Precision agriculture technology improves on-farm decisions
The Making GPS Work For You project has so far supported 95 Lower Burdekin cane growers farming across more than 17,500ha to unlock the full potential of sophisticated tractor GPS systems .
NQ Dry Tropics Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager Rob Hunt said properly-calibrated GPS devices accurately recorded data that could automatically generate information to help manage the farm .
“ By getting the most out of their GPS device , they can begin to implement precision farming ,” Mr Hunt said .
“ They can make better-informed management decisions and , crucially , apply inputs such as fertiliser and pesticide in a more precise manner , reducing the potential for harmful runoff to the reef .”
( Above ): Data can be used to improve on-farm decisions .
( Below ): Cane grower Christian Lago .
The three-year project aims to prevent 10,000kg of dissolved inorganic nitrogen flowing to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon . It is being delivered by local precision farming company , Aglantis , through funding from the Australian Government Reef Trust .
Ayr grower Christian Lago , of Lago Enterprises , said he had gained valuable information through involvement with the project .
“ Machines nowadays have all this tech that we don ’ t know how to use , which means we don ’ t get the efficiencies out of them . This project has allowed me to finally utilise that efficiency to its full potential , especially in my spray rig .”
- Lower Burdekin grower , Christian Lago .
Year In Review 2022-2023 13