Growing with technology
Farmers embrace new precision farming tech
IN THE Northern Rivers region there has been a shift towards precision farming.
That’s the opinion of Ongmac Trading tractor and machinery salesman Brendan Disson. Mr Disson said he had seen more cane, broad acre and macadamia farmers keen to take up the cutting-edge technology.
“Obviously they are moving towards it for the cost savings,” he said.
“They are also looking to save time.
“Less time in the paddocks means less fuel burned, less wages to pay. When the expense of your seed is so high these days you need to be getting everything in the right spot.
“In hindsight, I think farmers will think we are five years too late in getting into this in the Northern Rivers.”
Precision farming is a term used that encompasses GPS-driven tractors to equipment fitted on machinery that can collect large amounts of paddock data.
❝If you can use a smart phone you can use GPS... — Brendan Disson
While in the coastal regions of northern New South Wales farmers were using precision farming for planting, Mr Disson said the technology was rapidly being embraced by western growers for a range of uses.
“Basically, we are just touching the surface of what these systems can do in this area at the moment,” he said.
“Once you get into the western areas they are using John Deer systems for yield mapping.
“So their headers can tell you how much grain came off which section of the paddock. Then you can integrate that information into your fertiliser system, so you put a USB stick in and the fertiliser spreaders know which areas may need more fertiliser, and the areas that may not need as much.”
Mr Disson was quick to note it wasn’t just young farmers taking up the technology.
“We have helped out a cane grower who was 87 years of age. He said he should have installed GPS 20 years ago.”
As a broad rule of thumb, Mr Disson said it took about four to five years for the investment to pay itself back.
“Look it’s a costly thing to get into up front. There is no doubt about that,” he said.
“It doesn’t happen overnight but in the first couple of years you will see benefits. You have to look at it as a four to five year turn around for you to get your money back.” Precision-farming technology isn’t just for new tractors.
“There is nothing stopping you from having a 20-year-old tractor and putting this system on,” he said. “If you can use a smart phone, you can use GPS.”