We have seen a 15-20 per cent efficiency saving by those implementing our solution. No more bits of paper, no mistakes, no missed areas or double ups.
Dave Beattie, TracmapThough GPS farm mapping has been around for more than a decade, combining it with other technologies to produce innovative solutionsis literally changing the landscape for our agricultural sector. Young New Zealand firm Tracmap is capturing international attention with their approach to precision agriculture.
Precision agriculture combines GPS technology with sensors and software to accurately measure tasks on the farm. Activities like irrigation, fertilising and harvesting can be made more cost and time effective by minimising resource wastage.
Tracmaps solution comes in two parts. The first is a head unit installed in the tractors, harvesters and machinery and is essentially an oversized, touch-screen GPS unit. It communicates wirelessly with Tracmaps' web-based software, so farmers can track progress in real time, assign tasks and communicate with the operators.
"The key benefit so far has been in harvest. We're still educating and getting people on board for the growing season and the applications where it can be used there. What we have seen though so far is a 15-20 per cent efficiency saving by those implementing our solution. No more bits of paper, no mistakes, no missed areas or double-ups," explains local Area Manager Dave Beattie.
Revenues have increased from $500,000 through to $1.1 million over the past year, with half of that growth generated from the United States. "The investment that we've put into the US is really starting to pay off, and we're gaining some real traction in the market there," says Beattie.
"It's been a very tough road. We're up against some long-standing, existing players there but brand awareness is increasing and there's a lot of trust. We've got a local man on the ground there and that has made a huge difference."
Viticulture projects are expected to be an area of significant growth in the coming period. Villa Maria pioneered the use of Tracmap technology two vintages ago, with more than half of all harvesters now implementing the solution in Marlborough.
California and Australia have now become prime targets for Tracmap. Twenty five Australian winemakers are trialling the technology and it is hoping to add California in the near future.
"We're getting a lot of momentum behind us, now it's time to make things happen," says Beattie.
