New Zealand roots. Victorian ground.
FertFinda
Victoria.
“We’re using at least 30% less.”
Tony Donovan, Midfield Meats, on ABC Landline.
Mike and Tracy Smith of New Zealand, together with Tony Donovan in Victoria. A partnership built around the people making fertiliser decisions on the farm.
30%+
Less input. Grass and crop maintained.
Tony told ABC Landline he was using at least 30% less while growing as much grass or crop, and starting to grow more.
Hear Tony’s account14,000
Hectares under Tony’s management.
Grazing, cropping and dairy country at Midfield Meats near Warrnambool, Victoria. This is the scale of the operation, not a claim that every hectare was treated.
300 ha
Four years of MaxSil use.
Tony reported using MaxSil across about 300 hectares for four years, in Stock & Land’s 14 June 2026 coverage.
Read Stock & Land’s reportTony’s reported experience at Midfield Meats, not a guaranteed result for other farms. Discuss your own rates and fertiliser program before making changes.
The partnership
Two countries.
One farming conversation.
FertFinda Victoria brings Mike and Tracy Smith’s New Zealand connection together with Tony Donovan’s hands-on Victorian farming experience.
In New Zealand, FertFinda connects farmers and growers with independent fertiliser suppliers, alongside advice on foliar and slurry application. Here, the Victorian partnership starts with local experience and the needs of your farm.
Meet FertFinda New ZealandMike & Tracy Smith
The New Zealand partners behind FertFinda Victoria.
Tony Donovan
Victorian partner and Farm Manager at Midfield Meats.
Your farm comes first
Start with your pasture, cropping program and the decisions you need to make.
The FertFinda approach
Grow more with less.
Look at the whole input system.
Not just a bag of fertiliser. FertFinda’s New Zealand advice and consulting approach brings product choice, buying decisions and application methods into the same conversation, with the aim of making farms more efficient and profitable.
Discuss your full farm program“I’ve always enjoyed helping farmers be more efficient with their inputs.”
Mike Smith, FertFinda New Zealand, Advice & Consulting.
Mike farmed dairy country in Taranaki, King Country and Southland before spending five years as Tow and Fert National Sales Manager. He became New Zealand’s first Tow and Fert contractor in 2013, using a Multi 4000.
His approach: try things, measure the results and try again. Together with Tony’s Victorian farm experience, that gives the partnership a practical starting point for reviewing what goes on your paddocks and what you get back.
A better deal on inputs
FertFinda was founded on the belief that farmers and growers should get a better deal. Review product options and input spend, rather than simply buying more of the same.
Advice beyond the product
Mike’s published expertise covers foliar, solid and slurry applications. The conversation starts with your current program and the way you choose to apply it.
Work with your setup
Consider your machinery, staff and preferred application method. The aim is to improve efficiency without assuming every farm needs a different system.
Measure what matters
Compare input spend, application choices and farm outcomes. Test changes and review results, with a focus on making better use of what you put on.
A wider toolbox, not a single-product answer.
FertFinda’s New Zealand range includes organic and conventional fertilisers, bio-stimulants and animal health/mineral products. MaxSil’s plant-available silicon is one part of the conversation, alongside your wider nutrition and application program.
These services and product categories describe FertFinda’s published New Zealand offering. Ask the Victorian partnership which products and services are available locally. Savings and production improvements depend on your farm; no fixed saving is promised.
Read Mike’s advice and consulting approach
Experience from the paddock
Less input.
No step back in production.
Tony Donovan manages 14,000 hectares of grazing, cropping and dairy country at Midfield Meats near Warrnambool. His reported MaxSil experience brings a practical farm perspective to FertFinda Victoria.
“We're growing as much grass or crop as we always have. In fact, we're starting to grow more, and we're using at least 30% less.”
Tony Donovan on MaxSil, ABC Landline. Individual farm experience, not a guaranteed result.
Watch Tony on ABC Landline
A closer look at plant-available silicon.
MaxSil is made in Australia from recycled glass. It supplies plant-available silicon, with powder, granules and mini prill formats for different farm programs.
- Explore pasture and broadacre applications.
- Discuss rates, timing and your existing fertiliser program.
- Start with a measured on-farm trial.
As seen on ABC Landline
ABC Landline’s report on MaxSil, featuring growers, agronomists and the Australian production story. Footage: ABC Landline.
Read the full MaxSil storyLet’s talk Victoria
What does your farm need next?
Tell us where you farm, what you grow and what you want to improve. Start the conversation about FertFinda Victoria.
Enquiries go to the MaxSil team at admin@maxsil.com.au. Include “FertFinda Victoria” in your message.