DRONES, autonomous tractors and satellite imagery – the digital era is closing in on traditional modes of farming.
But despite precision agriculture taking off, experts argue there will always be a place for human labour.
Gunnedah-based agronomist Sam Simons, of Agromax Consulting, said variable rate seeding – planting at different sowing rates and varieties within a paddock was starting to gain some traction in North West NSW.
Another technology widely adopted is the use of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) or satellite imagery. Some applications are identifying disease or insect hot spots, nutrient deficiencies, variable growth and weed escapes in paddocks.
“It means we have the ability to create variable rate maps and can ground truth what the satellite imagery is demonstrating to fine tune the system,” Mr Simons said.
“Drones have been used to measure NDVI with sensors, conduct plant counts, assess disease and waterlogged areas in 2016. There has been an increase in drone purchases amongst our client base in recent years.”
Mr Simons also cited autonomous tractors, spray rigs (swarm farm robotics), automatic sensor weed ID and 'smart siphons' in cotton have all come out in recent years with significant labour savings, but come at a significant expense".
“There’s definitely a trend to improve efficiencies and reduce labour cost with new technologies but the digital age won't replace the need for humans - it is part of an integrated approach.
“The digital age can help us improve the system so we are maximising profitability on every acre by more accurately matching inputs to yield potential based on a range of parameters.”
Future Farmers Network chief executive Toby Locke has recently returned from Innovation Generation – a conference that focussed on the digital age in agriculture.
“We spoke about the digital age, which was very much about drones, robotics, how we’re moving to an industry where we work smarter not harder,” Mr Locke said.
“Drones have all come about in a matter of years, and now they’re almost turning into the standard farm practise to save time in checking water, weeds and fence lines. Today we’re being asked to produce more food and fibre with less land, so we need to embrace technologies to do this.”