Anne-Marie Wells is feeling a sense of accomplishment

MILKING PLATFORM OTAGO

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change”.

Upgrade or fade away

Anne-Marie Wells is feeling a sense of accomplishment after upgrading her farming software and onfarm first aid skills.

Every so often, the supermarket changes where everything is placed. It becomes quite a social event as strangers in the aisles discuss the changes and how they feel they have only just got used to how it was before, the weekly shop takes longer for the next few visits, and Fitbits clock up hundreds of extra steps as we double back on ourselves because we have walked past things that were on the list without realising.

This year has been the year of change for our farming software, and whilst no Fitbits have been involved, it has had a similar effect of taking longer and back-tracking through work, and like the supermarket scenario, we didn’t choose to change, we have been forced into it – upgrade or fade away.

First our payroll system went into the cloud, then our accounting system. Both systems transitioned smoothly, and I was really pleased with the level of support – the data was transferred accurately, there were clear and easy instructions to help me get started and any questions I had were answered quickly. It is almost as if

Onfarm first aid training at the Wells’ farm includes CPR and more farm-specific issues like transporting a severed finger to the hospital for reattachment. they have ramped up the support team even if it is for just a short time while their clients switch over. Apart from getting the hang of navigating the new layout of the programmes, the changeover process was fairly painless. Next, it is Protrac’s turn, and I really hope we can say the same about that update . . .

There may not have been a choice about the system updates, but there are a few things we do have control over. With all our youngstock at graziers and most of the cows heading off farm for winter grazing, the winter months offer a chance to give the shed an overhaul and get some other jobs ticked off that have accumulated over the season.

Something else that is getting upgraded this winter is our first aid skills. Two years ago, a local workplace first aid firm came onfarm and ran a farm-tailored first aid course and it is time for a refresh. The course can take up to 25 people, so there is plenty of space for neighbouring farming teams as well as our own. The training runs for the afternoon and covers basic first aid followed by a focus on dealing with more farm specific injuries, such as concussion, electrocution, how to pack a severed finger to take to hospital, controlling bleeding and other equally unpleasant scenarios. As well as the achievement of receiving your first aid certificate, there is quite a sense of comfort in knowing your whole farm team and your neighbouring farm teams have just received their first aid certificates as well!

Charles Darwin said: “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change”. I will cling to that quote next time the supermarket changes around, comforted in the fact that wherever the chocolate ends up, I always seem to manage to find it on the first visit.