As part of our ongoing commitment to advancing precision agriculture, the QuantiFarm project team recently visited an innovative farm in Slovenia’s Alpine region, currently participating in one of the project’s test cases. This visit marked the completion of the second year of testing for the Digital Agriculture Technology Solution (DATS) Farm Manager, providing valuable insights into the transformative potential of digital solutions in the agricultural sector. Farm Manager, a digital business planning platform, has been developed as a powerful tool for farmers, agricultural advisors, and educational institutions. The platform enables the creation of detailed farm production plans by integrating diverse farming methods, technologies, and economic calculations—effectively digitising the traditional Catalogue of Agricultural Calculations.
This farm is equipped with a tracking system for agricultural machinery and uses a real-time task monitoring application (Field book), which provides information on the allocation of time for various tasks. In addition to these measurements, the amount of materials used and their costs are also monitored on the farm (such as the costs of fuels, seeds, fertilisers, phytopharmaceuticals, etc.). Using all this data, the Farm Manager tool supports the development of customised economic calculations and production plans, specifically on this farm for the production of the primary crop, which is corn.This year’s data processing will allow us to deliver two key insights to the farmer: a year-over-year comparison of production and a benchmark analysis against other farms in the project. Equipped with these findings, the farmer can make informed decisions to enhance operational efficiency and economic outcomes. Potential improvements might include adjusting the number of field operations, optimising logistics, modifying crop area allocation, or exploring alternative crop types. Often, the benefits of such decision-support tools become visible after several years of consistent use.
The QuantiFarm visit was enriched by the presence of several key partners. Project leader Lara Resman and agricultural advisor Filip Vakaj, trained through the QuantiFarm Academy, led the discussions and data demonstrations. Representatives of the Innovation Technology Center (ITC) Murska Sobota, the developer of DIH AGRIFOOD My applications, demonstrated the possibilities of integrating data from tracking systems into Farm Manager and preparation of useful analyses. The event also featured a demonstration for students from the University of Maribor, who observed how a drone equipped with a multispectral camera was used to develop a precise fertilisation plan. Additionally, students toured the barn facilities, where they observed advanced technologies, such as a milking robot, highlighting the farm’s commitment to sustainable dairy production.
This hands-on event underscored the value of digital innovations in agriculture. Our partner KGZS – Zavod Murska Sobota presented digital tools that empower farmers to:
- – Enhance decision-making on machinery use.
- – Improve economic efficiency through the Farm Manager platform.
- – Promote sustainable and data-driven farming practices.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the participating farm for their hospitality and to DIH AGRIFOOD and ITC Murska Sobota for their vital contributions to developing applications that enhance advisory services for farms. These collaborative efforts are paving the way for smarter, data-driven agricultural practices that empower farmers and promote sustainability.
Stay tuned to the QuantiFarm news page for more updates on our test cases and advancements in digital agriculture!