We visited Craig Hickman at Woodlands Farm in Ashburton to learn how he’s finding the new tools designed to simplify compliance.
- On-Farm
- Sustainability
Article
Saving time, simplifying compliance: Farmer sees real results
- On-Farm
- Sustainability
3 Feb 2026
4 min read
Craig shared the changes and improvements he’s noticed since adopting these tools, how he has saved time and streamlined operations. That’s why Fonterra set out on a mission to simplify compliance based on direct feedback from farmers. This project has a clear goal - to halve the time farmers spend on compliance-related admin. With 8,000 farms in the Co-op, this adds up to one million hours saved, or around 120 hours per farm.
And the results so far have been impressive.
Craig, a farmer who is not scared to try something new, says he has fully embraced these tools and the results speak for themselves. As an equity partner on a 285-acre farm near Ashburton, he milks 1,000 cows every day. Efficiency isn’t just a goal for Craig - it’s a necessity.
“There are no surprises when inspectors arrive anymore. Gone are the days of scrambling to find what they need. You know exactly what to expect and which records to be ready,” says Craig.
“They’ve cut the amount of time it takes me to do my Farm Dairy Records – easily in half, if not more.”
Craig Hickman
Co-op farmer
“By checking your online assessment checklist beforehand and having everything prepared, the whole process becomes simpler and faster. For example, I take photos of all my feed delivery dockets and upload them straight into my Dairy Diary app.”
Craig has discovered there are even more ways to save time.
“One of the biggest time savers has been how easily data connects to my Farm Dairy Records. Through the connections I made via the data connections page, I pulled in fertiliser details from MyBallance app and stock records from my Trev app, all linked directly to my farm dairy system. So, when I sit down to update records, at least half the fields are already filled in. It’s a huge time win.”
How did Fonterra do it?
Data Connections
To reduce duplication, we built data connections with 11 industry partners so farmers can share their data seamlessly. Thanks to these connections, up to 70% of end-of-season-farm Dairy Records tasks can now be prepopulated. Today, 71% of Fonterra farmers have one or more data connections in place. The impact? Data connections alone can save up to 33 hours per farm; a huge amount of time put back into farming.
Farm Dairy Assessments and Checklist
We introduced shorter assessments for qualifying farmers and created a personalised online assessment checklist to help them prepare. Clear guidance explains what’s needed and why, and farmers can upload evidence ahead of assessments here too. A dedicated team of specialists is also on hand for support. The result – 83% of farmers who’ve used the assessment checklist are highly satisfied, and those using all assessment tools can save up to 14 hours.
Farm Dairy Records
We’ve improved the process of completing Farm Dairy Records by connecting data from other parties to pre-populate records. Uploading supporting evidence is easier too, whether on desktop in your Farm Dairy Records or mobile using the Dairy Diary app. For convenience, Farmers can also now access their Farm Dairy Records throughout the season and enter information when they want as part of their regular operations, making compliance feel less of a chore.
Co-operative Difference
We simplified the Co-operative Difference Dashboard to save time. Achievements can be completed digitally throughout the season. The new Co-operative Difference dashboard now gives clearer visibility of progress, key dates, and dollar values.
The bottom line is…
Fonterra’s commitment to simplifying compliance is delivering real results, fundamentally saving farmers time, reducing stress, and helping them focus on what matters most – farming.
For more information on how to save time and use compliance tools in your day-to-day business, contact your local Farm Source store or your local Farmer Support and Relationship Advisor.