Twenty years of spreading in Tasman

Twenty years on and Brooks Spreading owners and operators Dean and Sarah Brooks say they still enjoy being part of feeding the world and have no plans to
stop spreading any time soon.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about meat or plants you have to feed it. Without fert nature struggles to replenish the nutrients in the soil, we provide good value fert spreading to with the least amount of environmental impact possible.” Sarah says.

Brooks Spreading specializes in agriculture and horticulture spreading and the close-knit team has earned themselves a reputation as quality spreaders capable of working the tough terrain of the Top of The South Island. In the early 2000s, a spreading business sold up creating a demand for spreading services.

Dean was working at the truck weighbridge in Belgrove and saw the demand as an opportunity to branch out and do something for himself. Dean, and brother Jason, had a lot of trucking experience through their parent’s contracting business carting coal, gravel crushing, and hay bailing in the Tasman area, so truck work felt like returning home.

Late 2002 the brothers invested in a new truck and bin. Their first job, under the banner Brooks Bros Spreading, was in February 2003. Demand saw them quickly
purchase a second truck. In 2009 Dean and Sarah purchased Jim Turnbull’s Murchison spreading operation and at the same, a joint decision for Jason to be brought saw Dean and Sarah rename the company Brooks Spreading and continue
spreading.

Their fleet now consists of four Iveco spreader trucks. A Case Optum tractor with a 3-point linkage spreader. A specialised Fendt 209v tractor and trailing spreader for horticulture work. A Mack Trident 6x4 and 4-axle trailer bulk unit. Plus, side tipping and automatic trailers for self-un into the spreaders, manitou telehandlers, and a mobile elevator for bulk deliveries into the spreaders.

“Technology has changed a lot in this time and is a handy tool for ensuring fert is being used responsibly,” Sarah explains “As well as being able to wirelessly control information to ensure we are in the right place, doing the right job. We can send our clients data so they can view it straight away and have records to refer to for the future.”

Long-time team member Toby Evans is now a shareholder which Dean and Sarah are thrilled about. They also say that while the work is seasonal, they employ their staff all year round. “Employing staff who are untrained is not a risk we would take, it’s just not safe. It takes a long time to get the experience needed to work on steep slopes.” Dean says.

Steep land is something the team is used to as they service a wide area covering just about everywhere heading north from Springs Junction up.

“There are gullies we go up and once you get to them the land just opens up and is vast, it’s amazing,” Sarah adds.

The couple explains that fertilizer is just another word for nutrients “Whatever you’re producing it needs nutrients just like humans do. Think of your vegetable garden when you dig in compost you feed the ground, the same process applies when fertilizing and if you don’t feed the soil then it’s hard to produce from it, it’s really that simple.”