Today, the agribusiness sector has become one of the most technologically driven industries in the world. With rising demand outpacing available farmland and the number of people entering the agribusiness sector, every measure must be taken to ensure the highest possible yield capacity for New Zealand farms. Crop harvest data has become one of the industry’s most valuable commodities, driving precision farming strategies and yield forecasting. Learn how you can maximise crop harvest data from the agribusiness team at BDO Tauranga below.
The Value of Crop Harvest Data
Farms maximise revenue by planting and harvesting at the right times, limiting water and chemical use, and optimising crop rotations. Technology has made it possible to access and collate the relevant data in these areas, enabling what’s known as “precision farming”, which moves agricultural decision-making from the farmer’s instinct to the spreadsheet.
Crop harvest data is helping New Zealand farmers develop and implement more informed farming strategies. Data processing in agribusiness maximises the effectiveness of crop rotations, planting and harvesting times, irrigation strategies, and more. Owing to accurate data collection, analysis, and application, farmers can more precisely anticipate expenses and forecast revenues.
Maximising Harvest Data
Your harvest data does not need to come entirely from your fields. Mathematically, larger data sets are more accurate, which is why you should incorporate relevant data from every available resource. Be sure to factor in regional conditions and historical data. Additionally, data from similar area farms can be incorporated to supplement and reinforce your own.
Grower pools are an effective way to attain such data. Particularly popular in the Kiwifruit industry, grower pools collate and publish detailed analyses of harvest data, crop profiles, returns, and performance for participating farms. This type of detailed reporting is unmatched, as it is sourced from inventory systems managed by the post-harvest sector and grower pools. Additionally, kiwifruit harvests are noteworthy among New Zealand’s biggest cash crops because they span an accounting balance date, which can lead to presentation difficulties in matching harvest sessions to overall harvest dates. When this occurs, consider changing your balance dates.
Agribusiness accounting specialists can provide supporting financial information by isolating revenues and expenses according to harvest seasons. This is to ensure financial data can be matched to more detailed harvest data. Care should also be taken to separate out direct orchard costs from fixed overheads so cost of production comparisons can be made.
Crop Harvest Data Points
When it comes to crop harvest data, greater input translates to greater output. You should strive to monitor and log as much information about your crop development as you can.
- Log all your planting dates.
- Monitor and assess your crop rotations.
- Spend time in your fields to note any crop stresses such as disease, pests, weather damage, and soil health.
- Track growth progress, logging dates for seedling appearance and development of harvest-ready crops.
This information should be combined with key field and climate data points to generate the kind of precise data output that can drive higher yields in the future:
- Air humidity
- Air temperature
- Atmospheric pressure
- Leaf wetness
- Soil moisture
- Soil temperature
- Solar radiation
- Wind direction
Driving higher yields for New Zealand farmers
At BDO, we’re dedicated to helping agribusiness succeed. With over 60 agribusiness professionals throughout the country, we’re helping New Zealand farmers meet the demands of 21st-century agriculture, empowering harvest data processing to maximise revenues and strengthen the industry value chain. Contact the agribusiness team at BDO Tauranga today!