Meet Luke and Sarah, the dynamic farming duo from Bunnythorpe, Manawatu. Luke, a former mechanic, stepped back into farming when they started their young family three years ago. He manages the 383-cow dairy farm while Sarah raises the youngstock and their two children. Sarah, a trained AB technician, also pitches in with milking and other jobs around the farm. Together, they are building their farming dream of raising a family with the same upbringing they enjoyed, while leaning into technology that improves how they farm.

 

Pasture Management Passion:

Luke and Sarah believe that pasture management is the key to farm productivity. "The cows are most important, but pasture is a close second. You need to make sure you have good feed available for your herd," says Sarah. The farm, a converted beef runoff, can be challenging with clay soils, but they believe there is always more to be done to improve pasture growth and utilisation for the herd. Working with the farm owner, they’ve implemented a range of improvements to chase incremental productivity gains.

 

Enter AIMER:

The opportunity to try a new pasture management app was right up their alley. Plugging in their pasture covers from the C-Dax to AIMER has elevated their pasture planning. A favourite feature is how AIMER forecasts pasture surplus or deficits for the upcoming month, helping them plan better around the farm and stay on top of their grass quality. Beyond the trial, they’re also putting in the extra effort to validate AIMER Vision, pasture measurement by smartphone video. With their work collecting pasture videos from the farm rides, they’re supporting technology development for dairy farmers nationwide.

 

Luke and Sarah are embracing technology to enhance their farm's productivity. Cheers to these modern-day farmers cultivating a future that's as bountiful as their pastures!