AgTech Finder

The use of microorganisms to improve the health and production of animals is an emerging field within the livestock industry. In this episode, we look at the impact microbial technology and products are having in the dairy industry. We’re joined by vet and ruminant nutritionist Dr Paul Cusack who explains how new technological advances will improve the way researchers are able to study microbes, and the impact different feed additives have on them. We speak to Tom Bayes from Terragen, a company producing a probiotic supplement for dairy cows and calves to increase feed efficiency and milk production. And we also talk to South Australian dairy farmer Jo Jones, who has been using Terragen’s product MYLO and has seen a reduction in herd sickness and improvement in milk quality, especially around calving. www.agtechfinder.com

Soil moisture probes were one of the first pieces of agtech used by farmers, but things have changed a bit since the 90s. In this episode we hear about how soil moisture probes are informing growers on soil temperature and fertility, how they can be integrated with other sensors, and how data can be sent wirelessly to your phone. Liam Southam-Rogers from Applied Horticultural Research gives an overview on some of the common challenges growers face when adopting the technology, including the pitfall of installing too many probes. Sentek is an agtech company that was started more than 30 years ago in South Australia and has now become a world leader in soil moisture technology, with probes installed in hundreds of different types of crops across more than 80 countries. Sentek’s Medi Zaboli talks about what's happening now and what’s on the horizon. Supply chain manager for WA based Galati Brothers Frank Merenda has been using Sentek’s Drill and Drop probes in a protected cropping operation, growing mediterranean vegetables just outside of Perth. www.agtechfinder.com

Robot farm machinery is no longer a sci-fi fantasy, it’s already on-farm and impacting how farmers manage their operations. In this episode, podcast regular, Food Agility CRC Chief Scientist, Professor David Lamb explains that although autonomous technology is now available there’s still work to be done to ensure our farms and our farmers are ‘robot ready’. We hear from Jack Rudd from Swarm Farm robotics about its autonomous machinery, mainly being used for spot spraying. He says the technology allows for more effective weed control, reducing chemical and labour costs. Northern NSW broad acre cropper Scott Wilson has been using a Swarm Farm robot for spot spraying and says ‘Scrub’ as the robot’s affectionately known, has benefits for both farm operation and lifestyle. www.agtechfinder.com

In this episode we’re talking about LoRa, a connectivity option for agtech monitoring devices that can be used in rural areas, across long distances. Connectivity is often a stumbling block for farmers looking to adopt agtech, particularly for the many growers who don’t have reliable phone signal across their property. But LoRa is helping to fill the gap – it's a long-range, low power option that can be used to connect monitoring devices and sensors that don’t need to transfer a lot of data to operate. We’re joined once again by Food Agility CRC’s chief scientist David Lamb to explain how LoRa works and what role it plays in agtech. We speak to PLF Australia’s (Precision Livestock Farming) Paul Stapleton, who explains why LoRa has become the go-to option for most of the solutions they offer. He’s trying to spread the word to farmers who might assume having no signal means they’re not able to use agtech devices. And we hear from Mick McKellar, an organic beef cattle farmer from south west Queensland who previously struggled with connectivity, but using LoRa and through PLF has been able to install tank and flow monitoring devices. www.agtechfinder.com

In this episode we’re talking about the use of agtech and data-driven decision-making within the seafood industry. We’re joined by Julie Petty, from Seafood Industry Australia, who talks us through everything from the automation of fish feeding to decarbonisation. We also speak to professor Shauna Murray, from the University of Technology Sydney, who’s been heading up the Transforming Australian Shellfish Production project. The project, run in conjunction with Food Agility CRC, has allowed for real-time and estuary specific data to drive decision-making on harvest management. And we hear from NSW South Coast oyster farmer Shane Buckley. He took part in the project and says the use of data to inform harvest windows could have a significant economic impact on their business. www.agtechfinder.com

Today we’re speaking about technology helping producers monitor their livestock’s health and emissions - picture being able to breathalyse a cow to see if she's pregnant or finding out about methane emissions when the steers eat at the trough. We speak to Food Agility CRC chief scientist David Lamb about how more extensive, large-scale farming, combined with a reduced workforce, has led to agtech often needing to fill the gap when it comes to livestock monitoring. AgScent founder Bronwyn Darlington tells us about working with NASA and explains how their non-invasive diagnostic technology could be a gamechanger for the livestock industry. We also talk to Simone Barakat from Number 8 Bio, a company developing feed additives to reduce methane emissions. They’ve been using AgScent Air to measure methane reduction during their trials. www.agtechfinder.com

In this week’s episode we’re talking about innovations and technology within the shearing industry. The wool and shearing industry is probably not the first people think of when it comes to agtech, being one of the more traditional within agriculture. But the shearer shortage and rise of large sheep within the industry has encouraged the sector to develop new technology that will offer wool growers more options and help attract and retain shearers. In this episode we speak to Carolina Diaz from the Australian Wool Innovation about some of the new technology coming through the pipeline, in particular biological wool harvesting. We also talk to brothers Glenn and Chris Haynes about shearing modules that eliminate the need for shearers to catch and drag the sheep, the part of the process that often leads to the most injuries. Glenn is from the Shearer’s Contractors Association Australia (SCAA) Shearer Woolhandler Training Inc. and designed the modules in collaboration with AWI, woolgrowers and champion shearers. While, Chris is from Haynes Engineering, one of several companies building the shearing modules and seeing them implemented by growers across the country. And we catch up with wool grower Will Shippen, who started using the shearing modules out of necessity during a flood, but found they improved efficiency and so has continued to use them ever since. www.agtechfinder.com

In this episode we’re speaking about pasture management and the technology helping producers maximise profit and protect their environment. We welcome back South Australian sheep and cattle farmer and agtech adoption specialist Penny Schulz, who tells us about how technology in this area has undergone a major step change in recent years. We speak to Cibo Labs co-founder Phil Tickle about their pasture management tools which use a combination of satellite remote sensing imagery, machine learning and ground-truthing to offer objective pasture estimates, informing decision-making on stocking rates. We’re also joined by Philip Hughes, who along with his family, runs a backgrounding and finishing cattle operation on the Western Downs in Queensland. The Hughes have been using Cibo Labs’ tools to help protect their ground cover, making sure their country remains “rain ready”. Philip’s son Lachlan tragically died in 2018 in an on-farm accident. To honour Lachlan’s commitment to regenerative farming practices the family set up the Lachlan Hughes Foundation (www.lachlanhughesfoundation.org.au) to support regenerative agricultural, through scholarships, projects & mentoring programs. www.agtechfinder.com

In this episode we’re talking about agtech integration, whether that’s bringing together technologies and services from different providers to leverage more value – or fully-integrated systems that not only provide information but take action. We speak to Matt Anderson from Farmers2Founders about how agtech partnerships are able to offer more comprehensive and streamlined decision-making data to farmers. We’re joined by OPS Australia’s Andrew Barton who tells about their integrated solutions that are combining monitoring technology with automation systems, improving productivity on farm. OPS Australia is based in Longreach Queensland and built to work in outback conditions. We also chat to Elgyn Knight from a cattle station at Rolleston in central Queensland. He’s adopted an integrated OPS system for their water tank management, and he says it saves him time, water and power. www.agtechfinder.com

In this episode we’re talking about building trust when it comes to sharing farm data. Data is now one of the world’s most valuable commodities and needs to be protected, but we know that sharing data can improve profit and production on-farm. So how can farmers confidently share data with third parties like agtech providers? This is a question the National Farmers' Federation sought to address when it developed the Australian Farm Data Code, a voluntary code of conduct and certification program that aims to improve adoption of agtech by ensuring farmers have comfort in how their data is used. We speak to NFF Data Policy Manager Gabriela Ceregra about why the code was introduced and how agtech companies have responded. We also talk to Pairetree Intelligence co-founder Hamish Munro, who explains how his product was the first to be certified by the Farm Data Code. Pairtree aims to stop farmers drowning in data, offering technology that translates data into a consistent format, puts it in context and sends it where it needs to go. And we’re joined by Commonwealth Bank General Manager Agribusiness Natasha Greenwood. She talks about how Commbank has been collaborating with Pairtree to come up with ideas for streamlining the sharing of data between the bank and their farming customers. www.agtechfinder.com

In this episode we’re talking about drones. Many farmers have gone out and bought a drone with big plans, only for it soon to be sitting on the shelf collecting dust. But in this episode, we hear about some of the ways that farmers are using the technology effectively on-farm. We speak to agricultural drone trainer Fiona Lake about improving adoption by busting the myths that surround drones. We also hear from Ben Single of Single Agriculture whose drone technology is used to identify weeds, allowing farmers to target the use of herbicides. And we chat to Darling Downs grower Wade Bidstrup who says using the Single Shot drone has helped him get on top of chemical-resistant weeds. www.agtechfinder.com

This episode we’re talking about livestock management technology found in the paddock, the yards or the shearing shed. We’re joined once again by South Australian sheep and cattle farmer and agtech adoption specialist Penny Schulz, who tells us about how technology is improving safety and efficiency and reducing labour requirements. We speak to Optiweigh’s Max Laurie about their in-paddock weighing system that aims to drive profit and reduce animal handling. And we also speak to northern Queensland cattle farmer Noeline Dore who has been using Optiweigh units in their breeding and fattening operation. She says the units have helped her to closely monitor the condition of their mobs, book in cattle for consignment and reduce livestock handling. www.agtechfinder.com