Cropping, livestock, viticulture, horticulture and aquaculture projects have shared in more than $320,000 to harness the benefits of agtech.
Expressions of interest were called for last year for producer groups to apply for funding of up to $18,500, with $555,000 on the table to cover the costs of activities such as engaging a facilitator, convening workshops, and travelling to demonstration farms to view potential technology options.
The 18 successful applicants, from throughout SA, will share a collective $324,257 to learn different ways agtech can be used to upskill and support producers.
Topics range from increasing water use efficient, optimising the use of electronic identification data, mapping of soils, technologies for appropriate spraying decisions and using drones for monitoring, mapping, spraying and seeding.
Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said the AgTech Producer Groups program aimed to demystify agtech and help producers make the most of what was available.
"This new initiative was based on the success of the Red Meat and Wool Growth Program Producer Groups that led to 75 per cent of participating producers implementing changes to their on-farm operations," she said.
"Organisations across all primary production sectors will now benefit through the peer-to-peer environment, supported by agtech experts to enhance their knowledge, and guide them through available options to improve efficiency and profitability."
The successful participants were the Buckleboo Farm Improvement Group; Barossa Improved Grazing Group; Fleurieu Beef Group; MacKillop Farm Management Group; the advanced, beginner and intermediate McLaren Vale AgTech Producer groups; two AgKI projects; SA Oyster Growers Association; Fruit Producers SA; Australian Pork Research Institute; Keilira AgTech Cropping Group; and five from Grain Producers SA, based on Eyre Peninsula, Mallee, Mid North, South East and Yorke Peninsula.
