In the face of rising input costs and labour challenges, AIMER is transforming pasture management for New Zealand dairy farmers.
Launched in mid-2023, this digital assistant is rapidly gaining traction among farmers seeking to optimise their operations. At its core, AIMER acts as a brain, analysing cover data from plate meter, C-Dax or satellite measurement systems to provide a 14-day feed-wedge and grazing plans.
South Auckland-based sharemilker Fraser Carpenter says AIMER has dramatically improved their on-farm experience.
He and his team milk 450 cows on a 200ha milking platform. After years of farming with “a pen and paper” they decided it was time for a change.
“We were looking for a solution to save time and become more efficient. We installed collars and AIMER at the same time – so we really dropped ourselves in the deep end, as we’d been doing everything with MINDA and a pen and paper up until then. We’ve seen massive gains – both timewise on-farm and production on-farm, which we’re putting down to using the new tech and great data,” he says.
AIMER has simplified the farm team’s pasture management process, allowing for partial farm walks that can be completed between milkings. Its user-friendly interface has been a game-changer for Carpenter’s team.
“Even I can use it!” Fraser jokes. “My team can quickly input our grazing data and get instant automated grazing plans.”
The software’s forecasting feature has proven particularly valuable, enabling proactive decisions about supplementary feeding and silage conservation. By optimising pasture utilisation, AIMER helps farmers reduce reliance on supplementary feed, leading to more sustainable and cost-effective operations.
“We can see potential feed deficits or surpluses weeks in advance. We’re 35% ahead so far on milk solids and our adoption of technology such as AIMER has contributed greatly to this,” says Fraser.
“For anyone looking to take their pasture management to the next level, I’d say give AIMER a go. It’s been a fantastic investment for us.”
Looking ahead, Carpenter is excited about the upcoming AIMER Vision tool, which will allow farmers to use their smartphone or drone to scan and measure pasture covers. This innovation promises to further streamline the process, making cover measurements more frequent and AIMER’s predictions even more accurate.
The AIMER Vision beta trial is set to launch nationwide (excluding Northland) in January 2025, free for AIMER customers until March 2025.
From as little as $100 per month, AIMER is available through your Farm Source account with an additional 8% discount.
Talk to your TSR or visit your local Farm Source store to find out more and to arrange a demonstration with one of the AIMER team.
Visit aimer-farming.com/farmsource or watch the full Frank Carpenter Q&A video below.