Feed pad with rubber matting hailed as game changer
For Otago farmers Michelle and Rogan Borrie, a newly constructed feed pad on one of their three farms has been a game changer.
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.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.