Context

As UK agriculture faces another period of significant change, there has never been a better time to scrutinise production costs, using the new opportunities available through farm data recording to allow  more informed decision making in crop choice, rotation and management strategy.

Scottish Agronomy figures show that up to 40% of Scottish wheat-growing land may not yield enough to cover actual production costs.  For other combinable and potato crops this can be up to 60%. There will be reasons why farms have a higher cost structure than others  or will use productive areas to subsidise others, but in the absence of data it is often unclear to the business where money is lost.  The situation is unsustainable and will be exacerbated in times of increasing market volatility, uncertainty about future farm support, tighter legislation and shifting pest and disease threats.

A large and increasing quantity of data sits in machinery, on phones, tablets and on PCs, currently inaccessible or unusable.  Farm crop history, yields and other data are subsequently and permanently lost with machinery and PC upgrades; to the cloud when licences expire; or when businesses change software suppliers. The participants in this project recognise their need to understand, with expert help including from their peers, what data they hold and own, what value it is to their business, the issues of data security and legislation and the skill set required to make best use of these for driving profitability in the business.  The partners identify major issues with ownership of farm data, where can be unclear or owned elsewhere.  The project will highlight the need to ensure that data ownership and control resides with the farmer, key to ensuring that the data value resides on-farm.