Biography

Murray Craighead BAgSc, MSc, CPAg, CNMA

Murray is one of New Zealand’s leading experts in soil and plant nutrition.

He completed a B.Ag.Sc. at Lincoln College, Canterbury, New Zealand and a M.Sc. at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. He also has qualifications in Adult Teaching and is both a Certified Nutrient Management Adviser and Certified Practicing Agriculturalist.

Murray spent five years working in technical research roles for the NSW department of Agriculture, Sydney, Australia, working on nitrogen and zinc uptake in fruit trees and later in the interpretation of plant nutrient analysis for the state advisory service. He then spent almost 20 years working for Ravensdown Fertiliser Co-op Ltd, Christchurch in various senior agronomic, research and extension roles. While there, Murray carried out and published many nutrient trials in pastures and crops, wrote advisory pamphlets as well as training and supporting field staff. In 2001 Murray established Nutrient Solutions Ltd., and has been involved in advisory, teaching and research work for New Zealand farmers.

Currently he is on the national executive of the New Zealand Agronomy Society having also spent over 15 years on the Canterbury executive of the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science.

Murray lives in Tasman region where he has a small property running cattle and a small Biogro certified vineyard and winery where the family makes Don/Kindeli natural wines as well as running a homestay.