Early adopters embrace technology | Scoop News

Friday, 22 November 2019, 4:02 pm
Press Release: Real Communications

Early adopters embrace technologyFrom drones to
ground-breaking app technology, Janina and Slim Slee have
been keen to adopt leading-edge tools to enhance the
operation of their Kurow farm.For the couple, the
internet has become so integral to running their
2500-hectare property, they couldn’t imagine life without
it.They run a beef farm with dairy grazing, 400
mixed-aged beef cows, and a few sheep. Over 170 hectares of
the land is irrigated and they manage the farm with the help
of two full-time staff members. An unlimited broadband
connection plays an essential role in keeping the farm
operating efficiently, says Janina.“Dial-up used to
drive me insane,” she laughs. “it would always trip out
especially if the neighbour’s fence was shorting
out.”“Then when we moved here, we had a Farmside
satellite dish installed. Now, we have an unlimited
connection with boosters to take it to other parts of the
house.” Janina, who is a director of the local
irrigation company and former chair of the local school
board, was an early adopter of accounting software back in
2002. Alongside their farming operation, the Slees also do
contracting work and Janina describes the software as vital
for running the business“I’d be lost if the internet
was out. I absolutely love using the accounting software.
You go on and download the last month’s data and code it,
and if the internet was down, I couldn’t download it at
the time, and it would be a pain. To keep up to speed with
different things, you need to receive all the emails when
they come in, almost by the hour otherwise it is hard work
to get through the mountain of info.”

Janina utilises
various apps including AgriGPS to convert sizes and
measurements on the farm. The technology enables her to make
accurate measurements of perimeters using her iPhone.
“We don’t have accurate maps yet because of on-farm
conversions so I measure the paddocks, and then tell the
sprayer or spreader how many hectares they have to work
with.“I email it to myself and then I use Google Earth
to read the outlines of the paddocks. It gives my exact
location and marks it out exactly as it would look on a map,
and it’s instantly logged into your phone. Technology has
certainly evolved, that’s for sure.”The Slees also
use solar power, and there’s an app for that, too, which
tells Janina exactly how much power they are generating, and
how much they’re using.Drones come in handy during
mustering, especially in remote sections of the high-country
block which are more difficult to access on foot.“The
drone requires an iPad and connectivity to be able to talk
to Wi-Fi, internet and satellites, but they’ve evolved and
are really handy. “We fly it over big ravines and the
cattle just run the way you want them to run. I’ve also
used it to check a cow calving in a far paddock I didn’t
want to disturb once. I flew the drone over to have a look
and could see she’d calved.”Janina says farming
information is also much easier to access due to technology,
with the ability to review farm products before purchasing
online.She’s also noticed that with generational
changes, the local farming community is also embracing
technology.“The young ones come back now while their
parents are still on the farm, they’re using a lot of
technology, and a lot of older members of the farming
community are embracing it, too.“If the internet ever
does drop out, the neighbours keep in touch, and they ring
and text saying, ‘is your internet out, because mine’s
not working’. Our wee community is good like that.”

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