Project
Overview
This project is designed to empower young Tasmanians to become future leaders in agriculture by equipping them with the skills and knowledge to embrace current and emerging technologies. Responding to a clear need within Tasmania’s agricultural education sector, this project is focused on developing practical capabilities in climate resilience and drought preparedness.
Phase 1 of this project, rolled out between July 2024 and June 2025, upgraded hardware at 3 Tasmanian Schools ( Hagley Agricultural Learning Centre, Jordan River Learning Federation, and Sheffield High School) and revised educational resources originally developed through the AgriFutures Producers Technology Uptake Program, to ensure they remain relevant and practical for classroom use.
Educators received targeted training, and students participated in hands-on learning through events such as the TAPG Ag Innovation Expo and the pilot Growing the Future program. These activities helped students explore topics including:
- Comparing traditional soil moisture meters with digital probes
- Using weather stations and interpreting data for farm decision-making
- Electronic livestock tracking and monitoring
- Cover crops and erosion management
Central to this was ensuring students had regular access to real-time weather and soil moisture data - critical tools for understanding and managing environmental risks in farming.
Phase 2 of the project is now underway, supporting a further 4 schools to access weather station and soil moisture hardware, whilst also enabling Jordan River Learning Federation and Sheffield High School to host other schools to undertake the Growing the Future program. In addition, Phase 2 of the project is upskilling more educators, focusing on secondary school teachers.
A key success factor has been the direct involvement of industry professionals, which has significantly enhanced student engagement and learning outcomes. Collaboration has also been central to the project’s success, with Ag Logic working closely with Andrew Harris and the DECYP Revitalising School Farms team to deliver the project. Early consultations helped tailor technology solutions to each school’s specific needs, ensuring meaningful integration into teaching and learning.
Where
its up to
To date, over 150 students have actively participated in the pilot Growing the Future program, with strong interest from additional schools to participate.
7 weather stations and soil moisture probes have now been installed across Tasmanian schools, with students highly engaged throughout the installation process. These hands-on experiences have sparked curiosity about how environmental data informs agricultural decision-making, inspiring greater interest in science and environmental studies.
The Hagley Agricultural Learning Centre team is currently developing additional lesson plans to support ongoing learning. Resources are available for educators to participate in professional development sessions, which include a two-year subscription to the Tasmanian Wildeye weather station network.
Importantly, the curriculum resources are designed to be flexible and inclusive. While access to on-site hardware enhances learning, it is not a requirement - educators can utilise data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) or other sources to deliver the program effectively.
Get
Involved
Educators interested in participating in the program and accessing curriculum resources are encouraged to contact Andrew Harris [details] or Liam Fox [details]. Currently, school visits and hosted learning experiences are available at Hagley Agricultural Learning Centre, Jordan River Learning Federation, and Sheffield High School.
To stay informed about upcoming professional development opportunities, educators can register their interest by contacting [contact details]. These sessions include access to tailored teaching resources and a two-year subscription to the Tasmanian Wildeye weather station network.
For further information about the weather station network and soil moisture monitoring, please contact Ag Logic [details] or explore our additional resources on data-driven decision-making [link].