A significant element in the Abron System is effective Farm Performance Monitoring. We strongly believe that you cannot realistically expect to achieve your farm performance goals without fully understanding where you started from and what progress you are making.

Initial farm performance measurement

Before making any recommendations or starting any fertiliser applications we make sure we come to your farm and conduct a series of comprehensive farm measurements. These measurements allow us to identify the different areas of soil and pasture health that need to be improved to allow you to achieve your farming goals. The comprehensive measurement system takes the guesswork out when it comes to making recommendations ensuring that you are far more likely to see positive results while working with your Abron Technical Field Consultant.

Regular and ongoing performance measurement

Throughout your consultancy, your Abron Technical Field Consultant will conduct regular tests to monitor the progress you are making under the Abron System. This is important because it allows us to keep abreast of any changes or trends that are developing and make the necessary changes to ensure continual improvement in farm performance.

While all of our recommendations are based on sound scientific principles, as with anything the changes you experience can sometimes be unpredictable which is what makes this ongoing perforamnce measurement so important. By knowing exactly what is going on in your soil and with your pasture at any given time we can be confident that what we are doing is the best for you and your farm.

Key performance measures and monitoring

During your time on an Abron programme we will develop a schedule for monitoring the following indicators of farm performance:

• Pasture harvested
• Compaction and soil structure changes
• Root depth and quality
• Worm count
• Thatch levels
• Pasture quality through Brix and sap pH
• Clover percentage, pasture health and species diversity
• Weeds, insects and pests
• Financial performance

How do we measure?

Visual Soil Assessment (VSA)
The VSA was developed by Graham Shepherd and gives us an easy to use and quick method of judging soil health right there on your farm. Using the VSA we can inform you of the results straight away giving you a real-time assessment of the results you are experiencing.

Pasture Brix
By measuring pasture Brix we can get a cheap and speedy indication as to the amount of minerals and sugars dissolved in the plant tissue. This measurement gives a broad indication as to the health of your pasture and the quality of nutrition your animals are receiving. For more information on Brix as a measure of plant performance, please click here.