LANDCARE IN FOCUS 2017 ANNUAL SPECIAL PUBLICATION FARMING INNOVATION AND BEST PRACTICE LAND MANAGEMENT 2 Fairfax Media Special Publication Innovation the key to productivity BY LUKE HARTSUYKER information at the fi eld, managers can make the As a result of RD and E ASSISTANT TO THE DEPUTY paddock or block level to most of the opportunities by the Cotton Research and PRIME MINISTER help optimise and minimise presented by the digital age Development Corporation, inputs such as water, and new technologies. Australia’s cotton industry fertilisers and pesticides. Th at is why, in has adopted innovative THIS is an exciting time for Th is can help ensure that partnership with industry, water use effi ciency inputs are used effi ciently, we invest heavily in rural improvements including in- farming. and allows for targeted Innovative use of new research and development, fi eld moisture monitoring, management of issues such to support the kind of fi eld and irrigation system technologies, including as nitrogen pollution and digital technology and innovation that keeps our design, scheduling soil fertility. soils, water and vegetation technology, soil health robotics, has the potential Precision agriculture can to transform our farm healthy, productive and improvements and other further support sustainable sustainable. irrigation techniques. businesses and land land management by management practices. For example, Horticulture Over the past 10 years, providing information that Innovation Australia has these innovations have We all know that allows farmers to match land innovation is a key driver helped develop an in-fi eld allowed the industry use and land capability. robot dubbed the Ladybird, to increase water use for productivity and Th is means farmers can profi tability in agriculture, which provides intelligence effi ciency by 40 percent and maximise profi tability in on pests, crop nutrition transform to grow more but what many people the productive parts of their and forecasts—meaning than three times the world might not realise is that farms, while conserving growers can minimise and average yield per hectare. innovation in the agriculture biodiversity and the natural better target their inputs for Of course, the sector also delivers resource base in less signifi cant environmental productive areas. maximum effi ciency. opportunities presented and sustainability benefi ts. Many Landcarers will Th ey are also partnering by new technologies and In fact, as Landcarers already be familiar with the with the University of Sydney ‘big data’ are impossible to know, long-term CSIRO’s exciting work in this as part of the Horticulture realise on the land without productivity and space, including through Innovation Centre for the digital infrastructure profi tability are inextricably a $1.5 million grant under Robotics and Intelligent needed to unlock their full linked with sustainable land the National Landcare Systems (HICRIS)— potential. management practices, and Programme to develop an Australia’s fi rst horticultural Th e government is how we manage our soils, interactive system that will robotics learning and investing $29.5 billion water and vegetation. give farmers near real-time development hub. towards delivering For example, precision information about their farms. In the dairy industry, Australia’s fi rst national agriculture has the potential Th is will help farmers Dairy Australia’s Fert$mart broadband network to all to deliver signifi cant benefi ts examine options for diff erent initiative is helping farmers Australians, including those not only for agricultural crop varieties and soil inputs harness information about on the land, and we are also Luke Hartsuyker MP. productivity and profi tability, needed to make the most of soil condition and nutrient improving mobile phone but also supports sustainable the soil moisture available loads to use fertilisers more and wireless broadband We will continue to benefi ts of innovative new farming practices. for their coming season. effi ciently and judiciously, coverage and competition work with you to ensure ideas and technologies, and Precision farm Th is government is reducing nutrient runoff in regional Australia that Australia’s farmers realise the opportunities management tools and committed to ensuring from their farms while through the Mobile Black and others who care for presented by this exciting systems can provide that our farmers and land maximising pasture growth. Spot Programme. our land can unlock the digital age. Important role in sustainable land management BY LANDCARE AUSTRALIA CEO, Landcare Australia coming together and leaders, forward-thinkers, TESSA JAKSZEWICZ supports this rapid adoption exchanging knowledge Indigenous groups, of farming innovation so that all can benefi t and others. OUR 2017 annual special through our promotional from these new ideas that You’ll learn about new publication has arrived, and I and educational activities, address farming challenges technology being adapted such as the biennial National and land management. into land management hope you’ll fi nd this technical Landcare Conference and Many Australian farmers practices, innovation in supplement a useful and Awards, and publications recognise the importance weed control, soil health interesting addition to such as this one. of integrating biodiversity and much more. our quarterly Landcare in Australian farmers are and sound environmental I would also like to Focus publication. continuing to adapt to a management into their thank the Australian Th is year’s theme is changing and challenging production areas, and government Department ‘Farming Innovation environment, taking into Landcare groups are leading of Agriculture and Water and Best Practice Land consideration seasonal the way in many areas. Resources for their Management’. variability and consumer In this special edition continued fi nancial support Landcare plays an and market-led demands. you’ll hear from Landcare of Landcare in Focus. important role in both Landcarers have an groups, researchers from If you have any facilitating innovation, important role in helping organisations including feedback on this or any as well as encouraging to share information on CSIRO, the Australian edition, please email Landcare Australia CEO, Tessa Jakszewicz. adoption across farms. successful innovations, government, industry [email protected]. Fairfax Media Special Publication 3 Scanning beyond the horizon Innovative Landcarer THINKING about the forces Climate change may likely to shape the future also heighten the risk of helps us make decisions for pests and diseases entering our industries to prosper as Australia which will aff ect the world around us changes. how we manage biosecurity. helps others adopt Recent analysis by the Th e structure of Australian Bureau for Australian agriculture Agricultural and Resource is predicted to continue Economics and Sciences changing in the direction of (ABARES) found that fi ve key fewer and larger farms. sustainable farms factors will shape the future Nonetheless, small and of Australia’s farming sector: medium-sized farms will markets, technology, society’s remain common in many expectations, climate change regions, just as they are now. BY CHRISTOPHER GILLIES because native pastures grow and structural adjustment. So, what do these during summer months and Markets for agricultural trends mean for Australian products will change as farmers and governments? SINCE winning the 2014 go dormant over winter. Th is creates a system demand increases, particularly “For farmers, the key Bob Hawke Landcare for livestock to graze over in the developed world, and as will be to keep improving Australia Award, Colin Seis the summer, and as the new competitors emerge. productivity, since this has continued his work in months cool and grass goes More trade will mean the is the main way they will regenerating and sustaining dormant, the winter crop risk of biosecurity incursions remain competitive in global farming systems. grows and is harvested will grow, and we will need markets,” deputy secretary of Invited by Landcare before summer returns. to adapt accordingly. the Department of Agriculture groups across the country, Colin has also travelled Domestically, production and Water Resources, he has held workshops to overseas to provide will be aff ected by increased Lyn O’Connell said. teach farmers and land workshops. competition for land, water, “Th is will mean manager the techniques he To date, more than labour and capital. adopting new technologies, has adopted to successfully 1.2 million hectares of New technologies will changing practices and learning new skills. repair and sustain the land. farmland are adopting his Colin’s work is the transform the nature of “It’s been a great techniques around the world. farming. “Governments can assist development of a the sector by facilitating opportunity to show farmers He said more farmers cropping system that Improved genetics, how they can implement are adopting a sustainable takes advantage of natural machinery and chemicals will incremental productivity principles that work with approach, because they pasture growth. be critical, and the importance improvement, most the environment, and not could see the damage of tools for collecting and importantly by investing in against it,” Colin said. done by using techniques “Doing this repairs the analysing data will grow. research and development A key part of Colin’s that didn’t fi t with the