Farming in Tasmania is set for change, with the launch of the $530,000 Precision Agriculture Project.

Minister for Primary Industries and Water Jeremy Rockliff said the project was designed to push up farm productivity across the state and create jobs.

“The $530,000 project will use the latest technology and enable Tasmanian farmers to better match their crops and stock to the weather, soil and other conditions,” Mr Rockliff said.

“This will not only help boost crop and stock yields, it will reduce fertiliser costs, limit chemical applications and costs, improve irrigation techniques and create better farm management decisions.

“Precision agriculture techniques are a game-changer for farmers. It includes technology like satellite positioning systems, automated machine guidance, computers and devices to improve and guide farming practices and performance.”

The project was a the combined efforts of Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture and industry including Premium Fresh, Simplot Australia, GlaxoSmithKline, Serve-Ag, farmers, the TIA and DPIPWE, and was led by the Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group.

“The project will also establish commercial-scale, on-farm demonstration sites in the: Meander Valley, Northern Midlands, North-East, in Tunbridge and on the North West Coast to show our farmers the positive impacts of adopting precision agriculture technologies,” Mr Rockliff said.