increase font size
Miles Hurrell, Fonterra.
LIC has reported positive feedback from farmers trialling an online tool which stores their data.
The tool, developed by Fonterra and LIC, brings together a farmer's milk production and quality data, herd data, pasture data, local weather forecasts, etc into one online portal.
LIC is trialling the tool with 50 farmers for their feedback on how the system works and what information they would like to be included.
Waikato farmer Ross Crabb says having all his data in one place, also available on his mobile phone, will be an advantage.
"The speed of the information is key: it's all there in one place, on one page, and you can quickly look through to find what you want to know without having to log on to different sites."
Farmers can choose what information they want and how it is displayed on their screen, an appealing feature says Crabb.
"Every farmer gets up in the morning looking for certain things. Every farmer is different, so to be able to get the information you always look for at your fingertips makes the technology useful. There is a menu of different information sources and you can pick which ones you want on your screen.
"The ability to drag and drop the panels means each of us can decide what our screen looks like and where our information is shown. You can set individual limits and get alerts on, say, your cows' somatic cell count."
LIC says interested business partners see it as a way to deliver value to their customers.
"The farmers on the trial are also telling us what data sources they use so we can talk to these providers about being part of the project," LIC says.
Helping to develop the online solution is Figured, a company founded by farmers for farmers. Figured provides real time budgeting tools that work with Xero accounting software.
Fonterra chief operating officer Farm Source Miles Hurrell says the tool responds to what farmers want – one place to access all the data sources they use, to improve onfarm performance.
"Currently farmers have lots of data sources, all developed in isolation," Hurrell says. "They have asked for a way to bring all those data sources together in one place. This would reduce the need for double entry of data. It will also give them the ability to benchmark their farm against others using aggregated data, leading to more productivity and profitability.
"The technology is aimed at helping farmers trim costs and use their resources efficiently."
LIC chief executive Wayne McNee says today's farmers have so much information and an ever-increasing range of technology on offer. Both can add huge value to a farming business, to support more informed decisionmaking and improved profitability, but accessing and using the information to make decisions can be difficult.
"Farmers have told us they want simplicity, they want one place to see all their records and information and they want it in real time."
OPINION: There is zero chance that someone who joined Fonterra as a lobbyist, then served as a general manager of Fonterra's nutrient management programme, and sat on the board of Export NZ, a division of lobbyist group Business New Zealand, doesn't understand that local butter (and milk and cheese) prices are set by the international commodity price.
Kiwis love their butter, and that's great because New Zealand produces some of the best butter in the world. But when the price of butter goes up, it's tough for some, particularly when many other grocery staples have also gone up and the heat goes on co-operative Fonterra, the country's main butter maker. Here the co-op explains why butter prices are so high right now.
An A$2 billion bid for Fonterra's Oceania business would be great news, according to Forsyth Barr senior analyst, equities, Matt Montgomerie.
Herd improvement company LIC has ended the 2024-25 financial year in a strong position - debt-free and almost quadrupling its net profit.
The world's largest dairy company may be in pole position to acquire Fonterra's Australian assets.
Fresh produce grower and exporter T&G Global has overturned last year’s dismal performance by reporting a half year net profit of $1.7 million.
One of New Zealand’s largest fertiliser plants could be forced to shut down for four months as uncertainty looms over gas supply.
Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Bex Green says two public meetings held this week should have made it loud and clear that rural families and businesses are concerned about proposed staffing changes at NZ Police.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is consulting on a proposal to ban weedkillers containing chlorthal-dimethyl (DCPA).
August 6 marks Farm Worker Appreciation Day, a moment to recognise the dedication and hard mahi of dairy farm workers across Aotearoa - and DairyNZ is taking the opportunity to celebrate the skilled teams working on its two research farms.
OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
OPINION: Sydney has a $12 million milk disposal problem.
OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait's recovery seems to have hit another snag.
