But the best is yet to come. It was not until the decade of 1975-1985 that dicalcic began showing its true benefit to Hatuma and its clients. To answer a call from farmers to help overcome poor stock health, Hatuma had its own team, which included field representatives and an agronomist, who frequently used soil testing on farms. These soil tests would show up soil deficiencies resulting from the use of the acidic water-soluble fertilisers, and Hatuma would include the required trace elements into the next mix. The farm’s nutrient status would be propped back up and the farmer would continue on their way. It was a very busy time being the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

However, by the early 1980s things started changing. The feedback Hatuma was receiving from farmers began having a consistent theme – where trace elements were once having to be used on dicalcic farms, farmers began noticing the stock were not showing symptoms of ill thrift anymore, instead they were healthy and full of vigour. But it did not stop there. The farmers were also using less drench, and in some cases, none at all. There were no supplementary trace elements being required; for the first time it was all coming from within the soil itself. Even in districts that were supposedly deficient in elements, like copper, the dicalcic users were not adding any at all. Yet, after being tested at slaughter, the stock showed sufficient amounts. The true benefit of dicalcic was exposed. Testimonials like these became so common that Hatuma pulled out of soil testing in 1985, and they have not done one since.

This was perfect. Now Hatuma did not have to waste precious resources and time fixing the symptoms; the dicalcic went straight to dealing with the problem. This also meant less cost to the farmer too. Once farmers found they could create the perfect environment in the soil by applying Hatuma dicalcic and extra Cropfine as necessary, they began experiencing less symptoms of poor stock health. It was only a matter of time before dicalcic users became so confident the product was helping them achieve excellent stock health, they felt soil tests were not required – they could see it in the stocks’ performance. This defines how simple topdressing can be. In one dicalcic users words, “I now know disease is a sign the soil isn’t right.”

This benefit fitted in exactly with Joe Topp’s philosophy of treating the cause, not the symptom. Farmers also find the follow-on effects mean they use minimum amounts of weed sprays and animal health remedies. But it could only come from properly made dicalcic phosphate; one that was mixed 50:50 and had at least three weeks to mature. This is why Hatuma still make it to that exact recipe, more than forty years after Joe put down his first batch. Farmers insist they do the job properly, so they can achieve satisfaction from a low cost, high profit farming enterprise.