Dairy farmers can potentially improve their environment and financial results via two research projects now underway, says Lincoln University's R&D company Lincoln Agritech.

Sometimes a product name might be descriptive, but it might obscure the science within. So it is with Spikey from Pastoral Robotics Ltd, Auckland.

The Irish Research Institute Teagasc, with industry partners, has set up a new programme to improve its dairy sector. Peter Burke spoke recently to the director of research, Dr Frank O’Mara.

A new farm management platform allows dairy farmers to manage their effluent, water and fertiliser all in one place.

AgResearch says it has developed world-leading sensors to better understand how nitrogen is being excreted by cows, and so how best to tackle its effects on the environment.

The days of trekking across hill country farms to get samples of soil fertility, then blanket spreading fertiliser, are nearing their end, says Ravensdown.

Ravensdown is getting ready to roll out a new set of pasture and benchmarking tools designed to enable smarter nutrient decisions by showing planned versus actual nutrient spending over time.

Aerial soil testing technology and GPS-controlled automated variable-rate spreading are on trial on a well-known hill country station in the North Island.

Fonterra is working with innovation partners whose technology offerings can help farmers manage their businesses better.

Water, soil monitoring, irrigation and weather systems will be hot topics at this year’s East Coast Farming Expo, as the region battles the effects of another summer drought.