JDLink Boost for NZ farms
Connectivity is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, but it is now being overcome through the power of satellite technology.
The latest John Deere Operations Center update has improved levels of precision and ease of use for machine monitoring, tracking input application and record keeping.
The updates also include the expansion of John Deere’s input product database, and Operation Centre’s ability to provide ‘estimated time remaining’ for tasks to be completed in real time, so will directly increase productivity for farmers through timesaving and management insights.
Until now, growers in New Zealand had to manually input their own product information into Operations Center, which led to errors in record keeping and ultimately unusable data. Now users can select products from more than 3,500 varieties, 5,000 chemicals, and almost 1,000 fertiliser products specific to New Zealand, ensuring accurate records— including product name, brand, and registration number.
The update will also ensure details of products to be used as part of digital work plan can be sent to machines wirelessly, ensuring that the right product is applied to the right field at the right rate.
As part of the upgrade, farmers will also receive updates on the efficiency of multiple machines in a paddock with the addition of the Estimated Time Remaining feature. This will allow managers to monitor progress and plan the next job with high levels of timeliness. The feature will update every five minutes, based on factors such as turn times and machine configuration.
In practice, it will allow a manager to see how long a job is going to take to complete, before forecasted rain might arrive or the time a supply tender needs to meet the sprayer. In addition, the system can also display idle time, with a counter until the machine starts moving again.
An improved map page in Operations Center will simplify a farmer’s experience of monitoring fieldwork and equipment from the office. The update will also allow selected partner organisations to view equipment information.
The new equipment management tool enables farmers to view and manage their entire fleet in one place, including machines, implements and precision ag devices.
Alliance has announced a series of capital raise roadshow event, starting on 29 September in Tuatapere, Southland.
State farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) has announced a new equity partnership in an effort to support pathways to farm ownership for livestock farm operators.
Following a recent overweight incursion that saw a Mid-Canterbury contractor cop a $12,150 fine, the rural contracting industry is calling time on what they consider to be outdated and unworkable regulations regarding weight and dimensions that they say are impeding their businesses.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says his officials plan to meet their US counterparts every month from now on to better understand how the 15% tariff issue there will play out, and try and get some certainty there for our exporters about the future.
Brett Wotton, an Eastern Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower and harvest contractor, has won the 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award for his work to support lifting fruit quality across the industry.
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