Hi-tech weather gear gives farmers edge
GAME-CHANGING technology can now offer graziers in the Lakeland area more reliable and accurate real-time climatic information.
Cape York Natural Resource Management have installed the last of three internet-enabled weather stations in Lakeland in order to provide the local producers with more-reliable weather information to help them make important decisions on nutrient and water use.
Regional extension co-ordinator Oliver McConnachie, who is leading the initiative, said gathering weather information accurately at the local level and integrating it with Bureau of Meteorology data would lead to more-reliable weather predictions.
“Current weather data available for Lakeland, about an hour south of Cooktown, and districts further west, is very limited, which means it offers little value to weather modelling and hence prediction. Lakeland is probably the heart of the Cape’s agricultural sector and being able to better predict weather is a dream come true,” he said.
“Setting up weather stations at strategic locations on key properties allows land managers to access the most up-todate forecast simply by logging into an app on their phone. This gives producers the quality of data they need to better inform business decisions. For example, if rain is predicted, producers can hold off on watering or delay fertiliser applications. These things may seem small but save time and money and ultimately reduce the amount of sediment and nutrient run- off into local waterways.
“The other exciting thing about this initiative is that it was producer driven. Part of my role is to establish local producer networks so producers can learn from each other, and choose what expertise they wish to improve by inviting guest presenters and advisers.
Producer groups, once established, can begin applying for funding otherwise not available to them as individual businesses, and this benefits all group members as well as the community.
The weather stations story is an example of producer-led intervention suggested by, and benefiting, local farmers.’
This initiative is funded by the Queensland Government Reef Water Quality Program.