How to Navigate Sustainability and Compliance with Precision Technology 

The journey towards sustainability in farming can be challenging, especially in the face of increasing compliance regulations and environmental concerns. However, as proud Kiwi farmers, we recognise the importance of safeguarding our beautiful country. 

The good news is that cutting-edge precision agriculture technologies can help by providing targeted solutions. Metrics play an essential role in pinpointing conservation opportunities, and guidance systems optimise inputs to reduce waste. Additionally, data-driven insights not only track, but also highlight adherence to environmental standards. 

By harnessing the capabilities of precision agriculture, streamlining compliance processes and meeting sustainability objectives becomes achievable. In this blog, we’ll give you a practical guide to striking the perfect balance between production and stewardship, offering insights to navigate your journey successfully. 

The Evolution of Precision Agriculture 

The roots of precision agriculture trace back to the humble beginnings of 1980 when Dr. Pierre Robert theorised the idea while in college, dedicating himself to studying and pioneering precision farming principles. 

His core philosophy advocated for focusing resources on struggling crops rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach. This shift allowed farmers to allocate more money and time to crops that required extra attention, helping preserve the quality of robust crops. 

Fast-forward to the present day, precision agriculture has become a key part of the broader conversation on sustainable farming practices, propelled by growing concerns about the environment and food security. 

The Modern Landscape of Farming  

A recent study by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers has outlined five key areas within precision agriculture that have significant potential for environmental benefits. The findings showed that farmers consistently using precision agriculture technologies achieved the following outcomes: 

  • A 4% increase in crop production 
  • A 7% improvement in fertiliser placement efficiency 
  • A 9% reduction in herbicide and pesticide use 
  • A 6% decrease in fossil fuel consumption 
  • A 4% reduction in water usage 

While these numbers are impressive, the overall impact on an environmental scale is remarkable: 

  • 2 million acres of cropland avoided due to more efficient use of existing land 
  • 13 million fewer kgs of herbicide 
  • 378 million fewer litres of fossil fuel 
  • Enough water saved to fill 750,000 Olympic-size swimming pools 

Precision Solutions for Sustainability 

Auto guidance, machine section control, variable rate technology, machine and fleet analytics, and precision irrigation stand as the five key areas contributing to environmental sustainability in farming. 

The technological advancements in these areas play a crucial role in helping farmers adapt to climate change. Technology from GPS-guided tractors and drones help optimise precious resource use including water and fertilisers. With data-driven insights from weather forecasts and soil analysis, farmers can make informed decisions about when to plant, irrigate and harvest, reducing waste and increasing efficiency. 

The Rise of AI in Precision Agriculture 

Right on the cutting edge of precision technology, a major game-changer is making waves: the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning into crop protection methods. Pioneering progress in technology, Trimble has taken a significant step forward by acquiring Bilberry, an AI and deep learning startup. The innovation promises to revolutionise crop protection by shifting from field-level to plant-level spraying. 

This breakthrough invites in a new era of targeted spraying, allowing farmers to apply pesticides and herbicides directly at the plant level, stepping away from the conventional field-level approach. But what does this mean for sustainability?  

The potential impacts are substantial, as this new technology empowers farmers to use resources more efficiently, significantly reducing crop failure risks. The result will be previously unattainable levels of productivity, profitability and sustainability gains. 

The Future of Farming 

As we have explored in this blog, precision agriculture technologies play a crucial role in achieving sustainability objectives while maintaining productivity and profitability. From AI-driven targeted spraying to equipment automation and data-driven analytics, these solutions fine-tune inputs, reduce waste, and monitor key metrics for compliance and environmental conservation. 

While the path towards sustainable agriculture continues to evolve, precision technologies help embrace improved efficiency. To learn more about how precision solutions could benefit your operation’s bottom line and sustainability goals, get in touch. Our Precision Ag specialists are ready to discuss tailored solutions for your farming operation. 

Trimble Agriculture, Precision Farming & Vantage NZ Join Forces to Revolutionise Farming Practices in New Zealand 

The new Trimble Agriculture and Precision Farming connection streamlines ​​fertiliser and spray application for easier reporting, compliance and decision making.

Vantage New Zealand and Precision Farming, leading providers of smart agricultural technology, have launched at Fieldays a ground-breaking connection with Trimble Agriculture, a global leader in advanced positioning solutions, aimed at transforming farming practices for Kiwi farmers. 

The connection between Trimble Agriculture’s vehicle guidance products (via Trimble Ag Software’s API) and Precision Farming’s software platform, introduces a seamless connection revolutionising the way farmers and rural contractors digitise and automate fertiliser and spray application processes, inventory management, and record keeping.

This ground-breaking partnership is brought to farmers by Vantage New Zealand, which is the exclusive distributor of Trimble Agriculture products in New Zealand. Vantage NZ aims to empower farmers across the country by providing them with cutting-edge technology and expert knowledge to optimise their agricultural operations. 

Vantage NZ Co-founder Jemma Mulvihill says the collaboration supports the company’s goal of transforming farming practices across the country and providing farmers with enhanced options and greater efficiency.  

“We take immense pride in revolutionising the agricultural landscape in New Zealand. Harnessing the power of Trimble Agriculture solutions through the Trimble Ag Software API. This partnership will help farmers and contractors streamline their workflow, improve reporting accuracy, and maximise the use of both new and existing Trimble Agriculture equipment. 

“With Trimble Ag Software now connected by Precision Farming, farmers and contractors can leverage world-leading technology and enhance operational efficiency. Manual steps will be eliminated, and proof of application will be automated. The result will be more accurate and reliable application records for compliance reporting and decision making with minimal effort.” 

Farmers utilising Trimble Agriculture’s vehicle guidance products will now have the advantage of digital reporting for self-spreading, gaining real-time insights; and contractors will be able to digitise their workflow and gain a work-in-progress view for fleet management. With enhanced data management and analysis capabilities, farmers can make more informed decisions and optimise their spreading and spraying practices, ultimately improving productivity and reducing costs. 

“With a focus on simplicity, efficiency, and connectivity, this software integration between Trimble Ag Software and Precision Farming paves the way for a new era of farming in New Zealand,” says Jemma Mulvihill.  

“It will empower farmers to save time, reduce costs, and improve environmental sustainability.” 

Precision Farming’s Chief Operating Officer, Chloe Walker, says its partnership with Trimble Ag Software builds on the company’s efforts to help farmers easily manage their environmental data using smart technology and common sense. 

“Farming today relies heavily on data and there is an app or online platform for just about everything. It can be confusing and time-consuming. 

“Precision Farming’s world-class technology simplifies things by enabling different systems to work together and talk to each other. This means data from Trimble Agriculture enabled vehicles can now be automatically transferred to farmers’ Hawkeye or My Ballance accounts or spread/spray diary within Precision Farming. 

“Trimble Agriculture’s integration with Precision Farming will give farmers peace of mind knowing exactly what has been spread where and when. It also gives contractors a wider range of vehicle guidance technologies to choose from. 

“It will also improve the accuracy of variable rate spreading. This can help farmers apply their fertiliser in a way that keeps costs down, looks after the environment better and keep on top of their nitrogen application compliance.” 

For more information about Vantage NZ and Precision Farming, please visit their websites at www.vantage-nz.com and www.precisionfarming.co.nz