Discover how Western Australian farmers are tackling unprecedented rainfall with cutting-edge aerial technology. Innovation is transforming agriculture and ensuring no crop is left behind.
Western Australia’s northern grain belt is no stranger to challenges, but 2024 brought a unique twist to the typical concerns about rain—or lack thereof. This season, farmers found themselves contending with an abundance of rain, which rendered paddocks boggy and inaccessible. But necessity breeds innovation, and farmers have turned to cutting-edge aerial technologies, such as drones and planes, to ensure their crops receive the care they need.
Farmers in the region experienced an unprecedented deluge: over 420mm of rain in just eight weeks. While this provided much-needed moisture, it also transformed paddocks into mud traps, making traditional ground-based machinery, such as sprayers and fertilisers, impractical.
The solution? The sky.
Drones have emerged as a practical alternative for crop management. Farmers like the Vlahovs have adopted agricultural drones capable of both spraying and spreading. These drones can carry up to 50kg of fertiliser or chemicals and operate autonomously by following GPS-guided maps transferred from tractors.
Despite being less efficient than traditional sprayers—covering 15 to 20 hectares per hour compared to 60 to 80 hectares—drones provide a crucial advantage: they can work where tractors cannot. At approximately $40,000 each, drones might seem costly, but for farmers, the investment pays off after covering 1,000 hectares.
The versatility of these drones is another highlight. From spreading mouse bait to fertilisers, their adaptability ensures farmers stay ahead, even in the most challenging conditions.
While drones are making waves, planes remain a cornerstone of large-scale farming. John Waugh, who operates an aerial agriculture business in Moree and Western Australia, noted a surge in demand. With paddocks inaccessible, farmers are turning to planes to deliver fertilisers and herbicides. This season, many fleets have doubled, with extensive ground support managing logistical hurdles like constructing airstrips and transporting water.
Planes are unmatched in efficiency, delivering products across vast areas quickly. However, they also require substantial preparation, particularly in areas lacking infrastructure. For some farmers, this is their first experience using aerial application, marking a significant shift in agricultural practices.
The relationship between drones and planes is not one of competition but complementarity. While planes dominate broadacre farming with their capacity and speed, drones are proving invaluable for precision tasks in difficult terrain. As drone technology evolves—addressing challenges like tank and battery capacity—its role in farming is expected to grow.
According to many, drones represent the future of farming, but for now, they complement planes rather than replace them.
This season in Western Australia highlights how innovation transforms challenges into opportunities. With drones and planes, farmers are not only adapting to adverse conditions but also paving the way for a more resilient, efficient future in agriculture.
Whether it’s the precision of drones or the scale of planes, aerial technology is here to stay, ensuring farmers can meet their crop management needs regardless of what nature throws their way.
