YP AG was established on the Yorke Peninsula in 2003, and has since gone from strength to strength. The team pride themselves on being a leader in rural services for South Australian producers, offering a great range of rural products, agronomy services, and research and development (R&D).

This year, the team will celebrate 20 years in business, so YP AG Managing Director and original team member Justin McCormack sat down to reflect on how far the business has come.

How did the idea for the YP AG business originate?

The YP AG business idea came originally from a supplier partner. They identified that there was a gap in independent rural retailers in some areas of the Yorke Peninsula, so we decided to give it a go.

What are the values behind YP AG’s operations?

Our mission is to is to ensure we are aware of our customers’ needs, strengthen our relationships and deliver a superior level of service and support. Our values fall under four pillars:

1. We will remain loyal and committed to our mission and vision.
2. Our impact will influence those who desire positive outcomes.
3. We will maintain a sense of fairness when strong action is required.
4. Our staff will uphold YP AG’s integrity by being honest and consistent with their approach.

20 years ago, what did the business look like?

When we started up, we worked our distribution from a trucking business in Kadina while we were having our more official premises built. The business was primarily run in Kadina, and agronomy staff worked from home offices. On farm deliveries were a key point of difference in the early days, that’s been copied now but that took a lot of work at the time and was key to supporting our customers.

We started with seven full time staff, four of whom are actually still on board today, among our wider team.

What significant changes have you seen in the agribusiness sector over the last 20 years?

Some of the significant changes have been the efficiency, size and capacity of farm machinery, improvements in technology and advances in ag chem options, which have all driven yield increases.

Changes in management practices have also improved sustainability in dryland broad acre farming. We feel we have played a part in many of these changes.

YP AG is best known for R&D and agronomy services. How have these areas developed since YP AG was born?  

We are very proud of our comprehensive R&D program and the value it provides to our customers, staff, and supplier partners.

Originally, we contracted all of our R&D program out to external providers. Over time, we wanted to expand our program and therefore chose to invest in our own plant. This gave us more control over the outcomes and allowed us to produce timely results and increase our ability to undertake contract work in our own right.

What does YP AG mean to the Yorke Peninsula community now?

YP AG has continued to provide a value add relationship with our customers, and that is still received very well. Our staff are still well embedded in local communities and have developed strong relationships with our customers.

What does the future look like for YPAG?

YP Ag is in the succession phase, as the more experienced people that have been in the business for a long time start to make way for those that have chosen YP AG for their own career journey. They will be looking to take on the responsibility of leadership in the coming years.

We look forward to growing with our customers into the future and continuing to provide the great level of service that YP AG is renowned for.

THE Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has announced interim measures from its review of 2,4-D which require new spray drift instructions for the 2019 season.
The 2,4-D products currently exposed to these measures are 2,4-D Amine and LV Ester. However, in future years it may be extended to include most, if not all, of the Group I herbicides like MCPA, Lontrel and dicamba, Garlon, Starane and others. Nufarm Australia has been instrumental in helping farmers change their thinking towards spraying with these products, and providing the knowledge required for them to successfully apply the 2,4-D products without the risk of drift. Anyone applying 2,4-D products is now obliged to follow the new label directions. Manufacturers, like Nufarm, have new labels on all 2,4-D products and will provide access to these labels for all 2,4-D products. All advisors will also need to be aware of the changes to ensure spray recommendations do not breach the new labels. Marc Cooney from Nufarm said there were a couple of things Yorke Peninsula farmers must be aware of when applying these products in the future.
“The minimum mandatory droplet size increases to very coarse (currently coarse)” Marc said. “Farmers are advised to use a larger droplet size (extremely coarse or ultra-coarse) until April 15, 2019. “There are downwind buffer zones that have been established from sensitive vegetation and aquatic areas, with boom heights now restricted to a maximum of 50cm off of the target, whether it be the ground or the stubble.”YP AG’s Chris Davey said there were a few things farmers could do to prevent spray drift. “Use minimum of 80L/ha water volume and, in heavy stubbles, increase this to 100L/ha” he said. “Keep speeds to below 20km/h, and use only recommended adjuvants with the 2,4-D products in question.” Chris said spray drift was not a major concern on YP due to the lack of sensitive crops like vineyards, cotton and summer crops. “However, if we don’t abide by these guidelines, there is always a chance spray drift can occur, and we will lose these vital products completely from use in our farming systems,” he said.

For more information about the spray drift regulations, or to change over your nozzles for when using the 2,4-D products, call into your local YP AG branch.

New staff
Since the start of this year you can see some new faces at our YP AG branches. In Kadina Des will be working in logistics and Tyra started as customer service representative, in Yorketown Aniek started in the same role. Curramulka has Nicole as an edition to the team she will expand her agronomy knowledge working closely with Kara. To complete the team of our Maitland branch Will has started as manager in training.

More information about our new staff you could’ve seen in the country life.
Click here to view article.

Do you need a ChemCert or need to renew your current ChemCert? The new dates are now available.

Below are the courses currently scheduled in SA for 2019 through to mid-year.
Enrolments can be sent through to ChemCert on this form.
The form can be used for either Online or Face to Face courses.

Local course in Kadina, Maitland and Yorketown available.

DATE LOCATION
20/03/19 Murray Bridge
26/03/19 Crystal Brook
26/03/19 Loxton
27/03/19 Pinnaroo
27/03/19 Jamestown
28/03/19 Orroroo
01/04/19 Kadina
02/04/19 Mt Barker
02/04/19 Yorketown
09/04/19 Kangaroo Island (Parndana)
10/04/19 Kangaroo Island (Parndana)
16/04/19 Balaklava
16/04/19 Virginia
17/04/19 McLaren Vale
17/04/19 Kapunda
30/04/19 Loxton
01/05/19 Mt Barker
01/05/19 Renmark
07/05/19 Yorketown
08/05/19 Kadina
14/05/19 Murray Bridge
15/05/19 Gawler
21/05/19 Loxton
22/05/19 Strathalbyn
28/05/19 Naracoorte
29/05/19 Mt Gambier
30/05/19 Bordertown
31/05/19 Kingston SE
04/06/19 Port Augusta
05/06/19 Clare
18/06/19 Mt Barker
19/06/19 Tailem Bend
25/06/19 Loxton
26/06/19 Pinnaroo

Meet Jeroen! As you may or may not be aware, Jeroen is currently completing a 3 month internship with YPAG.

Please make yourself known to Jeroen if you see him, especially at the field days.

Below is a snippet about himself.