“FIRST of its kind” agriculture technology that can increase irrigation efficiency and provide site-specific crop and weather data is now available to Riverland and Mallee primary producers.
Agriculture technology company D3Ag has recently begun supplying the Arable Mark 2 weather and crop monitoring device – developed in San Francisco – to farms in the Riverland and Mallee.
D3Ag sales, marketing and technical officer Matt Cooper said data collected by the device – such as rain, frost, radiation and evapotranspiration – could help irrigators and growers improve the effectiveness of their water usage.
“Growers can see how crops respond in an environment that is arguably only going to get drier and hotter,” Mr Cooper said.
“In that respect, as a regional tool we feel it’s really beneficial; providing data that will allow growers to respond to their specific conditions”
Mr Cooper said the device would allow local growers – of any crop variety – to work toward a projected harvest date each year by utilising data specific to the Riverland and Mallee environments.
“We also have the capacity to give primary producers a window into certain stages of crop development,” he said.
“That allows growers to assign a target date for harvest and that’s something they can work towards throughout the season.
“Because we’ve got weather and crop data coming to us in real time throughout the season, it’s really easy for growers to make informed and timely decisions when anything should occur, such as increases in disease and pest pressures or a sudden change in water prices.”
Mr Cooper said farmers are able to install the Arable Mark 2 – which utilises an internet connection to gather data – themselves.
“We’re really happy to be able to showcase the technology and the solutions that it offers in all its glory,” he said.
“As far as the design goes it’s like nothing ever before. It’s small, it’s robust, it’s solid state and anyone can install it.”
“You don’t need any technicians to put it in an orchard or a field and it requires next to zero maintenance as well.”
Mr Cooper said the Arable Mark 2 was also resistant to interference that could occur from spray drift between Riverland properties.
“When you’re in an extraordinarily dusty environment, or if the device in the field is subject to heavy spray applications, you may need to give the top of the device a gentle wipe down,” he said.
“Apart from that, they have a special nano-coating technology they put on the exterior of the device to protect it from those sorts of chemicals.
“We offer a telescopic pole so we can easily manipulate the height of the device without affecting the readings.”
Mr Cooper said interested Riverland primary producers could witness an interactive demonstration of the technology at the Loxton Research Centre (LRC).
“We have one set up in a navel orange orchard at the LRC,” he said.
“We will have an interactive display inside the LRC that will provide more information in printed literature, and we will have an interactive work station where anyone is permitted to launch the data analytics platform, explore the interface and look at the measurements that have been observed.
“People are welcome to reach out through our contact channels to express interest or ask any questions they might have.”