3. Introduction:
What is digital agriculture?
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As you know, the Australian agriculture industry relies heavily on continued investment
in innovation. In order to thrive, Australian farmers need to drive productivity.
So why use digital technology? After all, agriculture is already a very sophisticated
and highly technical industry. In Australia alone, it has been one of our most
innovative and efficient industries. But to maintain our position in a tough global
marketplace, Australian farms must continue to innovate.
What’s required to thrive
Australian farms are required to
effectively manage resources.
These include fertiliser, water, and
soil quality - all while minimising the
impact of variables such as the
weather and pests.
At the same time, today’s farmers
generate vast volumes of complex data.
Without a comprehensive solution,
farmers are unable to make use of
this data to improve farm operations.
There is an opportunity for Australian
farmers to use this data to improve
decision-making on which actions to
take, when and where.
Looking ahead to the future
Digital agriculture has emerged as the
answer to many of these challenges.
Through the deployment of new
technologies like affordable satellite
and drone imagery, and continuous
in-field sensing, digital agriculture has
created new ways to generate detailed
insights into farm operations.
What does this mean for farmers?
The ability to make decisions based on
experience and that are backed up by
data and research.
...today’s farmers
generate volumes of
complex data. Without
a comprehensive
solution, farmers are
unable to make use of
this data to improve
farm operations.
4. 4
Digital Agriculture Services
by the NFF and Accenture
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is collaborating with Accenture, its Official
Strategy and Digital Partner, to develop and deliver new digital technologies and
services, which will help Australia’s agriculture sector compete globally.
Overview of Digital
Agriculture Services
Digital Agriculture Services is a
web-based tool developed by farmers,
for farmers. After logging in, farmers
can access critical information about
their farm (see Figure 1).
Digital Agriculture Services integrates
local, regional and global data sources
(including in-field sensors, images from
satellite providers and drones, and
weather forecasts) into a seamless
interface to assist with decision-
making on the farm. It provides specific
recommendations based on the best
available data and science to support
informed decisions that drive business
productivity. The “farmer first” approach
of the NFF and Accenture means Digital
Agriculture Services has been built from
the ground up with your farm in mind.
Data privacy protected
Digital Agriculture Services is a
first-of-its-kind. Insights are obtained
through information being aggregated
from across the industry. The
information (which is stored online
using cloud servers) respects the
privacy and ownership of farm data.
Farmers will own 100% of their data.
A user may unsubscribe at any
time, and all farm data will be
deleted from the Digital Agriculture
Services systems. Accenture and
the NFF does not own the data in
any way. The NFF will hold the data
securely on behalf of the farmers.
The benefits of Digital
Agriculture Services
As well as being designed by farmers
for farmers, Digital Agriculture
Services is built specifically for
the Australian cotton industry, and
supported by an ecosystem of
leading local technology suppliers.
It will help farmers:
* Optimise yield
* Boost revenue, and
* Minimise input costs.
Digital Agriculture Services will also
help the Australian cotton industry
reach its potential. In short, it will
secure insights that could help support
the growth and sustainability of the
cotton industry into the future.
Figure 1: Digital Agriculture Services Core Functionality
1. Data Capture
• Collect and cross-correlate
numerous data sources
• Real-time data
• UAV images and sensors
on farm (geospatial data,
weather, equipment)
• Able to view and track
historical trends
• Integration with farming
equipment
• Single integrated platform
• Creates a set of practical
operational options for
decision-making
• Wide range of supported
processes
• Determine financial impact
across the farm
• Learn from previous
growing cycle operational
decisions
2. Data Analysis
3. Decision Support
4. Economic Impact Analysis
“I was exposed to Digital
Agriculture Services today and
I have to compliment the NFF
and Accenture on nailing some
of the fundamental requirements
of Australian cotton farmers.
I am delighted that the CSIRO
is providing access to robust
research and insights to support
the platform and I am excited
about the opportunities your
platform can bring to Australian
agriculture.”
Dr Michael Bange, Senior Principal
Research Agronomist, CSIRO
5. 5
A closer look at Digital
Agriculture Services
Digital Agriculture Services is being developed and released by commodity sector.
The first release launched in Australia has been specially designed for Australian
cotton farmers.
Digital Agriculture Services provides
you with a more efficient and effective
way to track in-field performance using
new and existing data sources and
tools - integrated into one single source
of reporting and recommendations.
The first release of Digital Agriculture
Services launches in 2016. It will focus
on planting and crop development.
As uptake of Digital Agriculture
Services grows, so will the service
itself - with plans to add new
capabilities into future releases.
Digital Agriculture Services
currently provides you with
the following capabilities:
1. Crop Emergence Tracking
Crop Emergence Tracking automates the
identification of crop emergence issues.
Issues are detected by analysing field
imagery for emergence density, picking
up areas of low-level emergence and
recording surface areas affected. Alerts
and recommendations are provided
based on issue identification and the
assessment of costs associated with re-
planting or withholding intervention.
2. Vegetative Growth Rate Tracking
Vegetative Growth Rate (VGR)
Tracking capability enables farmers
to monitor crop height and growth
rate and provides alerts based
on plant management thresholds.
Recommendations are made based on
the VGR and local weather conditions,
to indicate the appropriate timing for
application of fertiliser or inhibitor.
3. Growing Degree Days (GDD)
Monitoring
Growing Degree Days (GDD)
monitoring enables farmers to track
crop development through analysis on
expected and actual GDD and to track
progress against growth milestones
(e.g. first flower and open boll). A day
range is displayed for current GDD
milestones and projections are made
for the following 10 days.
4. Crop Health Inspection
Crop Health Inspection enables farmers
to assess the stress level of the crop
based on regular satellite field imagery
analysis. Variation displayed in imagery
is analysed based on the NDVI health
scale. If detected, an alert provides an
assessment of the level of crop stress
present through a qualitative indicator
and the surface area affected.
5. Fuel Price Tracking
Fuel Price Tracking provides farmers
with insight regarding fuel cost trends
in their local area. Fuel market prices
are tracked for a local region to identify
price trends and provide farmers with
greater insight when purchasing fuel.
Alerts are provided when prices are
lower than historical values, and values
are displayed for current fuel market
price and average daily, weekly and
monthly price at a point in time.
6. Farm Data Tracking
Farm Data Tracking provides farmers
and agronomists with the ability to
view and track data collected from
farm sensors and external data sources
in one integrated platform. Users
can access sensor data, weather
information and farm imagery, as
required. Alerts can be configured
on specific sensor systems.
Planting
Growing season
Harvesting
Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug
Spring Summer Autumn Winter
The functionality is focussed on critical
business drivers for Australia farmers
Off season/prep
Crop Emergence Tracking
Vegetative Growth Rate Tracking & Plant Mgmt.
Crop Development Tracking through GDD Monitoring
Farm Data Tracking
Fuel Price Tracking
Crop Health Inspection and Potential Impact on Yield
Figure 2: Digital Agriculture Services across the growing cycle
6. What’s included?
Conclusion:
Your digitally enabled business
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Digital Agriculture Services serves as a one-stop shop for alerts and tasks
based on data, imagery and market analysis.
Digital Agriculture Services is a
cloud-based decision support service
for your farm, accessed through an
application on your mobile device.
By subscribing to Digital Agriculture
Services you will receive:
• Access to the Digital Agriculture
Services platform (accessed
via an iPad application)
• Access to satellite imagery overlaid
with image analytics to detect issues
• Access to predictive weather
information
• Access to decision support and
economic impact analysis informed
by daily cotton market price data
• Access to average regional fuel
market price data on a daily basis
• The ability to view soil sensor data
and local weather data from your
internet-connected sensors (from
either Observant or McCrometer)
You will be required to:
• Provide drone imagery (that meets
operational guidelines) during the
cotton plant emergence period
• Have internet-connected
sensors (from either Observant
or McCrometer) installed on-
farm to provide soil sensor
data and local weather data
• Subscribe to a premier drone
deploy account (at minimum
during emergence period)
• Have reasonable internet
connectivity to upload drone imagery
• Have access to an iPad to run
the Digital Agriculture Services
application with internet connectivity
The ability to make decisions based on
the best science and the most accurate
data has long been key to the success
of the Australian cotton industry. The
earlier farmers start using the tool, the
sooner farmers will be able to generate
insights for the next growing season.
A commitment to ongoing product
development and the expansion
of the platform means Digital
Agriculture Services will keep pace
over time with emerging science
and technologies - making it a
smart technology investment for
your business and your family.
Digital Agriculture Services is helping Australian farmers build more efficient farms
and is helping secure the future of the cotton industry through digital technology.
7. How do I sign up?
If you are interested in subscribing to Digital Agriculture Services on your farm,
you are invited to contact us.
Expressions of interest
Register your expression of
interest here:
http://www.farmers.org.au/das
Additional information
For additional information and any
queries you may have, please contact:
DAS@farmers.org.au
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