Wireless dairy farming

Dairy farmers could soon be using wireless technology as proof that they are operating an environmentally sustainable operation.

The wireless connection could help sell the New Zealand story to overseas customers resulting in better prices for their products in the market. For farmers, that would mean they get paid better for their milk.

Tony Walters is convinced the day will come soon when this works and is piloting the tech- nology on his 95 hectare dairy farm in the Waikato.

‘‘We supply milk for a world market and if we can prove that we are farming sustainably and correctly for the environment and we can prove we are doing it through technology, I would like to see a better payout because of that.’’

Wireless sensors providing evidence that farmers were taking care of the environment could allow Fonterra to push for a similar premium that organic farmers receive, says Walters, a supplier for the giant co-operative.

It could also help attract the next generation of employees into careers in agriculture.

‘‘As a farmer and as an employer, we are getting older and we have to encourage a new generation into farming and the new generation are technology savvy.’’

Walters was the first farmer to use Spark’s 4G network and uses wireless sensors placed around his farm to monitor everything from the milk temperature in the vat, whether his yard gate is open, wind speed to water intake.