On-farm operations optimisation
Tender ID: 504758
Tender Details
Tender Description
Australian grain growers operate complex, highly dynamic production systems. They often need to complete a task in short time over a large area while juggling inter-dependencies between multiple machines and operators (e.g., header, chaser bin, field bin, and trucks during harvest). Compounding the complexity are limited labour availability, variable agronomic considerations from one paddock to the next and dynamic weather conditions and markets. Although many Australian grain growers have finely tuned operations, this level of operational complexity is inherently difficult to manage. It’s even more difficult to optimise given the complex interactions between biophysical variables (e.g., rainfall, wind speed, crop phenology), input costs (e.g., labour, fuel, fertiliser) and market conditions that can affect farm profitability differently in different farming systems, locations, and seasons.
Advancements in positioning technologies, machine telematics, machine autonomy, farm management information systems (FMIS) and digital agronomy provide new opportunities with operations research in broadacre farming. For example, through identifying more efficient path plans or operating sequences for a fleet of connected vehicles involved in an operation (e.g., headers, chaser bins, trucks, and field bins during harvest), or through using data and analytics across multiple machines and FMIS to help machines and/or growers respond dynamically to new input data based on paddock conditions, environmental conditions, markets, or other variables. Any improvement in the timeliness operations can also have large impacts agronomically through increased yield, optimised input costs and/or reduced risk. Similarly, when applied across thousands of hectares multiple times a year, any increase in fuel efficiency could result in large cost savings to growers and reduced scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions. Through these and/or other opportunities, the potential to create value for Australian grain growers is vast.
While there are existing technology products in the market that help growers improve the efficiency of their operations, GRDC’s intent is to work with these businesses (and or/others) to push harder in search of untapped value.
GRDC is seeking interest from commercial businesses and/or research organisations who have the technological capability, domain expertise, and practical knowledge of agricultural systems required to work with growers to help them identify and implement new ways to optimise their on-farm operations.
Location
New South Wales : Central West : Far North Coast : Far West : Hunter : Illawarra : Mid North Coast : Murray : New England : Orana : Riverina : Southern Highlands : Sydney
Queensland : Cairns & Far North Queensland : Gladstone : Mackay Whitsunday Region : Mount Isa & North West Region : Rockhampton : South East Queensland : South West & Darling Downs : The Central West : Townsville : Wide Bay Burnett
Victoria : Barwon South West : Gippsland : Grampians : Hume : Loddon Mallee : Melbourne
South Australia : Adelaide : Eyre & Western : Far North : Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island : Limestone Coast : Murray & Mallee : York & Mid North
Northern Territory : Big Rivers : Central Australia : East Arnhem : Greater Darwin
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