07. Technology in Agriculture

Why are farmers profit margins being squeezed?

• People are consuming less beef.

• Because of floods, drought and bush fires.

• They are poor managers of farms.

• Their income is reducing while expenses are increasing.

What are farmers often turning to with an aim to make their farms more efficient, improve animal welfare standards and reduce environmental impact?

• Technology

• Electronic tractors

• Tax benefits

• Better animals

Technology is often used to collect data from across the farm to help farmers make improved decisions about their farm.

• True

• False

There are very few job opportunities in the agriculture/technology industry.

• True

• False

An RFID tag is an ear tag that contains a special chip that emits a uniquely coded radio pulse when they are stimulated by an antenna/reader. This allows farmers to easily identify an animal.

• True

• False

NLIS stands for National Landscape Identity System.

• True

• False

The walk-over-weigh systems allows farmers to weigh cattle without having to muster them into yards. What are the advantages of weighing cattle and other grazing animals?

Select one or more:

• To determine if an animal is certain weight and is ready to be sold to market.

• It can be an indicator that a cow is in oestrus and ready to be mated.

• It is an indicator a cow has had a calf.

• To monitor the animals health.

NLIS is important as it is a requirement for many international markets in which Australian livestock producers sell the animals and meat products.

• True

• False

It is important to position a walk-over-weigh to make use of an animals natural behaviour, e.g. placing the walk-over-weigh so an animals weight can be measured on its way to water.

• True

• False

Making use of a walk-over-weigh, an auto drafter and an RFID tag is an efficient way of sorting cattle into different groups. This is an example of how farmers can make use of technology on their farms.

• True

• False