EFITA 2003 Conference
5-9. July 2003, Debrecen, Hungary
USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ICT IN THE DUTCH AGRICULTURAL SECTOR A. van Buiten, W.A. Dekkers, A. Hengeveld and H.C. Holster,
[email protected] Research Institute for Animal Husbandry, P.O.Box 2176, NL-8203 AD Lelystad, The Netherlands Abstract As in other sectors, the use of computers and their applications also grows in the agricultural sector. Between 1992 and 2001, a two-yearly investigation was conducted to monitor the development in the use of computers and ICT related-applications at Dutch dairy, pig or poultry farms. Overall results show a considerable increase in the use of these tools. In dairy farming for instance, of a total of 22.612 farms with more than 30 milking cows that were included in the year 2001, 80% had at least 1 computer, compared to 57% of the 25.611 farms in 1997. After the introduction of Internet, an explosive growth resulted in 60% of the dairy farmers using this medium in 2001, with e-mail, easy access to information and direct communication with external companies mentioned as the most important reasons. At least 8000 farmers used Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) for communication with external companies. In pig farming a distinction is made between farms with breeding sows and farms with finishing pigs. In 2001, a computer was present at respectively 94% of the 5220 farms and 85% of the 9930 farms, compared to 67% of 7179 farms and 48% of 12826 farms in 1997. On farms with breeding sows the use of Internet was 73% in 2001 and on farms with finishing pigs 61%. At least 50% and 38% of the farms respectively used EDI for communication with external companies. In poultry farming 84% of the 1050 farms with laying hens and 80 % of the 1008 farms with broilers used a computer in 2001, compared to 51% of 1130 and 56% of 1300 farms respectively in 1997. Internet was used by 66% of the poultry farmers. Keywords : Internet, EDI, Management, ICT, Agriculture, Computer
1. Introduction As in other sectors, the use of computers and their applications also grows in the agricultural sector. This development is not only seen within the farms themselves, but also in the communication with companies related to these farms. Monitoring the use and development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the agricultural sector gives insight in the current status and how fast adaptation occurs. This information is of importance for the development of the strategy of service organisations and government and determines the success of the introduction of new applications or techniques. More demands are made on the safety of consumer products, thus it is important to increase the possibilities to track and trace the origin of these products and the production methods used. ICT is a very valuable tool towards ensuring this information can be obtained. However, for a successful introduction of ICT in the agricultural sector, the interest has to come from the farmers themselves. Further, the production efficiency becomes more important, as the profit margins decrease. ICT is also a valuable tool in decreasing administrative costs and early identification of problems at farms. A survey of the growth of computer use will indicate the current status of the adaptation of ICT in the agricultural sector.
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EFITA 2003 Conference
5-9. July 2003, Debrecen, Hungary
2. Material and methods Between 1992 to 2001, a two-yearly investigation was conducted to monitor the development in the use of computers, management information systems and other ICT related-applications at Dutch dairy, pig or poultry farms. In a questionnaire, a random selection of farmers was asked whether a computer and ICT-related applications were present at their farm. These outcomes were translated to the total population. For this study small farms were excluded for further analyses. For this reason dairy farms with less the 30 milking cows, poultry farms with less then 5000 laying hens and 10000 broilers and pig/farms with less then 50 sows and 100 finishing pigs were excluded. 3. Results 3.1. Dairy farming The total number of dairy farms has decreased from 36.258 in 1996 to 29.467 in 2001. This decrease was especially noticed at dairy farms having less than 30 milking cows. Large farms (more then 70 cows) showed a slight increase. The average production per cow increased from 7.605 kg. in 1996 to 8.418 kg. in 2001. In 1997 the percentage of farmers under and above 45 years of age was equal, whereas this percentage in 2001 was 61 and 39 respectively. At least one Personal Computer (PC) was present at 18.100 (80%) of a total of 22.162 farms that were included in the year 2001. In the year 1997, this was only 57% of the 25.611 farms included. Furthermore, the use of management systems has increased with 19% during the last 4 years. After the introduction of Internet, the growth was explosive and resulted in 60% of the dairy farmers using this medium in 2001. The use of automated concentrate feeding systems (ACF) was 66% in 2001. Robotic milking was implemented at 325 farms (1,4%) (Table 1). The use of e- mail, easy access to information and direct communication with external companies were mentioned as the most important reasons for entering the Internet (Table 4). Of the 10.000 farmers with a management system 90% uses the possibility to exchange date by Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). For the exchange of data with the studbook 8000 farmers are using EDI. For data regarding identification and registration 700 farmers are using this medium. Records from the dairy industry are received by 7000 farmers through the internet. 3.2. Pig farming In pig farming a distinction is made between farms with breeding sows and farms with finishing pigs. For both categories the decrease of in number of farms was considerable and resulted in 6.100 farms with sows and 12.895 farms with finishing pigs in the year 2001, whereas in 1997 these numbers were 9.185 and 18.653 respectively. At farms with sows a computer was found at 94% of the 5220 farms included in 2001. In 1997, this was 67% of 7179 farms. Management programs were used at 88% of the farms in 2001 in contrast to 53% in 1997. The use of Internet was 73% in 2001. Of the 9930 farms with finishing pigs in 2001 85% have a computer; this percentage was 48% for 12.826 farms in 1997. The use of management programs was only 37% in 2001, the use of Internet was 61%. The use of ACFsystems for farms with sows increased from 950 in 1997 to 1750 in 2001. For farms with finishing pigs this was 1800 and 3100 respectively. The use of a computer for climate control was for farms with sows 4150 in 2001. For farms with finishing pigs this number was 6900 (Table 2a and 2b). The use of e- mail, easy access to information and direct communication with external companies were mentioned as the most important reasons for entering the Internet, which is almost identical to the findings for dairy farmers (Table 4). Of the farms with breeding sows 50% exchanges data by EDI with the breeding organization. Of the farms with finishing pigs 26% are using EDI for data related to findings of slaughtered pigs.
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EFITA 2003 Conference
5-9. July 2003, Debrecen, Hungary
3.3. Poultry farming Farms with laying hens were reduced from 2.424 in 1997 to 2.076 in 2001. For farms with broilers these numbers were 1.240 and 1.094 respectively. In poultry farming 84% of the 1050 farms with laying hens and 80 % of the 1008 farms with broilers in the year 2001 used a computer, compared to 51% of 1130 farms with laying hens and 56% of 1300 farms with broilers in 1997. A management program was used by almost 35% of the poultry farmers in 2001. In 1997 this percentage was almost 25%. Internet was used by 66% of the poultry farmers. The use of ACF-systems for farms with laying hens increased from 470 in 1997 to 710 in 2001. For farms with broilers this was 615 and 700 respectively. The use of a computer for climate control for farms with laying hens was 760 in 2001. For farms with broilers this number was 840 (Table 3a and 3b). Ordering products by internet is already done by at least 25% of the farmers (Table 4). Especially ordering feed is very popular as mentioned by 58% of the farmers with laying hens and 50% of the farmers with broilers. 4. Discussion The use of a Personal Computer for management purposes still increases as shown in this study. Internet has become one of the most important functions of a computer. The use of management information systems also increased over the last few years, but its use is still below 50% with the exception of farms with sows. In general the registration and use of management data is not common practice. Furthermore, registration of data from individual animals requires more advanced tools compared to data on groups of animals. For this reason it is remarkable that for dairy farms the number of management programs is still relative low. Efficiency of communication with external organisations, the steady entrance of a younger generation farmers and further development of tools to preserve animal health and reduce costs may lead to a further growth in the use of these management systems. The use of internet was remarkably increased during the last 2 year for farmers in all sectors. Easy access to actual information is one of the main advantages of the Internet. Many farmers have been using the internet during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease to keep up with new developments and monitor decisions of the government. The use of e-mail is very popular and may replace most of the traditional communication as letters, fax or even telephone in the future. Already 25% of the farmers have been buying on the internet. Products ordered from the internet are feed, management equipment and semen. However, the old- fashioned printed bill is still the fa voured method of payment for these products. Within a few years it is expected that every farmer with a computer will use Internet. The demand for an open and transparent communication concerning the process of production will enhance this development. The introduction of chain- information systems is inevitable and internet provides a good tool for this. Further growth of internet applications will depend on the reliability of proper use of data, investments by farmers, service organisations and government and development of infrastructure. LITERATURE Automatisering in de agrarische sector, Gebruik en Trends 2001 inclusief toepassingen voor mineralenbeheer, A. van Buiten, W.A. Dekkers, A. Hengeveld, H.C. Holster, Praktijkonderzoek Veehouderij, ISSN 1382-0346, eerste druk 2002.
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EFITA 2003 Conference
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Table 1 ICT at dairy farms (number and percentage) at 1997, 1999 and 2001(more then 30 dairy-cows) 1997 1999 2001 Farms 25.611 24.482 22.612 At least 1 PC 14.500 (57) 16.500 (67) 18.100 (80) Internet 1.700 (7) 3.300 (13) 13.500 (60) Management system 6.300 (25) 8.500 (35) 10.000 (44) ACF 13.500 (53) 14.500 (59) 14.900 (66) Robot 50 (0.2) 125 (0.5) 325 (1.4) Table 2a ICT at Pig-sow farms (number and percentage) at 1997, 1999 and 2001(more then 50 sows) 1997 1999 2001 Farms 7.179 6.746 5.220 At least 1 PC 4.800 (67) 5.600 (83) 4.900 (94) Internet 550 (8) 1.200 (18) 3.800 (73) Management system 3.800 (53) 4.700 (70) 4.600 (88) ACF 950 (13) 1.150 (17) 1.750 (34) Climate control 4.750 (66) 4.900 (73) 4.150 (79) Table 2b ICT at Pig-finishing farms (number and percentage) at 1997, 1999 and 2001(more then 100 finishing pigs) 1997 1999 2001 Farms 12.826 12.217 9.930 At least 1 PC 6.200 (48) 8.400 (69) 8.400 (85) Internet 1.200 (9) 1.600 (13) 6.100 (61) Management system 2.400 (19) 3.200 (26) 3.700 (37) ACF 1.800 (14) 2.000 (16) 3.100 (32) Climate control 6.100 (48) 6.400 (52) 6.900 (70) Table 3a ICT at poultry-laying hens farms (number and percentage) at 1997, 1999 and 2001 (more then 500 laying-hens) 1997 1999 2001 Farms 1.130 1.104 1.050 At least 1 PC 575 (51) 775 (70) 880 (84) Internet 80 (7) 210 (19) 700 (66) Management system 285 (25) 360 (33) 350 (33) ACF 470 (42) 575 (52) 710 (67) Climate control 520 (46) 660 (60) 760 (72) Table 3b ICT at poultry-broilers farms (number and percentage) at 1997, 1999 and 2001(more then 10000 broilers) 1997 1999 2001 Farms 1.300 1.298 1.008 At least 1 PC 730 (56) 970 (75) 885 (88) Internet 110 (8) 190 (15) 675 (67) Management system 170 (13) 280 (22) 300 (30) ACF 615 (47) 785 (60) 700 (69) Climate control 875 (67) 995 (77) 840 (83)
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EFITA 2003 Conference
5-9. July 2003, Debrecen, Hungary
Table 4 Application of internet in 2001 (% of farmers with access to internet) Dairy Sows Finishing Layingpigs hens Access to information 88 96 94 94 E-mail 70 75 74 82 Transport of management data 56 46 48 42 Weather forecast 35 23 Ordering products 25 25 27 30 Management support 13 9 11 9 Discussion panel 4 9 7 1 Selling products 6 6
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Broilers 94 71 38 22 24 11 4 3
