Omnia adds spray plan functionality – Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer

As part of the Field Manager module with Omnia, Hutchinsons developed the Spray Plan system to improve efficiency and ensure compliance. Operators simply choose the fields that are going to be sprayed through the Omnia map, and then choose the spray mix. From this information, the system will provide information on the amount of chemical required to handle the chosen acreage and the best order in which to mix the components.

As well as this, it will give the manager information on whether the active ingredients can be sprayed on the crop in question, and the correct timing. Using historical data, it can also monitor total levels of actives in a field, including granular applications such as slug pellets, to warn growers if levels exceed the allowed amount.

Jonathan Houchin, estate manager at Hinxhill Estate, moved over to the Omnia system this year, having been talked through the updates by Chris Hoskins, digital farming manager. “We had used another system for more than 20 years, but had found it increasingly dated and awkward to use,” he explains.

While data from the previous system would be clunky to transfer into Omnia – nothing to do with the Hutchinsons software, Jonathan is quick to add – he has found that it seamlessly links to the other systems on the farm, including soil analysis results from SOYL and the John Deere Greenstar system for variable-rate application maps.

He says that because the Omnia system is map-based, it makes it easy to use. “We can see our 6m boundaries and any Sustainable Farming Incentive options, which help the drivers to plan their work.”

When arranging the spraying module, having a map-based system also helps to plan the most efficient route, ensuring the operator uses the maximum capacity of the sprayer without spending unnecessary time on the road. “It significantly cuts down on the time spent organising operations,” Jonathan says. “The Halo auditing system has also helped ensure we remain compliant when applying slug pellets,” he adds. “It’s a nice system. It is still missing some chemicals, but Omnia is consistently being developed. Despite being relatively new, it provides us with the live, web-based data management we require.”