BCG has begun the installation of 45 soil moisture probes across the southern Mallee and Wimmera, which will continue to occur through March and into April.
BCG CEO, Chris Sounness, explained the installation of soil moisture probes builds on the existing network of weather stations already installed by the BCG team.
“Two years ago BCG installed 50 weather stations connected to the Taggle network managed by GWM Water, to help begin the discussion around the Internet of Things and how growers can capitalise on the opportunities,” Mr Sounness explained.
“Weather station owners are able to access the information from their stations on the Data Farmer website, where there are also a couple of public access weather stations that anyone can also see.”
“Sensors can almost capture any data you are seeking, with weather and soil moisture data an easy starting point. Given how much interest there can be in weather information during a season, it seemed pretty logical to start here,” says Mr Sounness.
Soil moisture probes are just one type of sensor available to growers once they have begun moving into the Internet of Things space.
“Depending on the soil moisture probe you choose, you can get a reading from 20cm to 1m in depth and can identify where root penetration has reached. Information like this can be extremely valuable in a season like 2018.”
“When it comes to knowing to either cut a crop for hay or take it to grain, knowing your sub soil moisture levels can be very advantageous,” said Mr Sounness.
Growers can access the Agriculture Victoria soil moisture probe network that covers large areas of Victoria, which can provide a guide, but nothing can compare to having a soil moisture probe in your own paddock. Log in details for the Agriculture Victoria soil moisture probe network are; user name and password are dpi.
You can visit the Data Farmer website at www.datafarmer.com.au. For more information about the BCG weather station and soil moisture probe network, contact the BCG office on 03 5492 2787.
