Resources
Connecting a farm
Will Bowden, a fifth-generation farmer in Tasmania, leveraged irrigation and digital tools to remotely control 17 pivots, pumps, and reservoirs, reducing downtime and improving water management.
Case Studies
Soil moisture monitoring for improved pasture production
Name
Scott Atkins
Location
Meander Valley
Scott Atkins operates a 480-hectare irrigated dairy business in Tasmania’s Meander Valley, across three properties with variable duplex soils and drainage challenges. To improve pasture productivity and water use efficiency, Scott installed a soil moisture probe with temperature sensors and a rain gauge to better understand soil moisture behaviour and improve irrigation decisions over time.
*This project was delivered by the Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group (TAPG) and supported through funding from the Strategic Industry partnership Program (SIPP).
Read Scott's Story Here:
What was the challenge?
- Irrigation decisions were based on rule-of-thumb timing rather than measured soil moisture, risking over- or under-watering and missed opportunities for pasture growth.
- Poor understanding of soil moisture at depth and variability across soil types limited the effectiveness of irrigation scheduling.
What was the process?
- A stand-alone 80 cm soil moisture probe with sensors every 10 cm was installed in spring 2024, along with a rain gauge and Wildeye telemetry system.
- Data were visualised through Wildeye software and supported by local consultants (Ag Logic) for interpretation and decision support.
- Regular monitoring and adjustment through the season helped develop baseline knowledge of how soil moisture responds to rain and irrigation.
- A stand-alone installation, the system didn't require integration with other agtech, using only 4G connectivity for data collection and management.
Results
Improved understanding of soil water dynamics, particularly when to start irrigating in spring and how soils with different drainage respond.
More confidence in decisions about timing and amounts of water, with less reliance on rules of thumb.
Scott believes that, with well managed and timed irrigation applications it should be possible to extend the productive growing season of the pasture rather than it going into the reproductive phase too early, extending pasture lifetime over time.
The probe is now used to validate decisions and highlight key management points through the season.
While still too early for initial data on changes to water use or pasture yield, Scott is optimistic the new system will drive better management of soil moisture for improved pasture production.
The initial costs for the new system were $3295 ($2995 purchase price and $300 for installation), plus $300/year in subscription costs and $30 in estimated maintenance. The estimated lifespan of the system is 10 years.
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