Southern Humates
Southern Humates is a privately owned New Zealand company that extracts and processes humate from its Southland lignite mine into certified organic soil conditioners, liquid foliar products, and livestock health supplements for dairy, cropping, and horticulture farmers nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersWyndham, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Southern Humates does
Southern Humates Limited is a privately owned, family-operated New Zealand company founded in 2014 by Malcolm and Ann Sinclair. The company extracts and processes humate from its own lignite deposit in Wyndham, Southland, using shallow excavation methods without chemical treatment. Its core technology involves naturally drying, screening, and bagging the extracted material into solid soil conditioners (Premium, Fine, and Coarse grades) with independently verified humic acid content of 46-48%, significantly above typical industry levels. Product development has expanded the portfolio to include liquid humate (SprayMate) for foliar application, Fulvic Acid Flakes, a slow-release fertiliser (Steady N), and an animal health product (StockMate) for livestock gut health.
The business serves three primary customer segments: dairy farmers incorporating humate into fertiliser blends, cropping and horticulture operations using liquid humate, and livestock farmers using StockMate for calf and herd health. Revenue is generated through unit-priced sales of bulk and bagged products, with bulk commercial orders priced on application. Distribution combines direct B2B sales (managed by National Sales Manager Steve Brooker), a nationwide stockist network (Farmlands, PGG Wrightson, Farm Source, Fertlink, Top Soils, and regional retailers), and direct e-commerce via the company website.
The company holds BioGro organic input certification (2025-26) and has published peer-reviewed research in Nature Scientific Journal validating a 23% increase in pasture growth when its humate is added to fertiliser. Operations remain small-scale (11-50 employees), funded in part by three Callaghan Innovation grants totalling approximately NZD 92,563 between 2016 and 2022, with all commercial activity contained within New Zealand.
Southern Humates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southern Humates
- Legal name
- Southern Humates Limited
- Website
- https://southernhumates.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Southern Humates is a privately owned New Zealand company that extracts and processes humate from its Southland lignite mine into certified organic soil conditioners, liquid foliar products, and livestock health supplements for dairy, cropping, and horticulture farmers nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Southern Humates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Soil Amendments and Animal Health Products
- NAICS
- Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Soil Amendments & Conditioners (Lime/Gypsum/Humates) (IMAEAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Biostimulant-Enhanced Fertilizers (Humic/Fulvic, Amino Acids, Seaweed Blends) (AFABACAK), Soil Health Activators & Biostimulants (Humates, Amino Acids, Seaweed Extracts) (AFABAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Southern Humates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wyndham
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Southern Humates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Humate Product Sales: Sale of processed humate products in various forms - solid (premium, fine, coarse grades) and liquid (SprayMate). Products sold in bag sizes from 20kg to 1 tonne bags or bulk quantities. Includes standalone soil conditioners and products blended into fertiliser.
- Fertiliser Blends with Humates: Humate included as additive to fertiliser blends for dairying, cropping and horticulture. Distributed through stockists and direct relationships with fertiliser companies like Top Soils.
- StockMate (Animal Health Product): Humate-based animal health product for livestock (calves, cows, horses) sold in bag format for stock food application, targeting gut health and reducing diarrhoea in calves.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fulvic Acid Flakes - 20kg bags |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | StockMate - Multiple bag options |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Humate Premium - Various sizes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Humate Fine - ½ tonne bags |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coarse Humate - Various sizes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SprayMate Liquid Humate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Steady N Slow Release Fertiliser |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels5 records
Southern Humates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Southern Humates extracts and processes humate from its lignite mine in Southland, New Zealand, manufacturing organic humate-based products for agricultural soil conditioning and livestock health. The product line includes solid humate grades (Premium, Fine, Coarse), liquid humate (SprayMate), slow-release fertiliser with humate (Steady N), fulvic acid flakes, and an animal health product (StockMate). Products are sold directly, through stockists, and to fertiliser blenders across New Zealand.
Product overview
Southern Humates offers a portfolio of organic humate-based products for soil and animal health applications in agriculture. The core product line includes various forms of purified humate (Premium, Fine, and Coarse grades) that can be added to fertiliser blends or used as standalone soil conditioners. For animal health, StockMate provides organic humate supplementation for livestock. Supporting products include Fulvic Acid Flakes, Steady N slow-release fertiliser, and SprayMate liquid humate for foliar application. All products are derived from the company's lignite mine in Southland, New Zealand, and are certified for organic use.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- StockMate Organic humate product for animal health used as a detoxifying agent in the gut of calves, cows, and horses. Supports immune system receptors and helps reduce somatic cell counts in dairy herds. BioGro certified for organic input.
- Fulvic Acid Flakes Fulvic acid in flake form for soil health applications. Supports plant nutrient availability and soil microbial activity. Sold in 20kg bags.
- Coarse Humate Pure organic humate screened to 1-4mm particle size for soil health applications. Available in 1 tonne, half tonne, and 20kg bag sizes.
- Humate Fine Pure organic humate screened to 0-1mm particle size, designed for use with Tow & Fert trailers for easy mixing with liquid fertilisers across large paddocks, cropping fields, and orchards. Available in half tonne bags.
- Humate Premium Highest quality grade of pure organic humate screened to 4mm for soil health applications. Can be added to fertiliser plans or used as a standalone soil conditioner. Available in bulk, 1 tonne, half tonne, and 20kg bag sizes.
- Steady N Slow release fertiliser containing humate to increase pasture growth and reduce nitrate leaching. Improves nitrogen efficiency in agricultural applications. Available in 1 tonne bags.
- SprayMate (Liquid Humate) Liquid humate product containing high levels of humic acid and fulvic acid. Designed for foliar spray applications in cropping and horticulture sectors. Available in 1000 litre and 20 litre pods.
Quantifiable outcome
- 23% increase in pasture growth when Southern Humates added to fertiliser
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Southern Humates
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Southern Humates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Southern Humates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- FarmlandscoreMajor agricultural cooperative serving farmers nationwide with presence across all New Zealand regions. Stocks and distributes Southern Humates products for both animal health and soil health applications.
- PGG WrightsoncoreMajor rural services company operating throughout New Zealand. Stocks Southern Humates products for distribution to their farmer customer base.
- Farm SourcemajorRegional farm supply cooperative network serving farmers in their coverage area.
- FertlinkmajorSouthland/Otago based stockist creating fertiliser blends with humates for local farming operations.
- Top SoilsmajorCanterbury-based soil fertility specialist purchasing Southern Humates in bulk for incorporation into fertiliser blends. Has been supplying quality humates for six years with aim of 10%+ humates in all their fertiliser blends.
- FertcominorBay of Plenty region stockist for Southern Humates products.
- Tailored EnergyminorRolleston-based stockist offering humates for soil health applications.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Southern Humates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Southern Humates social profiles
Digital presenceSouthern Humates compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Southern Humates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southern Humates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Southern Humates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southern Humates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southern Humates
What does Southern Humates do?
Southern Humates extracts and processes humate from its lignite mine in Southland, New Zealand, manufacturing organic humate-based products for agricultural soil conditioning and livestock health. The product line includes solid humate grades (Premium, Fine, Coarse), liquid humate (SprayMate), slow-release fertiliser with humate (Steady N), fulvic acid flakes, and an animal health product (StockMate). Products are sold directly, through stockists, and to fertiliser blenders across New Zealand.
Is Southern Humates a public or private company?
Southern Humates is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Southern Humates founded?
Southern Humates was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Southern Humates based?
Southern Humates is headquartered in Wyndham, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Southern Humates make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Humate Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are fertiliser Blends with Humates and stockMate (Animal Health Product).
Does Southern Humates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southern Humates.
What industry is Southern Humates in?
Southern Humates's product category is Agricultural Soil Amendments and Animal Health Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAEAH, Soil Amendments & Conditioners (Lime/Gypsum/Humates), with a secondary code of AFABACAK, Biostimulant-Enhanced Fertilizers (Humic/Fulvic, Amino Acids, Seaweed Blends). Its NAICS code is 32531 and its SIC code is 5150.