$1 million Farming for the Future policy initiative launched at the Royal Hobart Show
· A Hodgman Liberal Government will establish a network of base stations so farmers can use GPS technology for precision farming that brings greater efficiencies and a lower carbon footprint
· This policy reflects the Liberals vision and long-term planning for Tasmania’s farming future and investing in smart infrastructure
A Hodgman Liberal Government will invest in new technology to promote precision farming for the future.
This revolutionary $1 million policy initiative was officially launched by Opposition Leader, Will Hodgman, at the Hobart Show today.
By establishing a network of GPS base-stations, a Hodgman Liberal Government will put Tasmanian farmers at the cutting edge of new technology; enabling them to boost productivity, use water more efficiently, and reduce chemical, fertiliser and fuel inputs, as well as their carbon footprint.
It is a policy that demonstrates the Liberals’ long-term vision and planning for the future of farming in this State by investing in smart infrastructure.
The policy will also have wider application for other industry sectors, such as mining, construction and surveying. The use of GPS technology in farming offers huge benefits, with farmers being able to use it to automatically guide tractors, harvesters and irrigation equipment with pin-point accuracy.
Some of the benefits include:
· Higher yields and productivity
· Less fertiliser and chemical inputs
· Reduced fuel consumption
· Improved irrigation and water use technology and
· Reduced on-farm carbon footprint.
But the use of this technology in Tasmania has been limited by three major factors – set-up, range and cost.
Farmers need a mobile receiver and a base station to ensure absolute accuracy, which is a major cost limitation.
A network of permanent base stations, or Continuously Operating Reference Stations, would provide the coverage farmers require.
Under our policy, we will:
· Provide $50,000 funding to the Cradle Coast NRM CORS project to add value to a feasibility study to determine the State’s readiness for a statewide CORS network, and the optimum locations for primary and secondary stations throughout the State.
· Develop a statewide CORS network and provide $650,000 of capital infrastructure for the establishment of primary base stations and secondary stations in key locations around the State.
· Establish an incentive fund of $300,000 to provide limited financial assistance to individual farmers and contractors to give them the opportunity to access the new technology.
Will Hodgman MP Leader of the State Opposition Rene Hidding MP Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and Water Jeremy Rockliff MP Shadow Minister for Infrastructure
