Farming smarter with technology
The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry professionals from across the country.
German manufacturer Claas has integrated the Terranimo application into its CEMOS control system for tractors.
While CEMOS is still the only selflearning, interactive driver assistance and process optimization system, the Terranimo application will enable the tractor-implement setting to be even more focused on soil protection.
Terranimo is a simulation model. It was developed by the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH-HAFL) in cooperation with the Agroscope Reckenholz Research Institute, Aarhus University in Denmark and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and calculates and visualizes the risk of compaction. The model’s algorithms are based, among other things, on decades of accumulated best expertise.
In CEMOS for tractors, these are combined with the other information – such as soil type and condition, working depth, field condition (uncultivated, shallowly tilled or deep tilled), attachment, tyre type and ballasting.
Based on this combined information and the technical data calculated by CEMOS, such as static or dynamic axle loads, Terranimo calculates the compaction risks for three soil layers. Based on the assessment, CEMOS can then provide the driver with further recommendations for ballasting and optimizing the tire pressure to create the least damage to the soil structure.
If any changes are made to the tractor or implement settings, any changes in the risk of compaction flows directly into the current risk assessment of the Terranimo function. As a result, the driver will receive direct feedback on the effect that changing the settings will have on the soil structure.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the 2025 Fieldays has been one of more positive he has attended.
A fundraiser dinner held in conjunction with Fieldays raised over $300,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
Recent results from its 2024 financial year has seen global farm machinery player John Deere record a significant slump in the profits of its agricultural division over the last year, with a 64% drop in the last quarter of the year, compared to that of 2023.
An agribusiness, helping to turn a long-standing animal welfare and waste issue into a high-value protein stream for the dairy and red meat sector, has picked up a top innovation award at Fieldays.
The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award.
Following twelve years of litigation, a conclusion could be in sight of Waikato’s controversial Plan Change 1 (PC1).