THE TASMANIAN Government has launched a new project, it claims should push up farm productivity and create jobs across the state.
The $530,000 Precision Agriculture Project would use the latest technology and enable Tasmanian farmers to better match their crops and stock to the weather, soil and other conditions, Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said.
“This will not only help boost crop and stock yields, it will reduce fertiliser costs, limit chemical applications and costs, improve irrigation techniques and create better farm management decisions,” Mr Rockliff said.
“Precision agriculture techniques are a game-changer for farmers.”
The project included technology such as satellite positioning systems, automated machine guidance, computers and devices to improve and guide farming practices and performance.
“It is the first project from government’s $600,000 Farm Productivity Program, a key part of the overall Creating Prosperity: A 2050 Vision for Agriculture initiative, to grow agriculture and create jobs,” Mr Rockliff said.
“It is the culmination of a year’s work by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture and industry including Premium Fresh, Simplot Australia, GlaxoSmithKline, Serve-Ag, farmers, the TIA and DPIPWE, led by the Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group.”
The Government would contribute $370,000 to the project, while a further $160,000 was to be invested by industry stakeholders.
“The funds will be distributed to the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture for the agronomic component of the field demonstration sites and the Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group for site characterisation, geo-referencing, extension and overall project coordination.”
Results from the program would be promoted at field days, expos and forums and a virtual Precision Agriculture Tasmania shopfront would be created.
The project would also establish commercial-scale, on-farm demonstration sites in the Meander Valley, Northern Midlands, North-East, in Tunbridge and on the North West Coast.
