Agriculture Victoria’s Mallee Irrigation team recently delivered a live online training session with farmers using the IrriSAT program.
IrriSAT is a satellite-based decision support tool providing farmers with access to satellite imagery of their property.
The live online training format, piloted for the first time in partnership with Dried Fruits Australia, has enabled 11 farmers to use the farm management tool from their home computers at no cost.
Agriculture Victoria Irrigation Extension Officer Maxine Schache said the satellite imagery could be used to create maps demonstrating how healthy crops were or how well they were growing.
“Unhealthy portions of the property are easily highlighted which may then guide field investigations to determine the cause.”
“The service can also assist farmers in estimating crop water requirements.”
Agriculture Victoria can now offer ongoing training to farmers wanting to access and understand the components of the system free of charge.
“Any farmer who wants to learn about problem spots on their property or access a free irrigation scheduling and recording service can now do so using this technology,” Ms Schache said.
She said while pilot training took place in the Mallee’s Sunraysia irrigation district, the technology could benefit irrigators and dryland farmers across the state.
