Words by Adele Armstrong, Home Hill State High School Agribusiness Co-ordinator
As an Agribusiness Gateway School, Home Hill State High School is continually looking for opportunities for its students to learn about sustainable farming practices and the vast range of careers available in the agricultural industry.
Grade seven students experienced one such opportunity on 1 June when they visited the cane farm owned by Mr Aaron Linton. For a number of years, Aaron has been involved in trials that compare furrow or flood irrigation with a subsurface drip tape irrigation system. This system makes use of computerisation to gather data, which is used to manage the crop. It also allows for analysis of different irrigation sets and the introduction of nutrients directly to the root base of the plant. In this way, the plant is only getting what it actually needs. The information can be accessed anywhere in the world, through the use of an iPhone or computer, so the crop’s needs can be met no matter where the farmer is.
Mr Steve Attard, from Agritech Solutions, was also on hand to explain the process to the students and show them examples of how the data is displayed for the farmer to analyse and act on. Aaron was able to show how different machinery could be started and stopped through a simple touch on his iPhone. Whilst one group was being shown this process, the other group of students was being shown how drones can overfly a crop, recording images, which can then be used by the farmer to ascertain its requirements.
Alice Warner and Billie White from Farmacist explained some of the duties they perform as agronomists. They were able to tell the students, from first-hand experience, how much demand there is for people in their field and those developing the technologies being used in agriculture. They also detailed how sensors can be used to gather data, to help farmers make decisions about how to manage their crops.
The farm tour also served to highlight how water usage efficiency can minimise nutrient runoff into waterways and ultimately the Great Barrier Reef. This not only helps the environment, the farmer benefits as well from reduced energy usage and costs.
This was a valuable educational activity for the students, generously provided by members of the local community. Huge thanks must go to Aaron Linton; Steve Attard; and Alice Warner, Billie White and Jayson Dowie of Farmacist, for their time and effort in providing an informative experience.