Hutchinsons upgrades Omnia digital agronomy platform – AgriTrade News
Crop production specialist Hutchinsons has launched a major upgrade of its Omnia Digital Farming system to both extend its functionality and ease of use ...
The company points out that the global digital farm management sector is consolidating while emphasising that the Omnia platform is designed in Britain for use by British farmers and growers. As well as helping the crop production sector become more productive and sustainable, the platform will help quantify the impact of arable operations on the environment – assisting in waste reduction, the improvement of soil health, water and air; and raising biodiversity.
As with previous Omnia functionality, the EasyPlan upgrade is compatible with the most popular machines and platforms and can be accessed online from any device – although users still have the option of a paper-based system if they prefer.
The company has also addressed concerns over data ownership. Data supplied through Omnia is protected by data certification through ISO27001 accreditation and Hutchinsons’ membership of – and compliance with – the Farm Data Principles body set up for UK agriculture.
Hutchinsons first launched the Omnia platform in 2016, initially as a precision planning and nutrient management tool. It has evolved over subsequent years to include more crop management features, in response to user demand. The company says Omnia is now used by over 4,000 users covering 1.5 million hectares across the UK.
The latest EasyPlan upgrade is the result of investment into an 18-month development programme. Omnia is now a fully cloud-based system that performs all crop management tasks. The combination of new and heavily upgraded modules allows users to easily create field plans and records, manage stocks and choose who to share the data with – such as agronomists and spray operators.
Hutchinsons has added a completely new Spray Plan module to the platform, allowing users to create spray plans which are then audited by Hutchinsons’ bespoke HALO crop protection database to ensure the plans comply with pesticide legislation, Voluntary Initiative guidelines, labels and usage conditions. HALO is checked and enhanced daily by Hutchinsons’ in-house technical experts to ensure regulatory compliance.
The company says the new Spray Plan Module – the most requested addition from consultations with its growers – will give agronomists and BASIS-registered farmers the ability to write their own spray recommendations.
The Omnia upgrade also includes an extension of the existing Field Diary module into a fully comprehensive farm management system. Live field operations can be recorded as they happen through new task management functionality. A calendar view for task planning allows multiple plans to be combined into a single task and logged in a specific area for operators to access. Field records are then automatically shown within the existing Production module, to allow a complete gross margin analysis.
Inventory
The Stock Management module has also been expanded into a real-time stock management tool that keeps track of orders and physical crop input inventory based on what is actually being used.
The Omnia Scout app will be upgraded this summer. The update will allow operators to view and complete tasks in the field, along with providing an interactive tank mix tool for spray plans to help operators with product and water requirements. The Omnia Scout app is available for both Android and iOS devices.
“Omnia’s EasyPlan upgrade represents a major digital leap forward in crop production which confirms Omnia as the most advanced and easy-to-use farm management system,” says head of Omnia Oliver Wood. “It is the most advanced, easy-to-use farm management solution for growers – a British system for British agriculture – that combines data and agronomic expertise and is not currently offered by any other precision software provider.
“The EasyPlan upgrade offers a set of exciting developments within Omnia allowing for complete paperless record keeping and work management, setting a new standard for farm management technology in the UK.
“Since its launch as a precision mapping system eight years ago, the platform has evolved into a broader digital farming system offering a range of valuable and user-friendly business modules such as cost of production, yield mapping, rotational planning and carbon mapping tools,” Mr Wood explains.
“With its user-friendly interface and unparalleled functionality, the EasyPlan upgrade takes this one step further and underlines Hutchinsons’ focus on innovation and excellence and unwavering commitment and vision for Omnia.”
Omnia with the EasyPlan upgrade will be available within the current Field Manager (£3.15/ha) and Business Manager (£6/ha) subscription levels, with Business Manager being required for the HALO auditing functionality. For new users, the Omnia free Access account allows farmers to experience some limited functionality, including annual cropping plans, farm maps and visualising yield data.
Hutchinsons will have a presence at the Cereals 2024 event, to be held on 11th and 12th June near Baldock in Hertfordshire, to demonstrate the Omnia EasyPlan upgrade.
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