This episode was made in partnership with PGG Wrightson.
With farming systems becoming more complex, the role of technology in agronomy is shifting. Milton Munro, Technical Team Manager at PGG Wrightson, says specialist agronomy advice helps farmers make more confident decisions when margins are tight.
“Small changes in things like fertiliser strategy, crop establishment, even the timing of inputs can have a big outcome on farm.”
He says the industry has moved on from gathering data without turning it into useful decisions.
“You end up with a lot of really cool pictures you could stick on the fridge, but no real actual decisions coming out of it.”
Return on investment is now the driving question behind new agri-tech tools. He says AI is central to that shift, with the ability to now crunch and utilise larger data sets, but it is important that there is still a person involved in the decision-making.
“Instead of my 36 observations from a paddock, maybe I can use a million.
“If I use a million data points, can I make a better decision? I think I can.”
PGG Wrightson backs that approach with a three hectare research and development site in Hastings covering horticultural crops, apples, grapes, brassicas, fodder beet, pasture, and cereals.
Research priorities are shaped by multinational partners including Bayer, Syngenta and Yara, and by ideas gathered directly from field and store teams around the country, he says.
“Come to us with the pain points that farmers and growers have.
“Come to us with where you can see an opportunity, give us your ideas, and if it’s feasible, we’ll actually go and do the research and development on those things.”
A lot of global R&D finds something new, he says, but not in a New Zealand context.
“For it to actually work, it’s got to be proven inside New Zealand systems, and that’s where we play.”
With autumn under way, he says pasture management is the immediate priority, threading the needle between overgrazing and undergrazing to maintain quality going into winter. Winter crops need watching for insect pressure, he says, with some risk remaining at this point in the season.
“It’s about maintaining and really looking after the yield that you’ve got.”
Spring planning is the third priority and the most important, he says. Soil testing, fertiliser strategy and weed control options should all be worked through now, while there is still time to act.
“While you’ve got a chance to have a breather right now, start planning and start thinking about your crop rotation and what you want to achieve.”
Make sure to contact PGG Wrightson to plan your crop and pasture requirements. You can find your local Technical Field Representative or store team here.
CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.
