Smart on-farm water management tools launched

According to a Government report released by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), digital innovation has the potential to increase the GDP of the Australian agricultural sector by $20.3 billion.

Recognising this, local agtech companies, Goanna Ag and Myriota, have partnered up to offer farmers smart solutions that will help them understand on-farm resources better to enable data-driven decisions.

The GoRain is an automatic rain gauge that lets farmers monitor rain data remotely, allowing them to gain a better understanding of rain variability across farms. That way, farmers can make decisions based on data collected to support stronger crop yields.

GoTank is a device used to monitor water tank levels so farmers need not run around the farm to manually check water levels in their tanks. The device initially surfaced about three or more years ago while in its testing phase and is now ready for its commercial launch.

Both devices utilise Myriota’s network of nanosatellites for data collection, meaning where you can see the sky, the devices can connect and send/receive data.

Data will be displayed via Goanna Ag’s apps - Goanna Telemetry App on Apple's App Store and GoApp on Google Play.

Both GoRain and GoTank have a battery life of three years, and are simple to install and maintain, Goanna Ag said.

Goanna Ag’s CEO, Alicia Garden, said the innovative devices will play an important role in the future success of Australia’s $62 billion agriculture sector.

“Rainfall is the fundamental driver of agricultural production, and while we can’t make it rain more, GoRain and GoTank will bring confidence to decision making for our hard-working food and fibre producers,” she said.

“We believe that this technology will transform the Australian market and provide the information needed to support the industry in even the most challenging times.”

Myriota CEO and co-founder, Dr Alex Grant, said the launch of GoRain and GoTank comes at a critical time for the Australian agricultural sector.

“By providing the agricultural industry with data about precious on-farm water assets at the click of a button, Myriota and Goanna Ag are supporting the industry to make highly strategic decisions that will ensure the survival of crops and livestock,” he said.

“GoRain and GoTank are able to obtain on-site data from anywhere and deliver that information to the farmer via the Myriota network; removing the guesswork and providing accurate data about on-farm water levels.”

Both products have been designed and manufactured in Australia to meet Australian standards. Most importantly, the products are affordable, allowing farmers to deploy cutting-edge water management technology at a fraction of the cost of alternative solutions, Goanna Ag said.

Goanna Ag customers, Chris and Broden Holland, have been using the GoRain gauge on their 3500 hectare farm north of Young in New South Wales.

“Like most farming businesses, our success is largely determined by our ability to make the most out of whatever rainfall we receive,” said Broden Holland.

“For us, that begins by having a better understanding of when and where that rain falls. We use Goanna Ag rain gauges as a key part of our management system to help us precisely maximise our grain production.

“The insights we now have as a result of capturing and understanding our data from across our farm enables us to make more informed and timely decisions. This has given us the confidence to increase our inputs to push our yields higher.”

Both the GoRain and GoTank can be purchased directly from the Goanna Ag website, or through distributors including Delta Agribusiness, AgnVet, Elders and Aquawest.

Pricing for the GoRain is $900 plus GST, while the GoTank costs $1150 plus GST. An annual fee of $120 for each device applies from the second year onwards for ongoing platform use and connectivity.