliser or electricity invoice, please contact us and if required we will be able to hold this amount from the Direct Debit. If you would like a Direct Debit Authority form or require any further information, please contact ATS on 0800 BUY ATS (289 287).
Is your Approved Handler Certificate valid? Your Approved Handler Certificate may be expired or about to expire. Please contact Peter Jacob on 03 307 5124 or 0800 BUY ATS (289 287) and he will be able to help you with the renewal process.
Use your Ruralco Card today The Ruralco Card is a charge card for the real farmer, offering great discounts for all your farming and family needs. Not only do you receive 9¢* per litre off the pump price of fuel at any Mobil Service Stations nationwide, but with the Ruralco Card you have access to an ever increasing network of local and national suppliers offering real deals and discounts to keep your costs down. Check out the most up to date local and national suppliers at which you can use your Ruralco Card by visiting www.ruralco.co.nz/suppliers To see where you can use your Ruralco Card to fuel up, visit www.ruralco.co.nz/cardforfuel.
Tel 03 307 5100 Fax 03 307 6723 ats@ats.co.nz
Ruralco Supplier updates Check out www.ruralco.co.nz for the list of new Ruralco Suppliers
National Resene Colourshop 0800 RESENE advice@resene.co.nz www.resene.co.nz
Amberley Amberley Panel & Paint
105 Carters Rd Amberley Tel 03 314 8434 app@xtra.co.nz 5% on private panel and paint repairs
Ashburton Annies Country Quilts
167 Archibald St Tinwald, Ashburton Tel 03 307 6277 rachel@anniesquilts.co.nz www.anniesquilts.co.nz 10% discount on retail items, no discount on classes
Greymouth Coast Glass
239 Main South Rd Greymouth Tel 03 768 9966 coastglass@xtra.co.nz 5–15% discount
Rangiora Mead Mowers and Chainsaws
275 Flaxton Rd Rangiora Tel 03 313 6640 sales@meadmowers.co.nz
Paper Plus Rangiora
1 Durham St Rangiora Tel 03 313 7812 rangiora@paperplus.co.nz www.paperplus.co.nz 7.5% on books, cards and stationary
Southend Panel & Paint
639 Lineside Rd Rangiora Tel 03 314 8434 office@southendpanelandpaint.co.nz 5% on private panel and paint repairs
Temuka Temuka Pharmacy
Kaiapoi Kaiapoi Panel & Paint
98D Williams St Kaiapoi Tel 03 314 8483 kpp@xtra.co.nz 5% on private panel and paint repairs
Oamaru Sutherlands Mens & Ladies Wear 205 Thames St Oamaru Tel 03 434 9194 jsm@netspeed.net.nz 5% discount on all items
Tangibles
207 Thames Highway Oamaru Tel 03 434 8825 tangibles@vodafone.co.nz 7% discount on all items
81 King St Temuka Tel 03 615 7529 orders@temukapharmacy.co.nz www.temukapharmacy.co.nz 7% on retail items Prescriptions nett Resigned Suppliers Kingans Kodak Express Business Updates Unique Solutions has acquired the Teamwork business. Carevets now operating and trading as VetEnt. New Smiths City locations accept the Ruralco Card.
Farm Safety Manual and Training for Members Today’s farmers and land owners are required to actively manage all aspects of health and safety around the farm. To assist with this process ATS plans to provide members with access to a farm safety manual and relevant training. Upon completion of the training, members will be able to apply for a discount on their ACC levies. Training dates are the 18 February, 18 March, 22 April & 20 May 2014 for $550 (GST and member discount inclusive). Seating is limited, so get in fast. For more information or to reserve your spot, please contact Peter Jacob on 03 307 5124 or 0800 BUY ATS (289 287), email book@ats.co.nz or book online at www.ats.co.nz/farmsafety
www.ats.co.nz