Fonterra farmers go digital
- 09 June, 2016 14:30
Fonterra says its farmers’ usage of information from their smartphone apps to run their businesses and connect with the Co-operative has doubled in the past year.
“We’re the only dairy co-operative in New Zealand offering this kind of service to our farmers, and we’re constantly enhancing our digital offering based on farmer feedback,” says Evelyn Seewald, GM operations and farmer services, Fonterra.
While Fonterra’s Farm Source website remains popular for reporting and comparisons at month end, Fonterra’s mobile apps are now used more often for checking key day-to-day information.
Fonterra currently has three apps available for download for its farmers or users nominated by farmers: a milk production and quality app launched in 2014, a news app launched last year and a monthly plant check app that is being piloted this season.
Fonterra says there have been around 13,000 unique user downloads of these apps.
Through the smartphone apps, farmers can access key milk production and quality information and receive important business updates, which they’ve really appreciated given the nature of farming means they’re often away from their computers
Seewald says getting information to farmers faster to help them run their businesses has been a priority for the Co-operative.
“Our farmers are rapid adopters of digital technology on farm and have led the design of our apps with their feedback, which has been very positive,” says Seewald, in a statement.
“Farmers who previously swore they’d never need a smartphone now tell us they can’t imagine life without it.”
“Through the smartphone apps, farmers can access key milk production and quality information and receive important business updates, which they’ve really appreciated given the nature of farming means they’re often away from their computers.”
Seewald says the apps have also been a positive step for the Co-operative’s quality assurance and service delivery to farmers.
“Having this vital quality and production information at their fingertips means farmers can make timelier on-farm decisions and can be alerted to any potential quality issues at any time, wherever they are.”
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