A new project has been launched in the UK and New Zealand to assess how software programs can be used to improve grassland management on livestock farms.

Funded by beef and sheep industry group EBLEX and Marks & Spencer, and managed by Silver Fern Farms (UK), the project will run for 12 months until June 2012 and involves eight beef and sheep farms in England and 10 beef and sheep farms in NZ.

The farmers will use the Farmax farm management software suite, which has been developed in New Zealand over the last 20 years, to monitor and model how changes in farm and grassland management practice can influence productivity and profitability.

Each farmer is responsible for monthly monitoring and information recording. Farmax consultants will then visit the UK approximately every two months, checking on progress and providing farm management insight and advice. Farmax will provide system support and training for all participants.

Commenting on the project, Dr Liz Genever, beef and sheep scientist at EBLEX said, “This project has massive potential to help us understand grass supply and feed demand, which is a first for the English beef and sheep sector. It will also help demonstrate the benefits of improved grazing management for animal performance and profitability. The ability to ask ‘what if?’ will help the farmers involved analyse their current systems, and appreciate how any changes will affect their supply and demand.”

Renée Hogg, agricultural manager for Silver Fern Farms and project manager for the Farmax UK Project, added, “Silver Fern Farms, as a New Zealand farmer owned co-operative, is very pleased to be working with UK and NZ farmers to assist farmers to improve their productive capacity. Due to the common language and data capture of information through Farmax, we have an opportunity to run comparisons and benchmarking between UK and NZ farm businesses. We have established a set of key performance indicators for the farm businesses taking part in the project. During the next 12 months we hope to gain real insights into what is driving profit and productivity between UK and NZ farms, and look forward to sharing the learnings.”