A recent survey conducted by Roy Morgan found that 89% of Australian farmers have either adopted or are considering adopting agricultural technology (agtech). This comprehensive study collected information from 1,001 farmers across a range of sectors including crop production, beef, sheep, horticulture and dairy. The results highlight the growing integration of technology into farming practices and highlight the tech savvy of Australian farmers.
Key results
According to the survey, 72% of farmers are already using agricultural technologies to save time and money. The most common technology is farm management software, which supports applications ranging from paddock mapping and animal genetics to feed inventory and water monitoring. Other notable agtech tools include:
- Electronic ID tags
- Satellite technologies
- Precision farming
- Drones
- Remote sensors
Benefits of Agtech Implementation
The study identified several key benefits that farmers receive from the adoption of agricultural technologies:
- Reduce Waste: Effectively manage resources and reduce waste.
- Remote Diagnostics: The ability to diagnose problems remotely, saving time and reducing the need for site visits.
- Reduce labor costs. Automation and technological solutions reduce the need for manual labor.
- Expanded Opportunities: Better understanding of new opportunities and solutions in agricultural practices.
- Accurate Record Keeping: Improved and more accurate record keeping methods.
- Monitoring of large areas: Possibility of more effective monitoring of large agricultural areas.
- Improved Livestock Management: Improved methods for managing livestock health and productivity.
- Increased Profitability: Overall increase in farm profitability through efficient practices.
- Reducing input costs. Reduce input costs by optimizing use and management.
Barriers to adoption
Despite the obvious advantages, there are noticeable obstacles to the widespread adoption of agricultural technologies:
- High costs: 66% of respondents cited high costs as a major barrier.
- Lack of knowledge: 37% of farmers reported that they do not know enough about agricultural technologies.
- Connectivity issues: 36% cited poor internet and phone connections as a hindrance.
- Perceived low benefits: 19% of farmers believed that the benefits of adopting agri-technologies were low.
Roy Morgan CEO Michelle Levine emphasized the importance of addressing these barriers to improve adoption rates. She suggested that lowering input costs and increasing awareness of the tangible benefits of agtech could help more farmers overcome these barriers.
Leading Agtech Brands
The survey also identified leading brands associated with agritech products and services. John Deere was the most recognized brand, followed by Gallagher and Elders. This recognition highlights the impact of these brands in driving technology adoption in the agricultural sector.
Roy Morgan’s survey provides valuable insight into the current state of agtech adoption among Australian farmers. With a high percentage of farmers already using these technologies, the future looks promising for further integration and innovation. Removing cost and knowledge barriers will be critical to ensuring that even more farmers can benefit from the efficiencies and improvements that agtech offers.
Error
