An extra pair of eyes on cultivation with Farm Management Software

Since 1994, HempFlax has been a pioneer in the culitvation, processing, and modification of fiber hemp, an ancient crop that’s more relevant today than ever. Based in Oude Pekela, the Netherlands, HempFlax processes 2,200 hectares of hemp grown by farmers in the Netherlands, Romania, and Germany. They also have their own arable farming company in Alba Lulia, Romania where they grow flax, soybeans, and wheat. 

HempFlax agronomist, Bart de Vries, relies on both CloudFarm and Crop Recording to manage operations. CloudFarm provides an additional set of eyes to monitor crop growth. Crop Recording maintains a closed registration system per field, which is required for strict ISCC Plus certification. 

Certification  
Bart de Vries explains: "All our hemp is certified according to ISO 9001 and ISCC Plus (International Sustainable Carbon Certificate). The latter is required by the automotive industry and records the environmental impact of the product. Hemp is carbon-negative. The crop sequesters carbon, and apart from seeding and harvesting, no additional operations are required. This certificate requires registering the field history, and Dacom assists with this through Boer&Bunder. If a field is in a protected area, it is registered separately and processed and stored as a separate batch. We can export and upload the exact field location to the certification system's website.

Historical data 
De Vries has been working at HempFlax since 2022. "All the historical data was already in the Dacom software. I was able to inherit the complete history from my predecessor, which we have since 2019," he explains. "The data is also very convenient for the annual audits. We have random inspections for certification. We share the field data and location, so the correct audit can take place."  
 

Benchmark 
During the growing season, De Vries travels between Romania and the Netherlands. "In CloudFarm, I filter the fields I want to visit in advance,” he says For example, the best and worst performing fields based on NDVI satellite images. I can't visit all fields in one week, so I take a sample. It makes my work much more efficient. On the platform, I have immediate insight into the status of the crops, and it also creates a benchmark for tracking  above or below average crop performance. The first three weeks are crucial in cultivation.,"

Data analysis  
During the winter months, the agronomist is engaged in data analysis. "It's really enjoyable to work with," he says. "The software offers many functions that you can use, or you can export the data to Excel. For example, I line up all the yield data to compare them. With such a large area, you can compare fields effectively. Because the field history is known, you can extract a tremendous amount of useful information. We also compare different varieties this way. Especially in Germany, the soil type varies from sand to peat. Based on soil type, location, variety, sowing dates, and yield, I conduct data analysis."
 

Field navigation  
Field registration is performed by HempFlax . The growers, who cultivate the crop on contract, do not need to perform any administrative tasks. The contract workers hired by the company for harvesting also work with Dacom. "This has two advantages," explains De Vries. "The first being that the contract worker has an overview of all the fields to be harvested. We also indicate the access point to the field. It may sound simple, but harvesting sometimes continues day and night. The last thing you want is to spend hours driving around with a harvesting machine in search of the correct entrance. Fields in Germany are often located in remote areas. Additionally, the yield is  recorded. This serves as the basis for the growers' payment." 

Prescription maps  
HempFlax is not yet utilizing site-specific application or yield mapping. "The beauty of hemp cultivation is that no fertilization or crop protection is required after sowing," says De Vries. "That makes the cultivation partially CO2-negative. On our own 800-hectare arable farm, we want to start using prescription maps. We are now implementing no-till and controlled traffic farming for the first time. Site-specific application is the next step." 

Drawing buffer strips  
The cultivation of fiber hemp in Europe has grown significantly in recent years, including at HempFlax. De Vries says, "This year, hemp is also being cultivated in Friesland, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Gelderland, and Overijssel. Partly on a small scale for experimental purposes. The trend of biobased construction using natural materials is on the rise, and it requires a source of raw materials. We also monitor these fields with Dacom. Due to the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the 7th Action Program, new rules apply this year, such as mandatory buffer strips. We can easily draw these strips with a single click. This makes my work much simpler. If a task takes me three or four clicks, I consult with Dacom to see if it can be done faster. Thanks to efficient communication and excellent service, it is possible."