Globally, agriculture is in the early stages of a digital revolution. Powered by the increasing use of digital technologies on-farm and across the wider agricultural value chain, Precision Agriculture (PA) is one element of this change, using digital technology to collect large amounts of data on crops, livestock and land resources with rapidly increasing levels of accuracy.
Between 2017 and 2019, the Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) partnered with John T Reid Charitable Trusts to bring an exciting project to secondary school classrooms in north-western Victoria. In-class demonstrations and content delivery by BCG staff included drone flight demonstrations and using and interpreting the data collected by drones for practical on-farm use.
Three local secondary schools, Birchip P-12, Tyrrell College and Wycheproof P-12 College were involved in the project. Student feedback about the sessions was very positive, with all of the students reporting they enjoyed the lesson and wanted to learn more. “I liked how he brought (sic.) in the drone and showed us how to fly it”, said one student, with another saying, “It opened my eyes to what farming may become”.
“Student knowledge improved as students had the opportunity to not only hear about different things but also could experience them out in the field. This gave them a greater understanding of what they had learnt in the classroom”, a participating teacher commented.
Throughout 2019, BCG created and distributed a teacher compendium dedicated to precision agriculture and current and emerging on-farm technologies. This resource is full of helpful links to video, audio and written articles on various aspects of the technologies used in precision agriculture, as well as some of the factors which impact the viability and applicability of them in a rural setting. The compendium was designed specifically with the VCE Agricultural and Horticultural Studies study guide in mind, but it is also suitable for agricultural classes across other secondary school year levels.
The compendium has been sent to a number of agriculture teachers across the region for comment, with feedback received thus far indicating that it will be used for the planning and delivery of many classes in 2020.
If you would like to learn more or would like a copy of the compendium, please contact Amy Harwood on 0456 979 561 or [email protected]
