6 Examples Of How Australian Agriculture Makes Best Use of Digital Technology
We are living in a digital world and there is no doubt that as we move into a new dimension of global connectivity, all sectors are making good use of cutting-edge digital tech.
In this short article, you can take a closer look at how Australian farmers are using the latest technology to streamline their digital agriculture processes.
1. Drones
Australian farmers use drones for a number of tasks, which include the following:
- Small drones are used for livestock monitoring and perimeter fence inspection.
- Drones can be equipped to spray crops and can be operated remotely.
- Drones are used to locate stray animals; they also have night vision cameras.
More and more farmers are using drones, as they realise the many man-hours that this technology can save.
Farmers with huge spreads prefer to send a drone to look for sheep and cattle, as this saves time and money.
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2. Solar energy
Most farmers use solar panels to harvest energy that they use in the fields.
Laptops that control nutrient delivery are typically powered by a small solar panel that sits above the computer, acting as a roof.
The Australian government offers many incentives to farmers that use clean and renewable energy and the eventual aim is for the agricultural sector to rely on solar and wind for energy.
Solar panels provide power for American barns and administrative buildings, which is especially important in remote regions like the Outback.
3. Communication
Most farmers use VoIP platforms for communication; real-time video calls keep employees in contact and that needs an Internet connection.
Some farmers use two-way radios to keep in touch, which works at short distances.
Zoom and Skype are popular VoIP platforms and they provide communications for farmers and their employees. Click here for farming problems and the latest solutions.
4. GPS tracking
GPS tracking is mainly used for farming vehicles as asset tracking and protection.
Large and expensive farming equipment is often left out in the field.
With GPS tracking, the farmer can monitor their assets, wherever they might be.
5. CCTV
Video surveillance is widely used by Australian farmers.
This is used to monitor the farms and perimeters, while cameras can be remotely operated with an internet connection.
The farmhouse and surrounding buildings would be monitored by CCTV, which is the best form of security.
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6. Automated sorting and packing
Lastly, large farms might use semi-automated sorting and packing during the harvest season, which speeds things up considerably.
Cutting-edge software that is AI-managed is also being used and we expect that to develop, as more uses are found for automation. Large farms automate packing whenever possible and this reduces the time it takes to get produce onto store shelves.
As digital technology develops, the agriculture sector will find new ways to incorporate the tech into their operation.
Conclusion
To summarise, this is an exciting time to be alive and all sectors are benefitting from the advances of digital technology.
Solar and wind power are becoming established within the farming community and such is the pace of development that technicians find it difficult to keep up.
