World’s top precision ag experts gather
About 420 farmers, scientists and agribusiness experts from the Asia-Pacific, Australia and New Zealand are gathering in Hamilton this week for the International Tri-conference for Precision Agriculture.
Precision agriculture is a farming management concept where technology is used to observe, measure and then respond to different challenges within paddocks ranging from soil types and water moisture levels, nutrient levels or livestock type and numbers.
The PA-17, conference included discussions on site-specific farming, data management, robotic farming and grassland management.
Precision Agriculture Association of New Zealand chairman Craige Mackenzie said New Zealand was at the cutting edge when it came to precision agriculture particularly for water use and nutrient spreading.
‘‘We’re right at the leading edge globally. Some of the variable rate irrigation was designed in New Zealand and you have to say that some of the farmers are leading the way globally.’’
The two-day conference included the inaugural AsianAustralian Conference on Precision Pastures and Livestock Farming, the 7th Asian-Australian Conference on Precision Agriculture and the Digital Grower under one roof.
It ends on Tuesday. Mackenzie is a Methven-based arable and dairy farmer and is an internationally-recognised leading practitioner of precision agriculture.
Using cutting-edge technologies to make the most efficient use of inputs and resources, precision agriculture would be the way which food producers would be able to feed an increasing global population from decreasing land, water and nutrient resources, he said.
The conference looked at how precision agriculture could be used in horticulture, permanent crops and livestock management.
It also featured farmers outlining how they use technology within their own businesses.
He said the technology would help farmers meet some of the challenges that the industry faced about environmental protection.
‘‘Regardless of what regulations are coming, we as farmers are wanting to be more efficient at what we do. These are tools that will allow for efficiency, and the more measuring and monitoring and efficient use of resources that we do, the more you are able to manage pending regulations and lower your footprint for water, carbon and nutrients.’’
There is an ever-growing suite of precision agricultural tools available to farmers – many of which would have been considered the stuff of science fiction not that many years ago.
Hyperspectral imaging measured crop colour to determine nutrient requirements. Site-specific satellites are superseding drones and controlled traffic systems use GPS guidance to ensure farm machinery follows the same track lines within a paddock.
This preserves soil structure on the rest of the farm.
Mackenzie said more New Zealand farmers were taking up technology.
In the past 18 months there had been a tipping point where there were more people using technology ranging from soil moisture monitoring, farm mapping, variable rate irrigation and fertiliser application.