| 61 “It’s good for planning the most cost-efficient way to fly the block and it’s better Health & Safety wise for us and for the farmer too.” Jim followed in his father’s footsteps Sowing lime in the Clarence Valley. Virginia Wright Jim Somerville grew up with flying in his blood thanks to his father, top-dressing pilot Neville Somerville, who worked all over North Canterbury for years before starting Cheviot Ag-Air in 1987. Jim started working with him in 1993 and eventually took over the business in 2010. He’s flown well over 20,000 hours servicing farms north of the Hurunui through to Marlborough and west as far as Lewis Pass, and that local knowledge and understanding of conditions is as much a part of Cheviot Ag-Air’s success as the GPS technology they first installed in 1996. GPS technology introduced a high level of precision to the delivery of fertiliser from the air, but GPS technology on its own still can’t deliver the fertiliser as efficiently and cost-effectively as when combined with local knowledge, which is why it’s difficult for new pilots coming into the area to achieve the same results as the locals. The latest GPS technology stores information directly on the cloud, and when it comes to top-dressing many farmers talk to their fertiliser reps and either get their map sent to their home computer to send on, or it comes directly from the fertiliser company to Cheviot Ag-Air’s system. “Sometimes the first I know of a job is a map appears on the aeroplane so then I find the order it relates to on the computer in the office,” says Jim. The remaining farmers tend to use the maps produced on paper, by the Hurunui Landcare Group, showing waterways, fences, tracks and so on, which works well for Jim because he can easily work out where he is on the farm thanks to all the geographical features marked. “Sometimes the blocks look the same from the air but I know where I am because there’s a track marked or something I recognise that’s not shown on the computer generated maps which are just a two tone colour. It’s good for planning the most cost-efficient way to fly the block and it’s better Health & Safety wise for us and for the farmer too because all the trees and powerlines and other hazards are marked,” explains Jim. With changing weather patterns becoming the norm having local knowledge underpinning decisions about which strip to use, and when it’s safe to use it is invaluable. After years of top-dressing and reading the familiar contours of the land, understanding the wind and how it will affect what he’s dispersing is second nature to Jim. RURAL SERVICES » Cheviot Ag Air Ltd Locally Owned & Operated Since 1990 BOOK NOW! For all your Stock & Contracting Needs contact Peter 027 438 8097 No fuel factor chargers added • LIVESTOCK CARTAGE • GENERAL FREIGHT • BULK & FERTILISER 99 Ward Rd, Cheviot 7310 03 319 8644 | 0276 776 787 He’s grateful there’s still one thing the GPS can’t do: mitigating the risk of fertiliser drift is still down to the pilot’s judgement and that’s not something that will be automated any time soon. All the Cheviot Ag-Air team live locally including Jim’s new loader driver Ian Keith. Originally from England he loves both flying and the outdoors so is enjoying the move after six years driving milk tankers, and his partner Sally Hall is keen to train up as a relief driver as well. It’s good timing for Jim as things in the farming community are picking up after a quiet couple of years. He’s recently bought an identical plane to the one he’s been flying for the last 30 years having had it rebuilt a couple of years ago, another 954 Fletcher . So Cheviot Ag-Air is ready as business continues to improve, especially with sheep and beef prices finally trending in the right direction.
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