Digital Tools to Improve Crop Farm Efficiency and Productivity

In 1992, Valuckai Farm, located in the southwest of Lithuania, covered only 12 hectares of farmland. The farm's growth and development at that time were fueled by the income generated from sugar beet production. In 1993, the farm diversified by introducing other agricultural crops, with potatoes becoming the predominant crop and the main income source for Valuckai Farm. Today, potatoes occupy up to 150 hectares of the farm's total 1000 hectares. In addition to potatoes, the farm also cultivates wheat, oats, maize for cereals, rape, mustard, peas, and buckwheat. The crop mix varies slightly each year. Valuckai is a family-owned farm, managed by Neringa Budreviciene, who has led its transformation into one of the most modern agricultural operations in Lithuania, thanks to EU support. The farm now uses cutting-edge technologies, state-of-the-art machinery, and newly renovated buildings to prepare and store its agricultural products.

In developing her sustainability strategy, farmer Neringa faced the challenge of how to automate farm management processes, production sales and transport processes to save money and time resources. These challenges include other management processes such as:

• Formulating a clear vision for the future of the farm to guide and support investment decisions.

• Enhancing the farm's economic efficiency by increasing yields and reducing costs.

• Streamlining the management of all operational data into a single, centralised system.

• Complying with reporting requirements to public authorities, such as crop declarations, while ensuring the capability for data exchange with private sector agricultural stakeholders.

With the assistance of consultants from the EDIH4IAE.LT consortium, the farm successfully implemented tailored digital solutions, selecting the most appropriate technologies for each aspect of its operations.

The Valuckai farm was helped to smoothly implement the digital solutions, based on training materials, guidelines and recommendations. The EDIH4IAE.LT team recommended the most suitable option for the farm to optimise procedures at the lowest cost. To address the challenges of the Valuckai farm, the EDIH4IAE.LT consortium implemented an integrated digital transformation strategy focused on automation, efficiency and sustainability. The Agrosmart for Farms programme was proposed, which included 4 key solutions to address the challenges raised.

To provide the most comprehensive analysis of the farm, its processes, economic situation and management, a "modular" programme structure has been chosen, comprising the following modules:

• Farmland Map. The farm fields are registered, a map of the farm is drawn up, and the main layers of the map are placed: productivity scores, soil types, protected areas, etc.

• Agrochemical plans. Sowing, fertilisation, spraying plans, calculating total resource costs per field.

• Work schedule. Expression of the agrochemical plan. Here it is possible to control the execution of the work, record the fact, edit the agrochemical plan. See completed, planned and overdue works.; - Yield-income. Display yields, evaluate forward contracts, calculate the value of the free harvest, record subsidies and other receipts, calculate cash balances.

• Reports. Users can analyse the processes on the farm in the following areas: commodity demand, work, resource consumption, crop rotation, fertiliser and spraying accounting. The module also provides mandatory farm reports in the form of prescribed documentation, such as fertiliser and plant protection logbooks.

The solution met the digital transformation needs of farmer Neringa Budrevičienė, as it increased the efficiency of the management of the Valuckai farm, improved the quality control of the products, and contributed to the achievement of the sustainability goals of the managed farm.

Quantitative Results:

1. Increased Efficiency. The implementation of the modular programme significantly reduced manual labour and time spent on planning and tracking farm operations. E.g., the Agrochemical Plans and Work Schedule modules reduced the time required for operational planning and task management by up to 40%. Automated workflows allowed for real-time adjustments, improving work execution accuracy and reducing delays in scheduled tasks.

2. Cost Savings. Through optimised resource management—particularly in fertilisation, sowing, and spraying—the farm saw a 15% reduction in overall input costs, including savings in fertiliser and pesticide usage due to more precise application strategies. The system’s real-time data helped minimise waste and improved decision-making, directly impacting operational costs.

3. Improved Yield and Revenue Tracking. The Yield-Income module provided better insights into the farm's financial health, enabling the farmer to forecast income more accurately and identify cost-effective harvest strategies. Early data shows a 5-10% improvement in yield management, particularly by aligning agrochemical applications with productivity zones identified in the mapping system. The integration of forward contracts tracking and subsidy management further improved financial transparency and planning.

4. Sustainability Gains. With the automated system tracking environmental factors, the farm reduced its ecological footprint, aligning with EU sustainability targets. The precision in agrochemical application led to reduced runoff and soil degradation, enhancing long-term farm sustainability. This contributed to achieving sustainability certifications, which positioned the farm more favourably in competitive markets.

Qualitative Benefits:

1. Enhanced Decision-Making. The integration of data across various operational areas (mapping, agrochemical planning, yield, and financial data) enabled more informed and quicker decision-making. The real-time data access through digital dashboards allowed the farmer to respond proactively to changes in weather, market conditions, and farm operations, resulting in more resilient and adaptive management.

2. Improved Reporting and Compliance. The automated Reports module simplified compliance with regulatory requirements. Fertiliser and plant protection logbooks, along with other mandatory documentation, were easily generated and maintained, reducing administrative overhead and ensuring compliance with national and EU agricultural regulations.

3. Workforce Optimisation. The digital solution allowed for better allocation and management of labor resources. Employees could be deployed more effectively, focusing on high-value tasks rather than manual tracking and data entry. This not only improved productivity but also led to higher employee satisfaction as routine, time-consuming tasks were automated.

4. Public/Private Funding Overview. The development and implementation of the digital solution were supported through a combination of public and private funding. The EDIH programme provided public financial assistance, particularly for the initial technology adoption and training. This public funding covered up to 60% of the initial implementation costs, easing the financial burden on the farm. The Valuckai farm, through private investment from its members, contributed the remaining 40%, ensuring a long-term commitment to the digital transformation. This private investment demonstrated the farm’s vested interest in the success and sustainability of the project.

Return on Investment (ROI) and Financial Benefits:

The solution delivered a strong ROI, with cost savings and operational efficiencies projected to generate a full return on the initial investment within two years. The key financial benefits included:

• 15% reduction in operational costs.

• 5-10% increase in yield and more effective use of subsidies and contracts.

From the perspective of EDIH4IAE.LT and Valuckų farm, several key lessons emerged during the digital transformation process.

1. Engage Stakeholders Early.
   Early involvement of all key stakeholders, including the farm management and employees, was crucial. Their input during the planning and implementation phases ensured the solution met practical, on-the-ground needs.

2. Provide Tailored Training.
   Comprehensive, hands-on training helped the farm team quickly adapt to the new technologies. Ensuring that training was modular and role-specific allowed each team member to focus on the tools most relevant to their responsibilities.

3. Start with a Modular Approach.
   Implementing the solution in phases allowed for smoother adoption. Each module was introduced gradually, ensuring users could adjust to one system before moving on to the next. This prevented overwhelming the team and allowed for real-time adjustments based on feedback.

4. Monitor and Adjust Regularly.
   Regular monitoring and iterative feedback loops allowed for continual improvements. The ability to tweak the system based on actual performance data led to better outcomes and avoided long-term issues.

While the digital tools were intuitive, the farm workers required more time than initially anticipated to fully integrate them into their daily routines. Overestimating digital literacy can slow down the adoption process, so plan for additional time and support. While the focus was on efficiency, it’s crucial to have strong data protection measures in place from the outset. Make sure both public and private data are secure to maintain trust and compliance.

By following these practices, other EDIHs and SMEs can streamline their digital transformation journeys, ensuring both user satisfaction and long-term success.