Smart Automation in Rice

Smart automation in rice provides practical and financial benefit for producers. John Hornbuckle from Deakin University and George Revel from Ag Econ talk about what they have found over the past three years of research with the Smarter Irrigation for Profit 2 program. The research has shown that automation enables growers to easily implement delayed permanent water, but also for those using traditional ponding permanent water it enables reduced irrigation labour and better control of water. Additionally automation enables a transition to aerobic rice. The economic analysis shows labour savings generating a 9% internal rate of return and with water savings providing additional upside potential. Importantly this research has been done with commercial partners so that the smart sensing is technology is easily linked to off the shelf automated infrastructure.