Smartphones save farmers time

The new smartphones are making life easier for farmers, helping them stay in close touch with what’s happening.

Wairarapa farmer William Beetham is one who always has his smartphone handy, as he likes being connected in real time.

The smartphone also helps minimise time in the office, because he’s managing as he goes. “I’m constantly checking out weather sites, for example,” he says.

He also checks his emails on the smartphone and can respond quickly. He knows the places on the farm where mobile coverage is good.

William and his stock manager also now use the smartphone to collect farm information, using a phone app. They’re running a sheep breeding and finishing operation on 755ha-effective property Highcliffs, as well as finishing beef. They can record information for stock tallies, animal health treatments and pasture covers – while they’re on the farm.

“I want up-to-date farm information so I know what’s going on at any time,” says William. "When you do an animal health treatment or find a dead animal on the farm, you can use the phone to record it straight away – what, where, why and when. It means we have a rolling stock tally.

“We only enter the information once and it is there when I need a figure, for example for Cash Manager or Farmax. That saves time and makes the end-of-month reporting much easier.

“We’re really keen to throw away the paper notebook and do it all on the phone. We’re not quite there yet. But frequent recording and having the right software are the keys.”

Want to find out about farm management software that works with your smartphone?