Boosting Crop Production by Spreading Effluent
Tararua district farmer Jamie Harris milks around 400 cows using a split calving system on his farm, Crossdale Dairies.
The company provides equipment, servicing and data management to ensure best use of water.
Watermetrics gathers a large amount of data from many sensors such as water meters and soil moisture probes, right throughout New Zealand.
"If you want to monitor it, we can customise a solution," the company says.
"A range of sensors for a range of solutions. From grain to rain, wind and weather, if you want to monitor it, we have the solutions to measure it.
"We have clean water solutions, as well as effluent monitoring, and easy to use data for farm environmental planning to keep you compliant."
Watermetrics now offers the new Axioma meters for stock water and other smaller pipe flow measurement. These fit 15mm to 50mm piping, can be self-installed and can transfer the data to internet portal and phone app. Standard meters on this size piping have been till now very expensive and the company says the Axioma range makes a first to the market, cost effective solution.
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The company says these meters are effective for supplies to houses and apartments but also play a significant role on farm: Assisting with leak management.
"Water meters are a valuable tool for monitoring stock water use on farms and rural properties.
"By accurately measuring the volume of water flowing through a pipeline or supply system, they allow farmers to understand how much water livestock are consuming and help identify potential losses within the system."
One major advantage of using water meters is improved water management, the company says.
Livestock such as cattle and sheep require access to clean water, and consumption levels often change depending on temperature, feed quality, and stocking rates. A water meter provides precise data on daily water use, enabling farmers to track patterns and ensure that supply systems are meeting the needs of their animals. If consumption suddenly drops, it may indicate troughs are empty, blocked, or that animals are not accessing water properly.
Water meters are also useful for detecting leaks and infrastructure failures.
Watermetrics says stock water systems often include long pipelines, tanks, valves, and troughs that may be spread across large areas. Small leaks in these systems can go unnoticed for extended periods, wasting significant amounts of water and having a significant financial impact.
By monitoring meter readings, farmers can quickly detect unusual increases in water flow that may signal a broken pipe, faulty float valve, or leaking trough. Early detection helps reduce water loss and prevents unnecessary pumping or storage costs.
Another advantage is improved cost control and resource efficiency. Pumping and storing water requires energy and maintenance. When water use is accurately measured, farmers can identify inefficiencies and make better decisions about system upgrades or repairs. In areas where water supply is limited or regulated, meters also help ensure compliance with allocation limits.
Water meters provide useful records for longterm farm planning. Historical water use data can help determine whether current infrastructure is adequate for future stocking levels or seasonal conditions.
Overall, installing water meters in stock water systems improves monitoring, reduces water losses, and supports more efficient and sustainable farm management.
