Rotorua-based precision ag dealer is best of the best

Director Matthew Gray was recently named the Ag Leader ANZ Dealer of the Year, ahead of 60 other dealers across ANZ. Gray has more than 20 years’ experience in intensive farming, farm machinery and precision agriculture technology.

Raised on a mixed cropping and livestock farm near Gisborne, he completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Lincoln University, followed by a graduate exchange program with Ohio State University.

Working at a large agribusiness with interests in farm supplies, crop protection, farm machinery, agronomic services, finance, insurance and farming in Kentucky, Gray was mentored by well-known UK agronomist Phil Needham, who encouraged US farmers to adopt intensive European cropping systems that ultimately helped double Kentucky’s average wheat yield in 20 years.

He returned to New Zealand and worked as a farm machinery operator, service technician, precision ag product specialist and precision ag business manager before establishing Unearth Ag in 2016.

“Our goal is to help farmers and contractors to gain a true view of the performance of their cropping operations, thereby helping to improve their productivity and profitability,” Gray says. “This can be anything from simple guidance systems, through to fully automated maize planters, precision control systems for sprayers and spreaders and yield monitoring.”

Unearth Ag works closely with maize growers throughout the upper North Island.

“As a precision ag specialist, I help fill the gaps between what comes with machinery and what you can do with aftermarket options. Typically, our customers start with auto-steering before they realise the potential of this technology.”

Gray suggests that beyond auto-steering, there is only a small step to being able to precisely apply inputs based on known yield data. He also believes that the incorporation of ISOBUS technology in modern machinery is a game-changer, giving farmers modularity in hardware, allowing different brand GPS displays talk to rate controllers.

His focus on the Ag Leader range allows entry-level steering systems right through to precision application, yield monitoring and data management, using proven, easy to use, and durable technology made in North America.

“It’s a good product that is backed by people who know what they are doing and is backed with ongoing technical support,” Gray says.

www.unearthag.com