Sunday, 06 March 2022 14:55

Survey to explore farm technology use

Written by  Staff Reporters
DairyNZ will explore shifts in technology uptake by farmers in the levy body’s five-yearly tech survey. DairyNZ will explore shifts in technology uptake by farmers in the levy body’s five-yearly tech survey.

DairyNZ will explore shifts in technology uptake by farmers in the levy body’s five-yearly tech survey.

DairyNZ senior scientist Callum Eastwood says technology options for farmers have expanded rapidly over the years, and the survey looks to provide accurate insight into technology uptake nationally.

He says the survey will explore what technology has been adopted in the past five years and compare it with previous findings.

“In 2018, we forecast that the next study would show continued investment in commonly used automation technology, along with an increase in information technologies such as animal wearables,” says Eastwood.

“It will be interesting to see the comparison between the surveys and see what existing and new innovative farm technology have recently been adopted by farmers,” he says. “We will also be using this work to better understand the opportunities of technology uptake for our farmers.”

The DairyNZ project is led by Dr Callum Eastwood and Brian Dela Rue, and supported by delivery partner Cuthbert and Associates, who started conducting the survey from late February. It will involve 500 randomly selected dairy farmers nationwide, covering the topics of on-farm systems, technologies on-farm, workforce productivity and infrastructure.

Eastwood says the 2018 survey highlighted that rotary sheds were significantly more labour efficient, being generally newer, larger and having more technology incorporated.

“It also showed investment in information technologies such as milk meters, stock weighers and detection systems have historically been low, so we are keen to see if that has changed.

“We appreciate the support from farmers who participate in our survey and how it will help us further our understanding on current technology adoption and farm practices. For some, the thought of answering a survey at this time may be difficult, especially for those impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.

“In our planning, we have taken that into account, and we are excluding farms in the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast for this reason. For other regions we are taking a phased approach, contacting farmers in the South Island first, and other cyclone-affected regions will be contacted towards the end of the survey period, later in March.”

Survey findings will be released in May, to share what practices are trending, the efficiencies they provide, and support other farmers to increase productivity and efficiency on-farm.

More like this

Strong uptake of good wintering practices

DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.

Better animal genetic gain system

A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.

OSPRI's costly software upgrade

Animal disease management agency OSPRI has announced sweeping governance changes as it seeks to recover from the expensive failure of a major software project.

Musical chairs

OPINION: DairyNZ's director elections has seen scientist Jacqueline Rowarth re-elected for another three-year term.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

OSPRI's costly software upgrade

Animal disease management agency OSPRI has announced sweeping governance changes as it seeks to recover from the expensive failure of…

Machinery & Products

BA Pumps expand

Cambridge based BA Pumps & Sprayers, specialists in New Zealand-made spraying equipment, has acquired Tokoroa Engineering’s product range, including the…

Entries open for innovation award

Fieldays and its renowned Innovation Awards are celebrating their 57th year, marking a longstanding tradition in the agricultural calendar, with…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Chinese strategy

OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.

Not fair

OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter