We have seen a 15-20 per cent efficiency saving by those implementing our solution. No more bits of paper, no mistakes, no missed areas or double ups.
Dave Beattie, TracmapThough GPS farm mapping has been around for more than a decade, combining it with other technologies to produce innovative solutions is literally changing the landscape for our agricultural sector. Young New Zealand firm Tracmap is capturing international attention with their approach to precision agriculture.
Precision agriculture combines GPS technology with sensors and software to accurately measure tasks on the farm. Activities like irrigation, fertilising and harvesting can be made more cost and time effective by minimising resource wastage.
Tracmaps solution comes in two parts. The first is a head unit installed in the tractors, harvesters and machinery and is essentially an oversized, touch-screen GPS unit. It communicates wirelessly with Tracmaps' web-based software, so farmers can track progress in real time, assign tasks and communicate with the operators.
"The key benefit so far has been in harvest. We're still educating and getting people on board for the growing season and the applications where it can be used there. What we have seen though so far is a 15-20 per cent efficiency saving by those implementing our solution. No more bits of paper, no mistakes, no missed areas or double-ups," explains local Area Manager Dave Beattie.