A new collaborative project is underway to help provide producers with 'real time' decision making tools on their mobile phones and tablets.
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The project, funded by the Australian Government's National Landcare Program Smart Farming partnerships, builds on the existing South East Soil Moisture Probe Network which has been helping producers on the Monaro and Southern Tablelands make better production decisions since 2017.
CSIRO are a key partner in the project, Patrick Mitchell, senior research scientist, is part of a team building a pasture forecast system to provide the 'real time' predictions of pasture and livestock conditions.
"The new system combines the latest advancements in climate forecasting, soils and livestock systems modelling to give farmers better predictions of future conditions at critical times during the year," Mr Mitchell said.
"The project forms part of CSIRO's digital agriculture initiative that is helping producers harness the current growth in digital innovations within Australian agriculture."
The increasingly volatile farming environment, climate and markets, means that twice-yearly forecasts are no longer sufficient for effective decision making.
Instant and reliable forecasting is required to ensure the long term profitability of farming enterprises and the management of our landscape for next generation agriculture.
Making decisions in the face of uncertainty is something that producers are all too familiar with, so a tool that can help alleviate some of that uncertainty is of great interest.
"As livestock producers, our biggest uncertainty is how much pasture we will have in the months ahead. This project will be a game changer in terms of helping us better answer this question," Nimmitabel producer, Richard Taylor said.
"While we don't know what rain we will get, using moisture probes and current pasture levels to give us an accurate starting point, and combining with historical rainfall probabilities going forward, gives us the best achievable insight into the months ahead.
"Having this information continually updated and delivered to our phone, tablet or lap top will be of enormous value to our business, and help us do a better job looking after our land and animals."
The Monaro and Tablelands Farming Systems Groups have worked closely with South East Local Land Services over the past two years to install a network of 20 soil moisture probes across South Eastern NSW.
The network will be expanded to 25 probes as suitable sites are identified over the next couple of years. The new tool will enable producers to select a probe location that best matches their own property's characteristics and use that data in their decision making.
"The additional probes will mean that we will now have a network of 10 probes on the Monaro," Nancy Spoljaric, Executive officer - Monaro Farming Systems said.
"This should give a good representation of soil types and rainfall patterns so producers can feel confident that they are making informed decisions at critical times."
The next step in the successful delivery of this exciting technology will enable producers to remain competitive domestically and internationally and at the forefront of best practice for production, environmental and community benefits.
The project is a collaboration between the Australian Government, South East Local Land Services, Tablelands Farming Systems, Monaro Farming Systems, CSIRO and Bookham Agricultural Bureau.
You can learn more at www.soilmoistureprobes.com.au