Planning Technology for Your Farm

Farmers are increasingly faced with the demand for input cost reduction, increasing yields and maintaining high levels of operational productivity and efficiencies while dealing with climate change and the need to protect the environment.

With mechanisation equipment one of the biggest contributors to input costs, proper planning and selection of equipment is essential to help ensure a profitable and sustainable farming operation.

The optimal use of the correct equipment and implements is necessary to optimise farming production and to maximise operational profit. All mechanisation actions need to be considered for the whole conventional farming value chain.

These actions are illustrated in the figure below. Certain activities, like planting and harvesting, need to be done in a specific time window. Therefore, mechanisation is necessary to adhere to the time limits set.

To Mechanise farming activities, one needs to consider the following factors:

• Appropriate equipment to be used for timely crop production.
• Manufacturing and availability of machine or implement parts.
• Suitable capability and capacity for maintenance.
• Effective utilisation and operation (skilled operators and technical staff must be available and affordable).
• Favourable economic and financial conditions to support mechanisation.

Click here to view a video that explains the future of farming.