TNQ Drought Hub
James Cook University Australia
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AgTech Testing On Farm

The Ag Innovation Hub facilitated on farm trials as an opportunity to provide a solid use case for specific technologies that solve problems identified within the TNQ region. These trials were designed to not only assess technologies that solve known problems but to understand and overcome the barriers to adoption.

The Trials

Two types of technology trials were carried out on-farm.

  1. R&D Trials –Demonstration and testing of two early-stage agtech solutions (Cavicam Optical Dendrometers and Agscent Pregnancy Breathalyser) in real, on-farm conditions within the TNQ region to assess their value and usability.
  2. Farm Management Software Integration Trial – Developing an integrated dashboard of software and hardware inputs which support extensive grazing enterprises to make data-driven decisions across wet and dry seasons.
TNQ Drought Hub Director David Phelps with Agscent Technical Field Officer Charlotte Wood

Background

Establishing pregnancy status in cattle is critical for reproductive efficiency and profitability in beef and dairy production. However, current methods like manual rectal palpation and ultrasound require a veterinarian or qualified technician, making early pregnancy detection challenging, particularly in remote Northern systems.

Agscent, in collaboration with the TNQ Drought Hub, conducted trials to test its Breath Pregnancy Diagnostics device in tropical Northern conditions.

The device, which has identified pregnancy biomarkers through breath sampling, aims to offer producers a more accessible, non-invasive, and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods.

Why This Matters

Pregnancy testing is a fundamental tool for managing reproductive efficiency, herd health, and informed decision-making in cattle production. Early, accurate pregnancy detection enables producers to optimise calving rates, manage nutrition for breeding and non-breeding animals, and make timely decisions around herd management to improve productivity and sustainability. This is particularly important in Northern grazing systems where environmental variability and labour limitations make efficient herd management critical for long-term resilience and drought preparedness.

What We Did

Over two days, the Agscent device was tested across two different grazing enterprises, with the focus on:

  • Assessing the method and repeatability of breath collection
  • Testing if non-expert users could effectively collect samples
  • Exploring the potential benefits for different grazing enterprises
  • Identifying adoption barriers and the return-on-investment potential for producers

What Changed

  • Producer Exposure to Innovation: Producers and veterinary students were introduced to emerging technology that could simplify pregnancy testing, with potential to detect pregnancies as early as 18 days (compared to 28 days for current methods).
  • Real-World Feedback: The trial highlighted the device’s portability, durability, and ease of use in some settings, but also revealed challenges related to safety, efficiency, and accuracy under practical conditions.
  • Collaborative Refinement: Feedback provided Agscent with valuable insights into the realities of cattle handling in Northern systems, prompting plans to improve the device and its use protocols before commercialisation.

Opportunities for Improvement

  • Producers and vets see strong potential for breath-based pregnancy diagnostics to improve reproductive efficiency and herd management in Northern systems.
  • The current accuracy of the device needs further validation before producers and veterinarians can confidently replace traditional pregnancy testing methods.
  • User feedback highlighted opportunities for design improvements for safer sampling, to support practical adoption.

Background

In a collaboration between the University of Tasmania, the Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub, and Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF), innovative “Optical Dendrometers” were trialed on mango trees to monitor water potential under the challenging tropical conditions of North Queensland. While this technology had been used in temperate climates, its suitability in tropical horticulture systems had never been explored.

Ryan Orr, Senior Horticulturist, QDAF was overseeing a long-term mango trial site with over a decade of tree physiology data and saw an opportunity to improve irrigation practices.

Understanding water availability in trees is crucial, as it affects growth rates, heat stress susceptibility, and fruit quality—particularly during heatwaves, when trees can rapidly dehydrate despite sufficient irrigation.

What We Did

The optical dendrometers were deployed for two months during fruit development, capturing how mango trees responded to heatwave conditions. This provided detailed insights into dehydration patterns and water movement in the trees, helping to refine irrigation strategies to protect both tree health and fruit quality.

What Changed

  • Knowledge & Practice: The trial provided new insights into mango water use and stress patterns, helping refine irrigation scheduling during heat and dry periods.
  • Future Potential: The data will inform further research into fruit development and tree physiology, supporting drought-resilient practices for mango growers.

Opportunities for Improvement

  • Early Stage Technology: The optical dendrometers are still in early commercial stages, with room for improvements in manufacturing quality.
  • Adaptation for Tropics Needed: In North Queensland’s hot, humid conditions, water pooled inside sensors, and insects built nests in them, highlighting the need for better water and insect proofing.
  • Complex Setup: The sensors are complicated to set up, requiring specialist knowledge. For broader commercial adoption, the setup process needs simplification to be farmer-friendly.
Grazier William Harrington (L) and Gulf Savannah Extension Officer Sarah Reynolds (R)

Background

Northern Australia’s cattle systems face persistent drought and climatic variability, challenging traditional management practices. This project explored the integration of multiple AgTech systems, including water monitoring, livestock tracking, feed budgeting and data aggregation tools to enhance drought resilience and decision-making.

The trial was part of a broader initiative to test and demonstrate the value of integrating several farm management software platforms into a single interface to streamline data access and improve decision-making.

There were four sites activated across Queensland including James Cook University’s Fletcherview Research Station and CQ University’s Belmont Research Station, running from 3 – 12 months.

Why This Matters

The integration of AgTech offers a transformative opportunity to address the challenges posed by climatic variability, labour constraints and natural resource management by enabling real-time, data-driven decisions.

These tools can help:

  • Monitor water infrastructure ensuring that livestock have consistent access to water, safeguarding animal welfare
  • Offer insights into animal behaviour, health, and location to support herd management
  • Enable more accurate estimates of available forage, supporting informed stocking decisions and preventing overgrazing

Together, these technologies empower graziers to make proactive, data-driven decisions that enhance sustainability, reduce costs, and build resilience against drought and other environmental pressures.

What We Did

The project involved a multi-faceted deployment of different AgTech systems across the four properties in partnership with researchers, station managers and the TNQ Drought Hub. The technologies chosen for each property were based on the type of business, staff, connectivity and specific challenges they faced.

Water monitoring technologies were prioritised early in the project, with Farmbot systems installed on tanks and Water Rat sensors deployed in troughs. Systems were selected for their ease of installation, reliability, and ability to deliver actionable alerts via SMS and email, ensuring timely responses to water shortages.

Tracking technologies including Ceres Tag, Smart Paddock Bluebell and Moovement were fitted on livestock to provide valuable data on cattle movement and behaviour. Feed monitoring was initiated using Cibo Labs, which leverages satellite imagery and on-ground data to estimate feed availability and support grazing decisions.

To integrate these technologies, the PairTree aggregation platform was established to consolidate data from multiple sources into a single, user-friendly dashboard.

Together, these technologies empower graziers to make proactive, data-driven decisions that enhance sustainability, reduce costs, and build resilience against drought and other environmental pressures.

What We Did

The project involved a multi-faceted deployment of different AgTech systems across the four properties in partnership with researchers, station managers and the TNQ Drought Hub. The technologies chosen for each property were based on the type of business, staff, connectivity and specific challenges they faced.

Water monitoring technologies were prioritised early in the project, with Farmbot systems installed on tanks and Water Rat sensors deployed in troughs. Systems were selected for their ease of installation, reliability, and ability to deliver actionable alerts via SMS and email, ensuring timely responses to water shortages.

Tracking technologies including Ceres Tag, Smart Paddock Bluebell and Moovement were fitted on livestock to provide valuable data on cattle movement and behaviour. Feed monitoring was initiated using Cibo Labs, which leverages satellite imagery and on-ground data to estimate feed availability and support grazing decisions.

To integrate these technologies, the PairTree aggregation platform was established to consolidate data from multiple sources into a single, user-friendly dashboard.

What Changed

  • Improved Water Management Efficiency: Property staff reported greater confidence in managing water infrastructure, with real-time alerts enabling timely refills and reducing the risk of livestock water shortages—especially critical during dry periods when labour is stretched.
  • Enhanced Decision-Making Confidence: The ability to visualise pasture conditions and estimate feed availability supported more informed stocking decisions. This helped reduce the risk of overgrazing and allowed for better planning during seasonal transitions.
  • Increased Awareness of Data Integration Benefits: Exposure to integrated dashboards highlighted the value of viewing multiple data streams in one place. While initial interest was low, producers began recognising how centralised data could reduce time spent switching between platforms and improve overall situational awareness.
  • Shift Toward Proactive Management: The introduction of automated alerts and visual data tools encouraged earlier intervention in response to environmental changes, helping producers make decisions before issues escalated—such as adjusting stocking rates or rotating paddocks.
  • Recognition of Training Needs: The trial revealed that producers are more likely to adopt new technologies when onboarding is simple and support is ongoing. Hands-on experience and tailored training increased user confidence and reduced resistance to change.

Opportunities for Improvement

  • Gradual Technology Introduction Is Crucial: Rolling out new technologies one at a time allows producers to build familiarity and confidence without feeling overwhelmed. This staged approach also ensures that each system is properly understood and embedded into daily operations before layering on additional complexity.
  • Support and Training Drive Adoption: Producers are more likely to engage with AgriTech tools when vendors provide hands-on onboarding, responsive support, and clear documentation. Technologies that lack this support—even if technically advanced—risk being underutilised or abandoned.
  • Producer Priorities Must Guide Implementation: Technologies that align with immediate operational needs (e.g., water monitoring during dry seasons) are adopted more readily. Tools perceived as “nice to have” rather than essential may require more demonstration and validation to gain traction.
  • Centralised Dashboards Reduce Cognitive Load: Producers benefit from having all alerts and data streams in one place. When systems are fragmented or require multiple logins, engagement drops. Aggregation platforms must be intuitive, reduce alert fatigue, and prioritise actionable insights.
  • Economic Validation Builds Trust: Demonstrating the financial impact of AgriTech—whether through cost savings, labour reduction, or avoided losses—helps producers justify ongoing investment. Tools that quantify return on investment are more likely to be adopted long-term.
  • Flexibility in Trial Design Matters: Rigid timelines or subscription models can hinder adoption if producers aren’t ready to engage immediately. Trials should allow for flexibility in onboarding and usage to accommodate seasonal workloads and learning curves.