What’s making farmers put down the tools and pick up the tech? Improved productivity and profitability - here’s your quick guide to the tools transforming Aussie farms today.
These days, greener pastures can be hard to find – from drought and extreme weather to rising costs and labour shortages, every day tests a farmer’s resilience.
But those greener pastures aren’t out of reach. Agriculture technology, or AgTech, is on the rise in Australia – and it’s proving to be a game changer.
It’s helping the 72% of farmers using some form of farming technology to combat these challenges and improve productivity, according to Roy Morgan research. That research found farmers’ favourite benefits of AgTech include:
- Better animal health insights and early detection of issues
- Reduced labour costs through automation
- Accurate and instant record-keeping
- Less waste from feed to time spent handling stock
- Smarter decision-making using real-time performance data
- Improved profitability and sustainability
In short, smart farming helps Australian farmers do more with less. It’s boosting productivity, efficiency and profitability.
So what key technologies are farmers embracing?
Electronic Identification (EID) tags
EID technology is becoming more common across Australian farms, and not just because it’s mandatory in some regions. EID tags are extremely useful.
Animal tags allow each animal to carry a unique digital identity that links to performance, health and breeding data. Whether you’re tracking growth rates, pregnancy scans or treatments, EID tags make data management simpler and more accurate.
Key benefits:
- Instant traceability and compliance with industry standards
- Reduced paperwork and human error
- Automated health recording
- More informed breeding and feeding decisions
- Stronger herd insights for long-term profitability
- Easy to transfer data to third party herd management systems and consultants
Antonomous solutions
Autonomous farming tools and systems are helping reduce repetitive and time-consuming tasks. They come in all shapes and sizes, from automated weighing systems like Tru-Test’s Walk over Weighing (WoW) to automatic drafting gates that complement Tru-Test Active Tag and the popular Prattley Auto-Drafter range.
But it’s more than saving time. These solutions collect and even interpret data to give you the information to make more informed, real-time decisions so you can get ahead and stay ahead. They can help monitor animal behaviour, weight gain and movement patterns – providing instant, deep insights into herd performance that you’d otherwise spend countless hours collecting.
Key benefits:
- Continuous data collection and monitoring
- Reduces labour and operating costs
- Precise feeding and health management
- Improved consistency and animal welfare
- Real-time alerts for faster decision-making
And the best result of all? Peace of mind!
Auto-drafters
Having an auto drafter is like having another set of skilled hands (and mind) working with you. Products like the Prattley 3-Way and 5-Way Autodrafters use real-time data and automation to sort livestock accurately and efficiently, based on criteria like weight, health or heat cycles.
They can also integrate with Tru-Test weigh scales, Z Tags EID tags and NJ Phillips animal health systems, giving farmers a more holistic view of herd performance.
Key benefits:
- Saves time
- Increases drafting accuracy and herd data quality
- Enables faster identification of animals needing attention
- Reduces human error and improves workplace safety
- Frees up staff for other tasks on the farm
Drones
Drones are redefining precision agriculture for livestock operations across Australia. Equipped with high-resolution and thermal cameras, they provide a bird’s-eye view of your land and livestock, helping you identify problems early – from overgrazed paddocks to pest infestations.
Farmers use drone imagery to identify missing animals, monitor pasture conditions and even spot early signs of health issues. It all adds up to fewer hours spent driving or walking the farm for faster, more informed decisions.
Key benefits:
- Reduced vehicle costs
- Quickly locate and count livestock across vast properties
- Identify areas of overgrazing or pasture stress
- Detect livestock distress or illness early via thermal imaging
- Improved on-farm safety and efficiency
But remember: with all this tech, the best results come when technology and support go hand in hand. A provider like Datamars Livestock that offers local service, training and on-farm tech support ensures you can make the most of every tool.
Australian farmers have always been innovators — and today’s AgTech movement is simply the next chapter in that story. From auto-drafters to EID tags and autonomous livestock systems, technology is helping producers overcome the biggest challenges farmers face today.