We speak to arable farmers Sybren Anema, Michael Schippers, Johannes Straver and Marijn Vermue, each on their own farm. They started with AgroExact's measurements in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Although their acreage and growing conditions differ considerably, they agree on one thing: using the measurements from AgroExact's measurement network saves a lot of time and convenience.
"Actually, I use it more often than I expected in advance," says Marijn Vermue honestly. "For plots at a distance, it is always difficult whether the soil is already suitable for the soil herbicides, for example. In the past, we always went to have a look first, then return to the farm and only then get started. Now I just look at my phone to see how much it has rained."
Schippers offers the same example: "The measurements from the weather stations and rain gauges are a guideline for me during all kinds of activities, such as spraying or tillage. We depend on the weather, if you measure, you know what is happening. That results in many working hours. Otherwise, you would first drive a round to see which plots you can work on."
The AgroExact measurements can be viewed via PC and telephone via the app. "Nowadays I get all the information from my phone, very well organized," says Vermue. Anema: "Moreover, your own measuring station is still more precise than the general image on another app. Now I know exactly whether it has rained 3 or 10 millimeters, and that can be the difference between getting started or not." Johannes Straver: "There are about thirty kilometers between the most distant plots. Then you can have a weather station on one plot, but then you don't know anything yet. The situation can be very different ten kilometers away. And if you have to install one yourself everywhere, it is quite an investment. Now we do it together with other arable farmers and AgroExact arranges this."
In Noord-Beveland, where Schippers farms, there are now measurement points all over the island. "Before this, others on the other side of the island who also have land here called me to ask what the conditions were." Because they now also use the application and received their own measuring point, this is probably a thing of the past for Schippers.
More information about the AgroExact solution? Click here for an overview.