Technical performance and agronomic expertise

Part article taken from the Agronomist & Arable Farmer

Cloud-based tool

Agrovista aims to put an end to disparate farm data sources with the launch of its new cloud-based agronomy tool, Axis, this summer.  The pioneering tool has been developed by the company and a number of partner firms, including Muddy Boots.

“With the growing adoption of decision support and precision farming systems, the information being generated by farmers is growing exponentially,” he explains Lewis McKerrow, Agrovista’s precision technology manager.

“For some time there’s been an increasing onus for the industry to find a way of streamlining our record-keeping processes and data flow.”

Agrovista sees the new Axis system offering a “leap ahead” for collating multiple data sources onto one easy-access platform.

“Our intention was always to make the system cloud-based so the farmers could access and add to their information via multiple platforms, including smartphones, satellite-mapping equipment and their PCs,” says Mr McKerrow.  “Hosting the information in the cloud also means farmers can give their advisers access to their account for the two-way exchange of information and advice.”

Axis Field Pro is integrated with Muddy Boots’ Greenlight Grower Management system and will incorporate its online crop management system, field recording and data sharing.

“What makes Axis invaluable as a business tool is the system’s ability to exchange information between devices, people and software systems.

“Over the coming years we will continue to develop Axis to allow farmers and advisers to integrate all their devices, systems and advisory information into the Axis cloud,” comments Mr McKerrow.

Cloud technologies have been growing in prominence and importance within the wider business community for real-time storage, file-sharing and web-based communications, and Mr McKerrow says it makes perfect sense for farming to harness the power of the cloud.  “Axis will target a common frustration among growers – the paperwork and record keeping associated with compliance,” he points out.

“While we’ve been well aware of the efficiency benefits of using precision farming, we’ve missed one crucial element – integrating their use with the all-important recording, and reminding, of key dates and times for the field tasks.  This management element is lacking in many of the simple systems farmers are using.

“Axis will be a useful tool for coordinating these types of disparate but valuable data sources and will help in the production of complete and accurate records.

“Within the next few years we’ll find that live data connections between tractor and office will be commonplace.  Farmer will be able to send prescription plans like spray recommendations in real-time to both the operator and the machinery and will receive the completed data back all as one complete, streamlined affair.  This type of full farm operation integration is very much the focus of the Axis vision.”

Mr McKerrow suggests that Axis will be practical to use and with an intuitive app-style access screen.  “It will include a host of practical management aids such as yield and soil mapping, compliance date alerts, technical agronomic updates, seven-day weather forecasts, spray-window forecasts and variety information.”