In this episode of the South-West WA Drought Hub's Dry Season Resources podcast, host Shannon Beattie discusses the role of digital technologies in agricultural businesses with Smart Farms coordinator for Stirlings to Coast Farmers, Phil Honey, Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO, Roger Lawes, and Latham farmer, Dylan Hirsch. 

A range of technologies have been developed in the agricultural industry that provide growers with new insights into their farm businesses and have potential to improve efficiencies and productivity. 

However, these technologies often have limitations and farmers often lack the time, tools and skills to process data from multiple different sources to effectively utilise them. 

Phil, Roger and Dylan took part in a SW WA Hub project funded through a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Innovation grant aimed at understanding growers’ attitude to digital technology. They assisted growers to better understand the opportunities presented by the latest digital technologies and how they can address farming system challenges and improve in-season decision making when faced with a variable climate. 

• Emerging technologies in agriculture (PDF) - AgriFutures
• Agtech Decoded: growers critically analysing the role of new technology in on-farm decision making – what are the possibilities? - SW WA Hub
• Technology supporting SA agriculture - PIRSA
• Hub news - Drought Hub