Learn why we call our approach Performance Agronomy™ with a free one-on-one session with your local agronomist. We’ve forged a reputation for having the most technically astute agronomy field staff across the pastoral retail sector, achieving extraordinary yield results for winter-feed crops, including frequently winning yield competitions across regions.
Your free no obligation farm review includes:
We understand the nuances of South Island soil and conditions and how plants grow. That’s why 95% of our seed mixes are tailored and prescribed exactly when and where they’re necessary. We also tailor chemical and fertiliser solutions to each paddock and crop; this is not only more cost effective, in our experience it gets better results.
We’ve developed our own growing programmes including the cultivation of specialised formulations for kale and fodder beet. And we were the first to consider different ways of planting – a university- backed study that saw us build our own drill designed to sow seeds at a spacing rate we know works best in South Island soil.
To ensure our agronomy-led solutions reach their full potential, we’re on-farm regularly walking each paddock corner to corner to see how crops are tracking throughout every stage of growth and into the next season and the season after that.
Derek is a Bachelor of Agricultural Science graduate from Lincoln University. He brings to the company a wealth of knowledge in fertiliser having worked in this industry for five years prior to joining Catalyst in 2018. Derek is based out of Christchurch where he resides with his family.
Growing up on a dairy support farm in Rangitata, Reg developed a deep-rooted passion for agriculture at a young age. After attending Timaru Boys High School as a boarder, he embarked on a journey in farming, starting with the family farm before transitioning to share milking with his wife Emma. Prior to joining Catalyst, Reg successfully managed a large-scale dairy support operation under CPW irrigation. His dedication to sustainable practices and personalised approach makes him a valuable asset to the farming community in the North Canterbury region. Currently residing in Darfield with his wife and kids, outside of work Reg enjoys embracing outdoor adventures as keen hunter and multi-sport competitor.
Harry grew up on a beef, cropping, and deer farm in South Canterbury. He earned a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours from Lincoln University, focusing his thesis on beef wintering systems. Harry has worked on dairy and high-country farms. In 2023, he gained international experience in Argentina, Chile, and the UK. He joined Catalyst in late November. In his free time, Harry enjoys hunting, fishing, diving, reading, and skiing.
Luke brings valuable experience from his time working as a pastoral agronomist in the South Canterbury area. With previous roles in finance at PGGW, Elders, and Farmlands, Luke's expertise is backed by a Bachelors degree in Agricultural Science from Lincoln in 2010. Off the field, he's a dedicated rugby player, representing Pleasant Point and South Canterbury in the heartland championship. Based in Timaru, Luke will serve our clients from both the Ashburton and North Otago stores.
After completing his studies in Agronomy at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, Wouter has amassed over 10 years' experience in agronomy, including nine as an agronomist in South Africa specialising in arable and vegetable crops. Wouter enjoys the diversity of his role – from desk to paddock, and the satisfaction that comes from seeing a crop through from planting to harvest. Wouter and his young family immigrated to NZ in August 2019. They love the outdoors and are all enjoying travelling to different parts of their new home country and look forward to the many beautiful places they are yet to see.
Evan joins the Mid Canterbury team as an Agronomist, working to provide technical advice and support to farmers and the team throughout the season. He comes to us from New Zealand Arable, where he worked as a field research technician, delivering field trials for a wide range of clients. During this time, he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management at Lincoln University. His career also includes a short stint with the New Zealand Navy in 2019. In his spare time, Evan enjoys running and biking - he’s competed in several half marathons and has a goal of completing a sub-3-hour marathon.
Paul is a highly skilled and dedicated professional serving as the Warehouse Manager at our Ashburton location. Known for his strong leadership and organisational skills, he fosters a positive work environment that promotes teamwork, exceptional service and customer satisfaction. Paul's attention to detail and commitment to excellence drives the success of our Ashburton operation.
Known for his exceptional customer service and always going the extra mile to ensure client satisfaction, Mike is responsible for the smooth and efficient execution of our on-farm delivery operation. With his expertise, commitment, and friendly demeanour, Mike plays a vital role in the overall success of our Ashburton operations team. In his spare time, Mike enjoys playing golf and indulging in his passion for horse racing.
After completing his Diploma in Farm Management at Lincoln University, James worked as an Agronomist and Research Technician for nine years. Using his great depth of knowledge, he then moved into a farm advisory role for four years. Now James uses his expertise to coach the next generation of Agronomists and oversees sales operations across the Central Otago region.
Thomas began his career as a Pastoral Agronomist upon completing his Bachelor of Commerce at Lincoln University majoring in Agriculture. While studying, his exposure to a number of different farming systems meant he could study what made them successful. Bringing that knowledge into our industry, his attention is now focused on Central Otago where he’s based as a Senior Agronomist. He prides himself in his accurate, professional approach to agronomy and continues to build his unique skillset.
Linden has a passion for pastoral agronomy, backed by strong experience in the seed and agri-chemical industry and an Agricultural Science degree with first class honours from Lincoln University. Away from the job, he is a keen outdoorsman and loves Central Otago, "the best region in the country".
Gareth brings a wealth of experience to the Central & West Otago region with over 30 years in farming associated businesses, including working for fourteen years as a Seed Territory Rep and five years operating an Agricultural consulting service throughout Otago. Gareth has a passion for the agricultural industry and enjoys working alongside farmers to achieve their goals.
Anthony has been a dedicated fertiliser consultant in Central Otago for 13 years. Before this, he was a third-generation wool buyer for his family business, L.R. McLean & Co. Married to Pip, a Public Health Refugee Nurse, they have a blended family with six children and four grandchildren. Anthony enjoys outdoor bowling, curling, hunting, fishing, and fine dining.
Marty brings 35 years of pastoral agronomy experience and has recently been with Ruapehu Farm Supplies in the North Island, based in Manawatu, where he was an original shareholder and part of the company’s startup team. Although Marty is a seasoned agronomist, he’s always growing his knowledge base and eager to learn new things. Marty and his wife, Amanda, have relocated to Wanaka after spending time holidaying in the region and falling for Central Otago's beautiful landscape. In his spare time, Marty enjoys hunting and fishing.
Fergus grew up on his family dairy farm and graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture Science from Lincoln University. He spent 15 months farming in the Maniototo before joining Catalyst Performance Agronomy. Outside of work, Fergus enjoys rugby, hunting, fishing, mountain biking, and returning to the farm.
With over 25 years’ experience, Geoff has a strong and sound understanding of what’s involved in growing and improving farming systems. He prides himself in providing farmers and growers with expert technical and chemical advice, as well as a great depth of seed knowledge to help clients get the best result from their crops.
Sam is a Waitaki Boys old boy who has come home to North Otago after completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Otago. Sam has amassed a wealth of knowledge in the field and is eager to show local farmers how Catalyst can get them growing. Sam excels at rugby, playing for the local Valley club and captaining North Otago in the national Heartland competition.
Craig joined the team in April 2021 after several years in the fertiliser industry. He has also travelled the world extensively as a shearer. He now resides with his wife Kara on their lifestyle block near Oamaru and enjoys hunting, golf and processing home kill in the weekends. Craig services the East Otago region and is stoked to be working with the growing Catalyst team in North Otago.
Josh grew up on a sheep and beef (later dairy support) farm inland from Oamaru. He completed a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Marketing and Management, at Otago University. Outside of work, Josh has a wicked wee family – Harry (2), Poppy (4), and his partner Renata. They live on a small life sentence block just outside Oamaru. Josh is a keen sportsman, especially fond of tennis, squash, hockey and golf. When summer rolls around, he and the family love heading up to the Waitaki Lakes with the boat.
Anna developed a passion for the outdoors and farming early on, growing up in Staveley. After high school, she shepherded locally before moving south. Seven years ago, she and her husband Hamish settled in North Otago. Previously a Technical Field Officer in South Canterbury and North Otago, Anna spent the last five and a half years raising a family and managing their sheep and beef block in Windsor. Now, she’s excited to return to working with farmers and collaborating with agronomists. Outside of work, Anna enjoys exploring the outdoors, horse riding, biking, camping, and helping run the local Five Forks Playgroup. She also finds time for running and training for adventure races.
Aidan grew up in Mosgiel, Otago and developed a passion for agriculture through diverse farming experiences across the South Island, including dairy, large-scale cropping, and high-country sheep and beef farming. With a DipAg and DipFM from Lincoln University. Outside of work, Aidan enjoys golf, skiing, and mountain biking around the South Island.
Nathan joins the Catalyst team after 25 years in the fertiliser and livestock industries and oversees Catalyst’s business operations in Southland. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge about agronomic practices and nutrient management through course work at Massey and Lincoln Universities, and his long history of working with farmers to achieve the best outcomes for them is an asset. Outside of work, he is kept busy by his three children and 30 hectares but loves to find the time (and weather!) to take the boat out and enjoy a few water sports, or to coach and follow their junior rugby or cricket teams. As a Senior Agronomist, Nathan services customers all across Southland.
Amy joined the Southland team in September 2021, and she brings broad agricultural experience with her. Amy has spent several years as a Technical Field Representative, assisted on a variety of farms and worked in the banking sector. She is passionate about championing a brand that offers the “complete package” for farmers when it comes to their pastoral farming needs. Amy and her husband run their own sheep & beef property and love spending time playing rugby or being together in the outdoors.
Farming and agriculture have played a big part in George's life from a young age; his father was an Agronomist before him, and George's first job was on a cropping farm in South Canterbury where he spent most weekends and holidays learning the ropes. Now that he has completed his BAgSci degree at Lincoln University, he is really looking forward to embarking on a career in an industry he has grown so passionate about. As he learns more about agronomy and crop management, he wants to work closely with farmers (the most hardworking and dedicated people he has met) to help them achieve their goals.
With three years of experience in the rural reseller sector, Leiana is eager to expand her existing agronomy skills. Leiana's diverse background includes previous work in the Travel Industry and studies in Otago. Outside of work, Leiana is a passionate rugby player, representing Southland Country. She also enjoys netball and the great outdoors. Leiana is stationed in Gore, focusing on serving the Gore and South Otago areas.
Born and bred in Southland, Daniel brings over 15 years of hands-on experience in the agricultural sector. Known for building strong relationships and delivering straightforward, stress-free service, he’s trusted for his technical know-how and local insight. Outside of work, you’ll find him hunting, fishing, out on the boat, or giving back to the community through coaching rugby and volunteering with the Wallacetown fire brigade.
Nathaniel brings over 13 years of extensive experience in the agricultural industry, with a strong focus on technical agronomy and on-farm support. He has served farmers across the central North Island and recently mentored colleagues in Taranaki and Manawatu. Nathaniel’s passion for agriculture and his expertise in tailored agronomic advice make him a valuable asset to Catalyst Performance Agronomy. Outside of work, Nathaniel enjoys family time, mountain trails, hunting, and playing squash and rugby league.
Emma is a skilled agronomist with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (First Class Honours) from Lincoln University and five years of experience as a Technical Field Officer for Farmlands Hawke's Bay, specialising in summer cropping, autumn re-grassing, and a variety of crops including maize, fodder beet, brassicas, and cereals. Emma combines her practical farming background, passion for agriculture, and technical expertise to deliver tailored agronomy solutions that enhance on-farm productivity and profitability. Based in Taihape, Emma enjoys sports, cooking, water skiing, and spending time with family and friends.
Every day, we work closely with farmers and farm managers to grow crops that deliver great commercial results. We’re side by side with them in the field delivering tailored agronomy advice on the correct seed variety, planting methods, fertilisers and chemical controls.
Mitch Russell owns Delos Dairies, a 460ha milking platform split across two farms with 60-70ha stitching-in grass each year and 50ha of new grass. In addition, there’s a 230ha wintering block with a mix of fodder beet, kale and swedes. Mitch says, “We’ve been working with Catalyst for a long time now, and the level of knowledge they bring to the table is impressive. On the wintering block, we’ve been working on getting the mix of crops just right; our agronomist has been scaling up our kale in combination with the fodder beet and we’ve been happy how the results work for our herd’s condition. Catalyst is exceeding our expectations year in, year out.”
Dave McCabe and his folks run 130ha just south of Oamaru; mainly a ‘cut and carry’ and grazing block. They’ve always targeted yield tonnage in the high 20s for fodder beet. Since partnering with Catalyst, that target has always been exceeded. In fact, in the 2020-21 season, it was up in the high 30s! It landed Dave a couple of 1 st places and the Supreme award for the Waianakarua and Waiareka Valley Lions Clubs’ Winter Crop Competition 2021. Dave says, “We’ve exceeded yield targets every year.”
Peter Allan runs 600 cows on a 300ha dairy farm that is fully self-contained with cows wintering on the farm. Here’s what Peter says about working with us: “Catalyst works with us on our winter crops which are a mix of fodder beet, kale and swedes. We’ve only recently introduced herbicide-tolerant varieties back into the mix and since then have far exceeded our yield targets.”
