ON FARM NATIONAL well as an ongoing fee. This software and autonomous FAST fee can either be monthly solutions. FACTS or per read.” “The software area is bursting Sean said there were with solution providers,” > Digital agriculture typically involves both the collection currently numerous fixed Sean said. and analysis of data to improve decision making. asset and water/pasture > Modelling suggests digital agriculture could increase management IoT devices, “When MLA undertook a the gross value of Australian sheep and cattle desktop audit in August but there was a significant 2016, there were more than production by more than $2.2 billion (16–17% increase gap in commercially available on 2014–15 levels). 200 providers.” smart livestock tags. Source: Accelerating precision agriculture to decision agriculture – A list of providers can Summary Report, 2017 “MLA continues to work with be found at: mla.com.au/ a range of solution providers iotsoftware in this area,” he said. “These latter ones require of can be found at: mla.com. In the autonomous systems producers to install their au/iotsolutions Software and space, MLA is working with own on-farm communication autonomous systems developers of aerial drones, network arrays. The “The list has a range of programs on track ground devices and tethered companies servicing solutions at varying levels of Work is also continuing on solutions for feedlots. ■ Australian producers in this development,” Sean said. area include some of those “Some claim they’re ready previously mentioned, as for deployment; however, well as NNNCo, DiscoveryAg, producers should be wary PowerTec, IDS, Taggle of some of these claims. and Thinxtra. “When choosing IoT sensors, “A large number of these a producer must decide companies can undertake on the expected value a full turn-key offering for proposition. We’ve found that both farm connectivity a small-scale deployment requirements: world to is required before the true homestead and homestead value proposition can be to paddocks.” ascertained.” Accessing the Internet Having determined which ofThings (IoT) sensor types are justified, As of September 2018, the producer then needs to MLA is aware of more than decide how often they would 100 companies offering like to receive information Internet of Things devices from the IoT device. for producers. “If that’s once a day for a These devices can be for very few sensors, then monitoring fixed assets consider either a 3G/4G or (such as silo levels), mobile satellite-connected device,” Figure 1. MLA’s connectivity triangle assets (tractors and quad Sean said. bikes), human safety, water/ pasture management and “If multiple reads a day or Producers wishing to get involved in the Connectivity livestock tracking. hour are required, producers Program, or who want more information, can contact: should consider sensors Sean Starling Work is underway to create that connect to a farm-wide E: sstarling@mla.com.au a Connectivity Hub on the network, such as one of the MLA website that will house LWAN networks. Find a list of connectivity solutions at: information on each IoT mla.com.au/iotsolutions provider and their offering “Producers need to be aware Find a list of software solutions at: but, for the time being, a list there is typically an IoT mla.com.au/iotsoftware of the solutions MLA is aware device purchase price as 21