Buidling the smarts and small off grid DC system for Grassgum Farm. This will make two smaller dc systems one a 10.4kW with auto genset backup, a 400a/hr an 200a/hr. We are integrating edge gateways for Artificial Intelligence A(I) and Machine Learning (ML). Our LoRaWAN and NbN IoT sensor network will capture the data while also enabling automation based on plant and environment.
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At the heart of every farm is its people, their vision, the business structure, and planning, which drive the cropping practices. Business direction and plans require continual adaptation to opportunities that evolve from changing policies and regulations. New market opportunities such as export, biodiversity and Carbon, while external influences such as climate, market drivers and labour can affect production. Technology with the Internet of Things (IoT) is not only paving the way for insights into production, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Automated reporting, and for the Recovery and Resilience project the Hort360 tool is aimed at shaping change by improving practices to increase the triple bottom line through diversity and resilience on farm.
A question posed to an online AI program on what diversity and resilience practices are for farming suggested implementing strategies that promote soil health, biodiversity, and sustainable farming practices. These aim to enhance the resilience of farming systems to climate change, economic and market fluctuations, and environmental challenges. It is clear that at both a State and Federal level cost incentives, innovation and research targeting the above while reducing emissions are available to help diversify. Complete business plans by setting goals, strengths and weaknesses, highlight risks, and actions to take to reach your vision. There could be further plans developed or refined aimed at environmental outcomes, disaster and recovery, retirement or succession and is the first step towards a diverse and resilient business. Artificial Intelligence encompasses neural networks made up of layers of artificial neurons designed to imitate how the human brain works. A subfield of machine learning, neural networks lay the foundation for deep learning, which processes data in order to output a prediction. This could be across multiple datasets where simple and complex questions could be asked to provide information at your fingertips, IoT, Weather data, plant and project resources you might ask;
All this requires adaptation, and adoption for change. Just like economic path dependence mentioned in STORY 1 the same applies within people. Neuroscience has shown that within the human mind neuroplasticity is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganisation. Effectively, rewiring old patterns results in change. Resilience also exists in neuroscience. Stress and trauma are common and can result in a variety of lasting pathologies. Most people show some degree of resilience to the negative effects of stressful or traumatic events. Studies have identified strategies that support brain and mental health. This might include parenting, community-based activity, meditation, and aerobic exercise. There can be no argument that technology is fast shaping society although its use is increasingly important within business. Although, there will always be the human element and as uncomfortable as change can be it might lead to improved resilience. Which is important for both farming practices and our mental health, leading to Better Business! Sustainable Horticulture has been awarded $20,000 as part of AgriFutures Australia’s Producer Technology Uptake Program to design bespoke projects to increase technology adoption on-farm.
Building on the success of the first two rounds, AgriFutures Australia has announced Round 3 of its Producer Technology Uptake Program (PTUP). Walkabout Ag was awarded $20,000 to raise awareness of IoT technology for our direct Horticultural growers group being predominately Macadamias. PTUP aims to establish a national network of farmers, fishers and foresters that champion and accelerate innovation and practice change on-farm. The program works with well-connected producer groups who know and understand their local producers’ needs, including knowledge gaps, skills and experience that prevent them from implementing agtech innovation. Sustainable Horticulture states that “This is a great opportunity for all farms in the Clarence Valley and Northern Rivers region to start there learning journey from this project and to adopt technology that is relevant to their site. For this region, farms in the Ballina, Byron and the Lismore LGAs will benefit further as the NSW Governments Farms of the Future (FoTF) grant program aligns with PTUPs vision to make agtech even more affordable. If there has been a time to adopt it is now.” The third-round projects are focused on trialing a range of technologies covering areas such as moisture sensing, weather monitoring, digital irrigation, IoT (Internet of things), biosecurity, connectivity and weed detection. The themes of the programs are broad yet specific in application. “We’re buoyed by the interest in the Program and are seeing the benefits of partnering with existing groups, who know their patch, but require support to bridge the gap between the opportunity and the tech solution – PTUP does just that,” added Ms Raufers. The national initiative rolls-out program activities over a 12-month period to drive peer-to-peer learning and is delivered across three tranches: farm-tech capacity building planning workshops, tech adoption grants and access to an online Community of Practice (CoP). To date, the Program has engaged 56 producer groups and 11 agricultural high schools, directly impacting 2,700 producers nationally, across many industries and enterprise sizes. The program has a footprint in all states and territories except for the Northern Territory. The energy monitoring devices are being installed as we speak and our light irradiation, plant health and climate Cat M1 system is due any day now. We will be launching some factsheets and begin to gather data to inform some case studies and more. |