Artificial intelligence unlocks efficiency gains for Cape York producers

Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become part of the agtech conversation, but it’s more than just talk. Across Australia, producers are putting AI to work cutting costs, saving time, and improving outcomes.

In Far North Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula, agtech, particularly AI, is already delivering significant labour and cost savings for some of the country’s most remote cattle producers and fruit growers. But limited access and the tyranny of distance remains one of the greatest barriers to adoption of these technologies.

Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals is on a mission to ensure the Cape’s remoteness no longer inhibits producers from the Annan, Endeavour and Normanby River catchment’s ability to incorporate agtech into their farming businesses. Through the AgriFutures Producer Technology Uptake Program, and a series of workshops and one on one engagement, CEO Trevor Meldrum has introduced producers to a suite of agtech solutions, including a range of low cost, high impact machinery, land management, feral animals and gully erosion management techniques. Field trials were also conducted with the most promising options, including InFarm’s fallow weed management system. The technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and spray weeds only rather than spraying areas that don’t need it.

AI Spot Spraying technology

Trevor said the results of the InFarm trial demonstrated how valuable access to AI will be to landholders in the fight against weeds and pests.

InFarm Operations Manager Alex Olsen assisted with the trial at cattle producers Peter and Judy Irwin’s property just outside Cooktown, with thousands of photos of common pasture weeds used to train an AI algorithm to recognise them in a paddock.

The technology uses green on green spraying as Alex explains, “We call it green on green spraying because it differentiates between a weed in a growing pasture or crop.”

“The technology has a camera similar to your phone camera which is fitted with a red, green and blue, (RGB)  lens which detects the difference of colour, shape, and texture of a target weed from its background crop or pasture.”

“It links to a solenoid so that as it’s traversing the paddock, it’s able to detect the weed and then instruct the solenoid to turn on as it’s passing over the crop.” said Alex

Trials showcase reduced herbicide use

One area of the trial site was sprayed using a conventional boom spray, while the other had AI weed detection technology fitted to an all terrain vehicle (ATV).

“Mounting the technology onto an ATV resulted in a really fit for purpose, rangeland weed spot spraying set up, which was perfect for farmers Peter and Judy,” said Alex.

The results were compelling, with a 20% reduction in herbicide usage when using AI in this particular paddock.

“That was a big eye opener because producers could see a real benefit where they could put their money into something else rather than herbicide and pesticides,” said Trevor.

Additionally there are time, reduced labour and efficiency benefits using the technology as Alex explains, “When using the AI spot sprayer, you can focus on driving over the paddock without having to stop and spray weeds with a hand sprayer.”

“This is going to save time and will result in the job being done more efficiently,” said Alex.

AI technology spot on for weed control in Cape York

InFarm is excited to introduce this technology to Australian Agriculture, allowing farmers to utilise the benefits this precision technology has to offer.

‘We want Australian farmers to start reaping the benefits, by cutting herbicide costs and reducing their environmental footprint,” said Alex.

“The technology is very exciting. It can be utilised across a broad range of industries, but it also can be used to benefit our country which is more important than anything.” Trevor said.

Peter Irwin says he had read about agtech solutions like AI spot spraying, but to see it in action locally had been significant.

“The benefits of having one of these spray units in the Cape area would be enormous, not only for us financially but also for biosecurity,” Peter says.

“We have a lot of small acreages and if there was one unit in the area people could hire or have somebody operate it, it would be spot on for weed control.”

Trevor says he’s hoping interest generated through the trials will be a catalyst for the introduction and adoption of more agtech solutions locally.

“It’s been proven this technology can be utilised by farmers. Now the idea is to be able to have those resources available to farmers in this region, which at the moment they’re not,” he says.