Looking for the next best thing? Next month the Tamworth Agricultural Institute will host a pivotal workshop aimed at revolutionising farm management practices in the Northern Tablelands.
Organised by Local Land Services (LLS), the event will introduce 12 selected landholders to Ag360—a state-of-the-art, free online platform designed to enhance livestock and pasture management through advanced predictive analytics.
This initiative is part of the Drought Adoption Officer Program, funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund through the Southern NSW Innovation Hub and the Southern Queensland and Northern NSW Innovation Hub. The program aims to equip farmers with innovative tools and practices to enhance resilience against drought and other climatic challenges.
“The numbers for the workshops are limited to keep the attendee to trainer ratio at a specific level, but we’d love to see more interest.” said Local Drought Adoption Officer, Ella Barney.
“If the response is overwhelming, we will hold more workshops – even if you need a different day, time or location, please get in touch with me because I can facilitate more workshops across the Northern Tablelands and North West regions.”
The workshop, to be held on June 10, will be led by Ag360 expert and pasture coach Jaimi-lee Edwards, who will guide participants through setting up their accounts and utilizing the platform’s functionalities. Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptops to facilitate hands-on learning. The session will run from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, with morning tea and lunch provided.
“Jaimi-Lee was really instrumental in the development of Ag360 so she’s a expert on what is a real stand out in the field of farm management tools,” said Ms Barney.
Ag360, developed by the University of New England (UNE), integrates farm-specific data with customized weather forecasts to predict critical factors such as rainfall, soil moisture, pasture growth, and livestock weight and health risks up to six months in advance. This tool empowers farmers to make informed decisions, optimize operations, and mitigate risks associated with climate variability.
Ag360’s comprehensive features include daily-updated rainfall predictions, easy farm mapping within a 5km radius, pasture availability forecasts, livestock growth and condition scoring, supplementary feed assessments, and animal health risk alerts. By leveraging these capabilities, farmers can proactively manage their resources, improve animal welfare, and increase profitability.
“What this program lets farmers do is look at all the scenarios and really stay ahead of the curve with their decision-making process when it comes to what’s best for their land and livestock,” said Ms Barney.
Ag360 is also currently free for farmers by means of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
The workshop represents a significant step towards integrating technology into traditional farming practices, fostering a more sustainable and productive agricultural sector in the region. Registration is required and can be made through the NSW Local Land Services website.
For more information or to register for the workshop, interested landholders can contact Ella Barney, Drought Adoption Officer, at 0447 185 133 or via email at ella.barney@lls.nsw.gov.au.
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