Farm facts

• Farm: El Pandío farm. Fernando and Víctor Gutiérrez

• Location: Quintana del Puente (Palencia) Spain

• Start date: 2003

• Number of cows: 400 Friesian Holstein cows

• Lely robots: 8 Astronaut A5s, 1 Luna

• Lely Center: Lely Center Ávila

Héctor: 'Their passion for animal welfare, their efficient use of resources and their continuous focus on preserving the environment. Farmers like Fernando care deeply for their animals, their land and the people working on their farms. They’re constantly finding ways to do things better – for today and for the future.'

Héctor, what inspires you most about working with Spanish farmers like Fernando?

Fernando: 'We have limited water per hectare due to scarcity, so efficiency is essential. Thanks to sensors and smart irrigation systems, we can monitor our usage and irrigate more precisely – using less water while keeping our crops healthy and producing enough feed for our cows.'

And how do you deal with these challenges on your farm, Fernando?

Héctor: 'Water is precious here, and droughts are becoming more frequent. Spanish farmers are switching to smarter irrigation systems and sustainable practices, such as pivot and drip irrigation, which significantly reduce water use. The government is also supporting this transition with new irrigation infrastructure and technology subsidies.'

'Farmers are eager to build a sustainable future with advanced technology. As a Lely Center, we support them in implementing solutions that contribute to greater sustainability.'

Managing water supply is increasingly challenging in Spain. How are farmers adapting to this?

Fernando: 'For us, sustainability is part of our daily life. We’ve invested in modern irrigation systems that use underground pipes and pivots to save water and reduce our consumption of natural resources. Managing slurry is also a big challenge. We separate it, so the solid part becomes cow bedding, and the liquid part is used as fertiliser for the crops we grow.'

'We want to maintain the balance between our crop and dairy production activities, creating a circular system that cares for the environment. Our cows feed on what we grow, and their manure returns to the soil. To us, that’s sustainability.'

Sustainability is a big topic throughout the agricultural sector. What does it mean to you on your farm?

Can you tell us about your mutual relationship?

Fernando: 'We started out with a rotary milking parlour, but over 20 years ago we decided to modernise our farm with four Lely Astronaut A2 robots. Lely has been part of our story ever since. Today, we use eight Lely Astronaut A5s to milk our 400 cows.'

Héctor: 'Our relationship with El Pandío farm is one of trust and partnership. They’ve always been eager to work with the latest technology and take steps towards more sustainable practices. Our Lely Center covers central Spain – a key dairy region – and El Pandío is a leading example of a large farm in the region.'