The GRDC established
a strategic research initiative program in Precision Agriculture
(SIP09) which began in
September/October 2002. The initative formed a linkage between a number
of research groups,
their GRDC-funded projects and collaborating farmers. This
national
program ran till September 2007.
The GRDC perspective has been
publicly presented by Dr Phil Price, a member of the initiatives'
management team. A summary is available from the abstracts of the 2002
ACPA Symposium.
The initial research projects under the SIP09 umbrella were
briefly described in issue 51 of the GRDC magazine GROUNDCOVER.
This issue is
no longer available on-line. Previous issues may be available by
contacting the GRDC directly.
Issue 58 of Groundcover provided an update on the progress of the
projects and information on new projects commissioned under SIP09. Grab
the supplement through the image link below to see the range of
projects and their progress in 2005
(available on-line as at 26/03/08).
There are also 2
radio programs on PA broadcast on the web through the GRDC Harvest Radio initiative. These
programs appear to be only accessable using Internet Explorer
This edition of Harvest Radio
takes a look at precision agriculture, the high tech and low tech ends,
where its all heading and how you can stick your toe in the water for
less than $1,000. Chris Brown caught up with Phil Price (GRDC Program
consultant), Ian Blayney (graingrower from Geraldton, WA), Ian Mailing
(Silverfox Solutions), Peter Stone (CSIRO), Brett Whelan (University of
Sydney) and Mike Smith (graingrower from Gurley, NSW).
With the impending
pressures to improve productivity on farm, this edition of Harvest
Radio outlines the latest developments in Precision Agriculture. Ian
Maling (Silverfox Solutions) discusses the options for variable rate
technology. Variable application rates and the considerations to use
this technology are outlined by Brett Whelan (University of Sydney).
Mike Robertson (CSIRO) also outlines the research being undertaken to
measure plant available water capacity and its relationship to variable
application rates.
Data Management
The
participants in the national program have combined to release a
standard for data description (metadata) and storage.
Metadata Documentation
Metadata
Form
Educational Resources
The
GRDC SIP09 program has as a substantial focus on education and
training. Many of the people working on SIP09 projects (including the
ACPA team) have contributed to the content of a PA manual released by
the GRDC in August 2006. The manual is available on CD (by order form)
or online at the GRDC website. Details can be obtained by following the
linked image below.
Also,
as
a further part of the ACPA contribution
to the SIP09 program, a range of educational
resources have been released
by the ACPA team over the duration of our project.
The GRDC is
currently considering projects for 'The Next Steps in PA' which will
take the development of PA further into practical management
applications. These projects should begin in July 2008 and run for 3
years.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY