February 14, 2003

Farmers accounted for 70 per cent of the around 3000 users who logged on to websites last year seeking CSIRO estimates of pasture biomass and growth rates, according to CSIRO Livestock Industries' Dr Rob Kelly.

"Farmers have demonstrated a willingness to adopt new technologies to better manage their pastures and thereby ultimately improve their income," Dr Kelly says.

The websites provide farmers in southern Australia with pasture biomass, or 'feed-on-offer', information, as well as pasture growth rate estimates based on analysis of images supplied by satellites orbiting 700 kilometres above Earth.

Dr Kelly says the amount of feed grown for livestock can vary four-fold from year to year across southern Australia.

Approximately half of Australia's sheep flock and a significant component of the national beef herd are farmed in southern Australia.

"Better utilisation of pastures could double farm profits," Dr Kelly says. "The level of interest in satellite
technology during the drought indicates farmers are aware of the value of this type of information."

The system's estimates of pasture biomass achieved near perfect correlation with on-ground measurements taken over the growing period from May to September.

"We were very pleased to see a 97 per cent level of accuracy from the satellite pasture data in comparison with on-ground measurements," Dr Kelly says. "Precise assessments of feed-on-offer in pastures are a critical factor in grazing management and farm profitability. For example, by using satellite data estimating biomass and pasture growth rates for his farm, WA farmer, Brad Woolridge, increased his stocking rate of sheep from 12 to 18 DSEs per hectare and produced 4.7 kilograms per head of 21 micron wool with a strength of 42 N/ktex."

Dr Kelly says surveys of farmers who accessed the satellite data via the Internet indicate that 82 per cent had more confidence in their ability to make sound pasture and stock management decisions.

More than 60 percent believed the information helped them better manage risk and 59 percent stated the information contributed to increased profitability.

"Farmers are adopting the Internet faster than any other industry or household group in Australia," Dr Kelly says. "The farms of the future may combine satellite pasture measurements with electronic monitoring systems - technologies which have great potential to improve animal performance and control access to feed."

The method of converting satellite images to estimate pasture biomass was developed by CSIRO Livestock Industries in partnership with the Western Australia departments of Agriculture and Land Administration.

Pasture growth rate estimates at a Shire level were provided to farmers across southern Australia by The Farmshed website in a trial conducted in 2002.