“Every farmer wants to get the best returns for their efforts every year,” said Ben Hatton, Gatekeeper key account manager at Farmplan. “Naturally, some things are out of your control, no better demonstrated than the volatility we have seen over this growing season. However, there are key agronomic and management decisions that, using the right information, can make a huge difference to a farm’s profitability and indeed its sustainability.”
Growers are looking for how best to prepare for harvest and beyond. Key to this is making informed decisions by using and understanding farm data to make choices that work for the farm in the long term. With this in mind, more people are turning to farm management software to turn yield data into actions.
While yield data is widely available in the arable sector, there is still a large gap between how much data is collected and the value that is extracted from it. According to Farmplan, organised and accurate yield maps provide a benchmark and reference for financial values and measurements.
This allows a business to see where they are financially and identify which areas are performing well and those which are not. Gross margin reporting provides visibility across the field and the farm based on the user’s own records.
Yield maps provide a reference for further crop inputs, enabling growers to fine-tune their approach.
“It’s true, yield data can be a key influencer in management decisions,” added Mr Hatton. “The longer a period you collect your data over, the more you will have to support your decisions. Analysis of the data you collect helps you make more of this information and Gatekeeper is one tool that can help make sense of what you are seeing. It must be seen as part of a bigger picture though – it is about using data in conjunction with historical, local and agronomic knowledge to achieve your objectives.”
What the grower does with this data is what matters. Smart analysis tools enable them to adopt variable input systems to optimise inputs, machine use and drive environmental benefits. Farming ability plays a huge role, but good quality information can enhance choices and drive the best performance possible.
