Cutting Edge Farming Equipment -Assisting Management Decisions
The success of our Australian rice industry has gone hand-in-hand with the rapid development and uptake of technology.
Most of the equipment used on rice farms is fitted with computer-aided devices; these allow our growers to manage their techniques with accuracy.
Some Hi-Tech Farming Equipment
GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and Precision Farming
The use of satellite networks assist in precisely matching crop needs with crop requirements.
Computerised Whole Farm Design and Laser Landforming
The use of computer aided design (CAD) and laser technology to design efficient farm irrigation systems. Land forming using laser land forming ensures the most efficient use of water. Farmers have precise control over the flow of water on and off the land.
Laser land forming immediately achieves water savings of up to 25% over conventional land preparation techniques.
GIS (Geographical Information Systems)
GIS is used to organise geographical information which is then stored digitally on a database.
Remote Sensing
Spectral imaging obtained from satellites and aircrafts assist planning and management of the farm system. Farmers can work out the exact capabilities of their farm by identifying enterprises to suit each area.
Aerial Machinery
Experienced agricultural pilots use satellite guidance technology to distribute seeds and other inputs across a rice bay with precision and accuracy. This works hand in hand with precision farming.
‘Ricecheck’ Farm Extension and ‘MaNage Rice’
The ‘Ricecheck’ recommendations booklet and the ‘MaNage Rice’ computer software package developed by the CSIRO & NSW Agriculture accurately assess crop requirements and provide farmers with the latest agronomic advice on the Best Management Practices (BMP’s).
Our Australian Rice Facts
- Up to 40 million people eat Australian rice around the world each day.
- Australian rice is grown, processed and packaged in regional Australia, creating around 8,000 jobs.
- Rice is the main source of nutrition for more than half the world’s population and Australia’s contribution to world rice consumption stretches beyond 70 countries.
- Value-added rice products like the SunRice SunCreations return over $10,000 per megalitre.
- Australia grows varieties of rice developed to suit our climate and are demanded by the higher priced international markets.
- Australian rice growers have improved their water use efficiency by 44% in the past 10 years.
- Australian rice growers surpassed overseas average production of 3.97 tonnes per hectare 60 years ago. In 2006, the average rice yield was 10t/ha and Australia is the only country to achieve this.
- Overseas rice growers can use up to 5 times more water to grow a kilo of rice compared to our Australian rice growers.
- Our Australian rice industry generates around $800 million revenue pa, with around $400 million from exports.
- Chemical usage on rice in Australia is the lowest in the developed world thanks to a unique rotation system utilising natural biological controls.
- Research and Development helps maintain the competitive advantage of the Australian rice industry. The industry has invested over $18 million in research into the sustainability of irrigation, crop breeding and protection and product development. This investment has returned approximately $292 million to industry and provided an $80/ha per annum benefit to growers.
- The rice industry is the first Australian agricultural industry to initiate a regional biodiversity plan and a greenhouse reduction strategy.
- The rice industry is the only industry undertaking project to return water to the Murray River through the Living Murray process.
