The Australian Government's On Farm Connectivity Program is providing $30 million over two years to enable primary producers in agriculture, forestry and/or fisheries to take advantage of connected machinery and sensor technology.

The objectives of the program are to:

• extend digital connectivity and enable Primary Producers to take advantage of advanced farming technology
• enhance a Primary Producer's ability to implement digital agribusiness solutions through improved connectivity
• capitalise on the agricultural sector's productivity and growth, and
• support access to new communications equipment and services by offsetting some of the cost.

For eligible farm businesses the program will provide a rebate of up to 50 per cent* of the cost of our fully managing satellite on the move connectivity solution, making it an attractive and accessible opportunity for your farm business.

*subject to eligibility and T&Cs.

Eligible farm businesses will need to meet the criteria in this link.

Please note this is the eligibility criteria for round 1 - round 2 has increased the revenue to $4 million.  Once more info is shared we will update the info in this question.

1. Farmer confirms pre-application* eligibility.
   *Final eligibility confirmed during application assessment
   

2. Choose Connectivity Solution
3. Receive and accept quote from Connected Farms
4. Rebate application submitted by Connected Farms
5. Application assessed by Federal Government*
   *Estimated 4-6 week turnaround
   
6. Rebate approved & Farmer advised
7. Farmer receives invoice from Connected Farms
8. Farmer pays invoice
9. Product shipped. If required, appointment arranged to install connectivity solution
10. Connected Farms Support Team available to answer questions throughout process
    

The Harvest season is indeed a busy time for farmers. The funding program operates on a "first come, first served" basis, so we recommend applying as soon as possible to secure your spot. However, we understand the time constraints of the farming calendar. To make it easier for you, we've simplified the application process with our user-friendly online form.

We're here to assist you. Simply reach out to our dedicated team by phone at 1800 497 148, and we'll guide you through the application process and file it on your behalf.

The On Farm Connectivity Program is officially set to expire in May 2024. However, it's important to note that the program operates on a "first come, first served" basis. As long as funds are available in the funding pool, the program will continue to accept applications. Given the expected high demand, we strongly advise applying on our website as early as possible to ensure you secure your spot.

We are here to partner with you in your farming business and provide appropriate connectivity solutions and support to help your farm successfully implement digital agriculture across your operation.

Agricultural technologies, digital ag, robotics and autonomous agricultural machinery require different levels of connectivity. Some are network latency sensitive, and some are not. There are a lot of connectivity aspects to consider depending on you farm type, operation systems, and digital technologies you wish to implement. We encourage you to have a chat with us ofcp@connectedfarms.co first, so your farm has the relevant levels of connectivity over it.

On-farm connectivity is the ability for farm businesses to have connectivity across their whole farm, fence-to-fence, to enable digital agriculture. Your whole farm business and systems can be connected to provide better control, visibility, and management where and when you need it. This in turn increases efficiency, productivity, and incremental gains on-farm

• Full Wi-Fi capabilities across your farmland so you can make a call, send an SMS or access the internet from the field, keeping you connected, safe. Improving on-farm productivity and wellbeing.
• Planting and harvest accuracy is improved with RTK correction over IP. Our coverage allows all your machinery and on-board precision farming systems to work at maximum effectiveness.
• Connected machinery allows data casting so you know what is happening and where it is happening across the farm in real-time.
• On-board technology and software reach their full potential with connectivity. So, you can make the most of your machine’s on-board precision systems and technologies with real-time data and full integration.
• Allows real-time access to yield mapping, particularly grain moisture and protein content that enables instant decision making for grain storage and blending.
• Monitoring of activity and on-farm data collection can be performed in real-time.

Connectivity over farmland can be likened to conduit - it enables seamless communication, data exchange, and control among various components, equipment, and processes on-farm.

A fully connected farm has various elements of the farming process, seamlessly linked through digital connectivity. This includes the integration of IoT sensors, AgriTech, data-sharing across devices, machines and platforms, and remote monitoring capabilities. The primary goal is to create an integrated and data-rich farm ecosystem that allows farmers to make informed decisions in real-time, improving the efficiency and productivity of the farm while minimising waste and resource use.

• Data collection: Connectivity enables data from sensors to be continuously collected and transmitted in real-time to a central database or cloud-based platform. This allows for the monitoring of conditions and activities across the farm.
• Remote monitoring and control: Farmers and farm managers can access real-time data and control farm equipment remotely through their smartphones or computers. This enables them to make informed decisions and adjustments faster and more efficiently.
• Automation: Automation systems can be implemented to control various farm operations. For example, irrigation systems can be automated based on soil moisture data, reducing water waste.
• Data & predictive analytics: The collected data is analysed using advanced analytics tools. This can provide insights into crop health, equipment efficiency, and overall farm performance. Predictive modeling can be used to forecast future conditions and optimise resource allocation. For example, predicting pest outbreaks or optimal planting times.
• Efficiency: Connectivity can be used to optimise resource use on farm in real-time to maximise productivity.
• Supply chain integration: Fully connected farms can be connected to their supply chain suppliers and buyers, enabling better coordination.
• Safety and security: Connectivity can enhance farm safety and security by providing real-time monitoring of critical data and staff can communicate anywhere, anytime.
• Compliance and record keeping: Being fully connected on-farm can also simplify regulatory compliance and record-keeping by automating the collection and reporting of required data.

These sensors monitor inside and around your silo bags in real-time. The sensors operate via satellite, wide-area mobile broadband, or narrow band network, to facilitate real-time monitoring of grain stored in silo bags anywhere on your farm.

• Humidity – the sensor will send alerts to you via smart hubs when conditions breach the configured parameters.
• CO2 – detecting undesirable gas levels.
• Temperature – It will alert you to high temperatures that put the silo bag at risk of bursting.
• Movement – the sensors detect movement, so issues such as mice, sabotage, or potential theft can be detected early.
• Geo localisation – this helps you to differentiate groups of silo bags that are stored around your farm.