AN Irishman, a New Zealander and a Tasmanian farmer walked into a bar, where they discuss the need for growing their business through supply chain traceability.
This is a conversation agricultural systems software specialists Rezare Systems would like to see happening more often.
Speaking at Beef 2018, Rockhampton, Queensland, Rezare Systems, managing director, Andrew Cooke said traceable supply chains, genetic improvement, and performance analysis all depend on data captured from field to fork.
However implementing traceability and reaping the value is not simple, Mr Cooke said, data gathering needs to be simple.
“Farmers who record the data are few and far between, making up between five and ten per cent of the farming population,” he said.
“Farmers get into new software with a hiss and a roar.
“Three months down the track they’re recording movements on two of their mobs.
“Five months later they’ve stopped, because it is too hard.
“So if we are to collect data effectively and use it in traceability programs and better decision making we need to automate the collection as much as possible.”
Mr Cooke said =smart technologies coming on the market offered a solution.
“We can start to get data about where our animals are and what they are doing.”
“Unless it happens automatically, in most situations it’s not going to happen.”
While tracing and logistics technologies have been around for decades, Mr Cooke said they often don’t work across the entire supply chain.
“You might think your products are traceable from your farm, to the processor and through to the market,” he said.
“Well they kind of are.”
“Logistics fall down a lot, I’m afraid.”
Mr Cooke said he does believe we are at a tipping point for automation technology.
“Another five or ten wears and we will be across it,” he said.
“Where technology works and is affordable.
“Where you can take it out of the box and put it on your farm and you know it is going to work.
Mr Cooke challenged traceability software developers in the room to continue to improve an automate their systems.
“If you are a technology provider you are sitting here saying, my technology is an exception to that, it is already over the line,” he said.
“I think that too, but I will challenge you that most technology, no matter how well designed it is.
“Is still difficulty for farmers to understand, purchase and use effectively on their farms.
“If we want to automate our data collection, we’ve got a few more more steps to do.”
Mr Cooke said ultimately the technology was heading in the right direction.
“Whether it is tags or neckbands, whether it is remote sensors or drones, or any other type of sensing technolgy,” he said.
“Whether it is automated tools that capture weights of animals everyday.
“That technology well help us in the future.”
