Improving the productivity and environmental performance of nursery systems using technology, sensors and live data is referred to as smart farming. Information can come from in-field sensors, nursery cameras, on-site weather data and decision support tools such as forecasting models or automated records.

Austchilli is piloting:

1. Dendrometers for plant growth rates

2. Soil moisture sensors

3. Growing degree day growth models for forecasting crop maturity

4. In-field cameras

5. Nitrate runoff and leachate forecasting, and

6. On-farm weather station

The National Landcare Program and Hort Innovation have funded a pilot smart vegetable farm and are supporting the development of the Hitachi Control Tower, which provides growers with an integrated data platform to farm efficiently and demonstrates environmental best practice to their customers and compliance bodies.