New resources available to support on-farm efficiency

Farm Source has refined its support services and resources available to Co-op farmers to be more efficient, productive, profitable, and sustainable on-farm.

Did you know Co-op farmers have access to a suite of support services and resources to help become even more efficient and productive? Farmers are renowned for their ingenuity and ability to “make more with less”. A gradual approach to increasing the efficiency of inputs to produce more outputs from the farm is fundamental to success on-farm – and supports the Co-op’s climate targets.

Your Co-op needs to remain competitive in a tight global market where customers are increasingly seeking partners that integrate sustainability initiatives and targets across their entire business, from farm to store and everything in between. Fonterra is helping farmers to meet these market pressures on-farm with a range of online, in-person, and in-store support options.

Online resources

The On-Farm Efficiency Hub on the Farm Source website provides a library of information and articles about on-farm efficiency opportunities, including homegrown feed, herd health, milk quality, and nutrition.

The new Emissions Scenario Calculator uses your farm data to test different approaches that may reduce emissions on-farm and see the potential impact of these on your farm business.

In-person and on-farm resources

Farm Source’s On-Farm Efficiency Service brings experts from the Co-op’s Sustainable Dairying Team directly to your farm to find opportunities to strengthen your bottom line, find productivity gains and drive emissions efficiency. Farmers can book the visit online, and following the visit are provided a detailed report summarising their opportunities to support decision making.

“I was looking at making a couple of changes, and I wanted to make sure the changes we were making weren’t going to impact my environmental numbers” said Waikato farmer Lizzy Wilding who recently used the On-farm Efficiency Service.

“I felt like I was working with Fonterra, it’s not compliance driven – it’s about what’s best for your farm.”

Trusted partnerships

Farm management can be complex, and it is worthwhile having trusted partnerships to help. Co-op farmers have the benefit of Farm Source’s in-house expertise as well as our vast partnership network with industry suppliers.

Our nationwide team of Farm Source store staff, Technical Sales Representatives, Technical Ag Specialists and Milk Quality Managers work hand-in-hand to help Co-op farmers get the best out of their land and herd.

With Farm Source support on hand, farmers have a personal advisor who can connect them to the most appropriate support and get great value products.

Many of our in-store staff and Technical Sales Representatives (TSRs) are locals in the area where they work, and farm themselves, bringing first-hand knowledge of the unique needs and challenges facing local farms.

Technical Sales Representative Tim Grant says Farm Source’s TSRs work around the country and have great connections with partners to help farmers manage their business.

“We can help farmers select the seeds, ag-chemicals, and fertilisers tailored to their farm and local conditions. As part of our service, farmers also get comprehensive support, including pre-sow checks, paddock selection, post-emergence visits, and expert advice on crop management,” Tim Grant says.

Farm Source’s trusted partnerships with its vendors mean Co-op farmers have additional access to niche expertise across agriculture, including pasture management and seeds, herd health, and equipment.

When collaboratively working on a solution on-farm with landowners, Farm Source’s TSRs are able to connect farmers with expert knowledge from the field. The Co-op has partnerships and commercial agreements with some of the world’s leading rural supply companies that include enhanced customer support and research.

Like the TSRs, our partners will visit farmers on their farms to get detailed information about their needs and find bespoke solutions.

Another benefit of the Co-op’s extensive partnerships is the great deals available to farmers. Farm Source offers bonus Farm Source Dollar deals on many key inputs across seasonal periods, including pasture and cropping seed.

Seasonal support

Farm Source Technical Sales Representatives support farmers throughout the year and offer specific seasonal support, including:

Spring: Pre-sowing visits to evaluate and discuss the farm’s feed requirements for summer and winter. TSRs will work with farmers to assess the conditions of pastures and help select the best paddocks for sowing.

Pre-emergence visits to monitor crops and identify issues early. For farmers using Trimble technology, the TSRs will gather data and insights and offer ongoing advice to ensure crops are on track for a successful harvest.

Summer: A partnership approach to harvesting and feeding of crops, ensuring crop yields are measured accurately, and farmers can best manage the transition between different types of feed.

Facial Eczema advice, recommending zinc products tailored to the farm system.

Autumn: Pre-sowing visits to evaluate and discuss the farm’s feed requirements for regrassing or undersowing. Recommendations may be made for pasture treatments such as fertilisation, weed control or other agronomic practices.

Start of Dairy Season / Winter: A free shed measure report assessing milking shed requirements and product advice to ensure efficient milking and cow comfort.

Collaborative advice and planning for transition of dry cows, pre-calving minerals, early lactation animal nutrition and calf nutrition and equipment.

For more tips on improving your on-farm efficiency, check out our resources below or contact your local team.