Mapping the farm is the first and most important step in delivering safe, accurate aerial fertiliser application. At Aerowork, every customer farm is mapped by skilled staff who understand both the technology and the practical demands of rural New Zealand. Good mapping ensures fertiliser is applied only where it’s needed, protects waterways and native plantings, and sets the foundation for consistent, reliable spreading.

A complete map should show exactly where product should and shouldn’t go. This includes all paddocks scheduled for fertiliser, along with areas that must be excluded such as waterways, wetlands, bush blocks, buildings, and yards. Hazards like power lines, steep gullies, and towers are also identified to support safe flying and clean application.

Accurate mapping enables the use of variable-rate technology, allowing different nutrient rates to be applied across different land classes or zones. It also helps define clear flight paths and ensures the aircraft’s automatic rate-control system opens and closes at precisely the right points.

Once the farm is mapped, the information is loaded into digital tools such as Hawkeye, where application plans are created and sent directly to the aircraft. During the job, GPS guidance and rate-control technology use this map to deliver fertiliser accurately. Once spreading is complete, proof-of-release data is returned through Hawkeye for compliance and farm planning. A well-prepared map not only saves costs and supports better pasture performance but also strengthens environmental stewardship by keeping nutrients away from sensitive areas.

In short, good mapping makes good spreading possible.