Learn about precision agriculture from other SA farmers
A virtual bus tour launched late last year to give farmers a ‘look over the fence’ at precision agriculture practices in action in four regions of the South Australia is proving to be a hit. With funding support from four South Australian Landscape Boards, including Grassroots Grants, the Society of Precision Agriculture (SPAA) set out to develop a series of field walks with a difference.
What is precision agriculture?
Precision agriculture is a management strategy that uses temporal and spatial data to improve sustainability of agricultural production.
Who should get on the bus?
Farmers, landholders and others who are interested in learning more about precision agriculture and its impact on productively, profitability and sustainability should jump on board.
You’ll hear from 13 farming families as they share their experiences, challenges and lessons learned, as well as their top tips for others interested in embracing precision agriculture.
Where does the bus go?
The bus currently finds its way across four South Australian landscape board regions – Eyre Peninsula, Limestone Coast, Kangaroo Island, and Murraylands and Riverland. The 13 stops include farms covering the grain, livestock, dairy, horticulture and viticulture sectors.
Popular stops on the tour
Here are some of the most-visited stops for each region that you’ll find ‘on the bus’:
Case study | Sector | Owners |
Dryland broadacre cropping & wool Eyre Peninsula | Tim Polkinghorne & Ellen Hardy, Andrew & Jenny Polkinghorne | |
Dryland broadacre cropping Eyre Peninsula | Chad & Carla Glover | |
Wine grapes, cropping, cattle & sheep Limestone Coast | Peter Balnaves | |
Prime lambs & cropping Limestone Coast | Richard & Nikki Kirkland | |
Seed potatoes, hay, prime lambs & wool Kangaroo Island | Peter & Meghan Cooper | |
Trade, store & ewe lambs, hay Kangaroo Island | Rick & Annie Morris | |
Dryland broadacre cropping & sheep Murraylands and Riverland | Jock McNeil | |
Big picture delivers efficiency and boosts yields, one tree at a time | Almonds Murraylands and Riverland | Scott McKenzie |
Top Tips
Top tips from the farmers along the bus tour include:
‘Implement one aspect or system of PA at a time’ (Tim Polkinghorne, Lock)
‘Technology has no value until data it collects can be used to make decisions that increase returns or reduce costs’ (Peter Balnaves, Coonawarra)
‘Focus on the most profitable enterprise’ (Rick Morris, Karatta, KI)
Get on board now
There’s no timetable so you’re never too late to jump on board at www.spaa.com.au/virtual-bus-tour
Your local landscape board is here to help
Your local landscape board is a great source of information and advice. Get in touch to find out how they can help you.
The virtual tour was created by SPAA to allow farmers to share their experiences of precision agriculture, supported by South Australian landscape board grassroots grants, South Australian landscape levies and the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.