A future where farmers gain maximum value from their data and forge connections with a world that loves their produce is no longer a dream and has been made possible by the utilisation of tools like Trev, which consistently measure and provide credible reporting.
Farmers manage a complex business, and gathering and sharing information can be challenging. As a farmer-centric reporting tool, Trev captures data to enable quick decision-making to achieve productivity, profitability and sustainability transparently to those in the food value chain.
“As farm budgets tighten again this season, Trev is firmly cementing its place in the farming ecosystem, working alongside farmers, leading primary industry bodies and several processors to deliver projects that validate farm practices as part of reducing emissions through the food value chain,” said Brenna Townshend, Director and Head of Marketing at Trev, and Deputy Chair of the Agritech NZ Executive Council.
Wastage can be minimised by keeping track of things like mob details, supplementary feed levels, and how many feed days are left. Seeing nutrient application and pasture production plotted together in Trev provides a simple insight into farms where nutrient loss may be a problem or where action could be taken to ensure the right fertiliser is put in the right place at the right time.
Trev can also demonstrate the ability of adjacent farms to learn differences in management practice to deduce the influence of nitrogen application or stocking rate on overall productivity. The company also has a red meat and dairy offering, with various farm structures using the tool.
The nature of Trev allows upstream and downstream stakeholders to be looped into the conversation and view farm performance from a distance, which is becoming increasingly attractive to consumers, processors, corporations, financiers, and governments.
Agriculture is the backbone of the New Zealand economy, and consumer demand drives greater transparency of on-farm practices and food production. Farmers are being required to demonstrate high standards.
“These requirements significantly burden the already time-poor farmer, and Trev streamlines these reporting processes, allowing the farmer to “shut the gate” on reporting in less than 10 minutes a week.”
Farmers are moving into a world where capturing and reporting on operational data is necessary to live up to global commitments and support customer claims and local regulations.
“You often hear the saying that the difference between a good farmer and an average farmer is a week. What that week means is information, so to make decisions a week earlier, you have to have information and data to do so. That’s where the information out of Trev is so great because you get to see how you’re tracking,” said Sam Waugh, Farm Manager, NZYF Donald’s Farm.
As Trev cements its position in New Zealand, there is a significant long-term opportunity to expand internationally to create further value for farmers, processors and other stakeholders along the food value chain.
