Discover how the Farms of the Future program is revolutionising Australian agriculture through Agtech, enhanced connectivity, and government support in our compelling new documentary.
Discover the transformative impact of Agtech, enhanced on-farm connectivity, and government support on Australian agriculture in this compelling documentary. Highlighting the Farms of the Future (FoTF) program, it showcases how tech-enabled agricultural production and monitoring are revolutionising the industry. In 2024, 365 NSW farm businesses received $7.5 million from the FoTF grant program, facilitating the purchase of advanced digital Agtech devices and connectivity solutions. This funding has driven a significant leap in agricultural technology adoption across NSW. The success of the program is also attributed to a comprehensive Agtech training initiative and strong industry engagement, which have been crucial in driving this change.
✨ *The documentary features three compelling case studies:*
✨ *Case Study 1 – Tess and Andrew Herbert (2023 Australian Farmers of the Year)*
Tess and Andrew Herbert operate Gundamain Pastoral Co at Eugowra, NSW, which includes a 6,000-head cattle feedlot, 6,500 to 7,000 ewes for lamb and wool production, 5,500 hectares of cropping, hay silage and pasture, and 400 hectares of remnant vegetation. Their vision is to sustain a fully adaptive, resilient, and intergenerational agribusiness that produces high-quality food and fibre for domestic and export markets while prioritising community, people, and their safety while providing respect for the care of the land and their animals.
✨ *Case Study 2 – Nick Blunt:*
Nick Blunt manages a family farm in Orange, NSW, which comprises the 915-hectare family property “Bodonga” and an additional 80 hectares of leased land. They run a crossbred ewe enterprise, turning off 4,500 to 5,000 lambs annually.
✨ *Case Study 3 – Michael and Helen Payten:*
Michael and Helen Payten of “Alfalfa” in Canowindra run a mixed enterprise farm with 50% cropping and 50% pastures for sheep. They manage 3,500 breeding ewes and 100 hectares of irrigated lucerne, producing a mix of small and large bales over 1,180 hectares.
The Farms of the Future program is an initiative of the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. @DPIRD
Resources:
*Farms of the Future Program*
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fotf
*Agtech Catalogue Website*
https://www.agtech.dpi.nsw.gov.au/ – a resource of over 1800 Agtech products
https://www.instagram.com/nsw_climate/
https://www.facebook.com/NSWDPI
https://www.x.com/DPI_DigitalAg