Welcome back to AgTech Insights! We continue to explore the latest developments, news, and opportunities in agricultural technology to enhance the resilience of ag in TNQ.
$20M Boost for On-Farm Connectivity
The Australian Government has injected an additional $20 million into the On-Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP). This initiative provides rebates of up to 50% (capped at $30,000) for eligible on-farm connectivity equipment. The goal is to help producers adopt digital ag technologies that require consistent, reliable data access. Applications for Round 3 are expected to open later in 2025, with delivery into 2026. This builds on previous rounds aimed at improving AgTech adoption through better infrastructure. Learn more here.
WeedAI Dataset Opens Access to 30K Images for Smart Spraying
A new open-access dataset, WeedAI, has launched with over 30,000 annotated images – 15,000 of which are labelled with bounding boxes. It spans 17 crops, pasture, and fallow scenarios. WeedAI brings together weed imagery from published datasets into a standardised, searchable format, making it easier for researchers and AgTech developers to build and train computer vision models for precision spraying. This is a significant step towards scalable, Australian-trained weed detection systems. Access the dataset here.
SwarmFarm Robotics Expands with Manufacturing Facility in Toowoomba
Queensland AgTech company SwarmFarm Robotics has opened a new manufacturing hub at Wellcamp Business Park, Toowoomba, to scale up production of its autonomous farming robots. The facility will support the commercial deployment of robots that perform weeding, spraying, and seeding tasks across broadacre farms. The move reflects increasing demand for robotic platforms in grain and cotton systems and brings skilled jobs to regional Queensland. Read more here.
Queensland Launches 25-Year Agricultural Blueprint
The Queensland Government has initiated the development of a 25-year blueprint to future-proof the state’s primary industries, aiming to boost agricultural output to $30 billion by 2030. This strategic plan will emphasize technological advancements, including AgTech and diversification, to ensure the sector’s competitiveness and resilience. A four-month consultation process commenced with a full-day forum on February 26, 2025, in Brisbane, involving over 250 farmers, industry leaders, and community members. The blueprint is expected to be released in the next financial year. More here.
Starlink and Telstra Partner to Bring Satellite Texting to Rural Australia
Telstra has announced a collaboration with SpaceX’s Starlink to introduce Satellite-to-Mobile text messaging services across Australia, aiming to enhance connectivity in regional and remote areas. The partnership will focus on testing and refining this technology for Australian conditions before a commercial launch. This initiative is part of Telstra’s broader strategy to integrate satellite technology into its network, complementing existing mobile coverage and providing more reliable communication options for customers in underserved regions. Telstra announcement.
John Deere Launches JDLink Boost with Starlink for Always-On Connectivity
John Deere has teamed up with Starlink to launch JDLink Boost – a connectivity solution for remote farms. It enables real-time data sharing, machine optimisation, remote diagnostics, and precision ag features like AutoPath and See & Spray. This gives producers in connectivity-poor zones a plug-and-play pathway into full digital operations. John Deere plans to offer JDLink Boost in Australia from mid-2025 Read more.
3G Shutdown: Farmers Raise Concerns at Senate Inquiry
The National Farmers’ Federation has warned that the 3G network shutdown is leading to coverage blackouts, service degradation, and safety risks. With many farm systems relying on 3G, producers have reported communication failures and financial losses. NFF raised the issue during Senate hearings in February. Read the NFF media release.
Towards Net Zero Agriculture Pathfinder
CSIRO and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation have launched the Towards Net Zero Agriculture Pathfinder – a new online tool designed to help farmers reduce emissions while maintaining productivity. The tool offers practical guidance on baselining emissions, planning reductions, and activities that may be eligible for CEFC-backed discounted finance. Watch the session on demand.
TEKWOMEN QLD Launch: Supporting Women in Agrifood Innovation
A new community for women in agrifood tech is launching in Queensland, backed by Advance Queensland and Farmers2Founders. The TEKWOMEN QLD network brings together producers, founders, scientists, and investors to support female-led innovation. The March launch features a panel of industry leaders, with ongoing programs and mentoring opportunities available. Join the TEKWOMEN community.
TOOLS & TRENDS
Google NotebookLM Adds AI Mind Maps and Study Tools
Google’s AI research assistant NotebookLM now lets users convert documents into mind maps, FAQs, and podcast-style summaries. With a 25-million-word context window and support for PDFs, videos, and slides, it’s ideal for ag professionals writing grant proposals, research summaries, or industry briefings. Watch a demo.
Storm: Stanford’s Free AI Research Assistant
Stanford has released Storm, a free AI tool that creates structured wikipedia-like reports from user prompts, with citations. Ideal for researchers, students, and communicators needing fast synthesis of knowledge. Outputs are clean, source-linked, and downloadable as PDF. Try Storm here.
PODCASTS AND INSIGHTS
AgTech…So What?
Explore AI in agriculture, climate adaptation tools, and real-world founder stories. Recent episodes unpack ag policy, farm data, and robotics. Listen here.
Tech Hub Talk
This short podcast series has wrapped up with a finale on staying connected through disasters. A practical resource for anyone interested in rural connectivity. Listen here.
evokeAG 2025
Sessions are now live – topics include agricultural innovation, future trends, climate adaptation, gender dynamics, and investment. Watch now.
Stay tuned for next month’s edition for further updates and insights into the dynamic world of AgTech!
The TNQ Drought Hub in no way endorse the products highlighted in the AgTech Insights and that consumers should conduct their own due diligence.
