TEKFARM brings tech to the farm: how producers are using ag-tech to build drought resilience

Bill has received a great return on investment from Optiweigh.

For beef cattle producer Bill Bjurstrom, managing two properties in north Queensland, separated by approximately 350km, comes with its challenges. However, since joining the TEKFARM project in 2024 and implementing new on-farm technology, managing his production has become a whole lot easier.  

Managed by Farmers2Founders and supported by MLA, the TEKFARM initiative provides producers with ag-tech solutions tailored to their geographical and production system needs. 

Bridging the gap 

TEKFARM Advisor and Technical Adoption Officer at Gulf Savannah NRM, Keerah Steele, has worked closely with Bill throughout the project. She said the aim of TEKFARM was to bridge the gap between tech companies and producers, with a particular focus on building drought resilience.  

“Ag-tech has evolved significantly over the past 10 years, but the level of adoption on-farm has not grown at the same rate,” she said. 

“This project is about understanding what the adoption barriers are for producers and how we can overcome them for the individual, before making those steps to incorporate technology into production in a way that improves their business capacity. 

“With Bill, we started by completing a business overview to understand his production goals, what day-to-day processes look like, where he’s investing his money, and what on-farm constraints he’s dealing with. 

“From there, we start looking at what technology might aid the business and how we can work to integrate it to improve production.”  

As a TEKFARM advisor, Keerah Steele visits producers on-farm to help introduce ag-tech into their business production.  

Gaining more than expected 

With a breeding herd near Georgetown and a progeny and trade herd at Julia Creek, Bill and his staff have plenty to manage.   

“Drones were something my neighbour recommended to me, so I joined the TEKFARM project with the goal of implementing them to reduce the time spent driving around the property to check on things,” Bill said. 

Since introducing SkyKelpie drones on-farm, Bill has found them even more beneficial than he anticipated. 

“They’ve given me the opportunity to check on things I usually wouldn’t have time for and have reduced a lot of wear and tear that comes with constant cow, weaner and fence checks,” he said. 

“But beyond that, they’ve given us the ability to access areas we otherwise wouldn’t be able to during periods of poor weather.” 

More recently, Bill has been using his drones to assist with mustering, which he has found surprisingly beneficial during the hotter months.  

“In the early morning before a muster, I’ll send a drone out with the infrared vision on to see where the cattle are and start moving them towards water,” Bill said. 

“I wasn’t sure how they’d respond at first, if they’d get spooked or if they’d even react to it, but I just started off slow and the cattle have been both calm and responsive. 

“This has been great for animal welfare because it gets them moving before sunrise while it’s still cool, giving them a few less hours in the heat.

“It’s also been pretty useful in terms of improving staff wellbeing, as it means they don’t have to start their workday before daylight.” 

Return on investment 

Beyond streamlining drone adoption, TEKFARM has helped Bill improve his market targeting with the introduction of Optiweigh.   

“Weight gain is a profit driver of business, so understanding how your cattle’s weight can be impacted is essential to the longevity of your enterprise,” Bill said. 

“Currently, we are using the in-paddock scales to monitor sale cattle, with the hopes of expanding as we build our confidence with the tool.

“By tracking weights before yarding, we have a much clearer picture of how many head are in sale range, allowing us to book trucks earlier and reduce handling in the lead up to sales. 

“Our first sale after introducing Optiweigh was in January, and that process was much more efficient than our previous one. 

“So, I’m feeling quite confident about the upcoming May sale knowing I’ve got the tools to save myself some time, money and stress.” 

Leading up to sales, Bill also plans to use Optiweigh to track the growth of his cattle from their second round of weaning, gaining insights into supplementation needs. 

“Supplementing is common for us after August for smaller weaners and during drought periods, but it’s a costly process,” he said. 

“Tracking and documenting our cattle’s weight gain, gives us a better picture of whether the supplementation we’re providing is adequately meeting their nutritional needs. 

“Surprisingly, it not only identifies whether there is a need to increase or reduce supplementation, it also helps us understand the return on investment for different supplements – it’s ultimately a decision-making tool.” 

The power of the tools 

According to Keerah, unexpected wins like Bill’s are common among TEKFARM participants.  

“I think one of my highlights was a producer who had just installed a tank monitor,” she said. 

“He had just arrived back at the house when he received an alert from the monitor warning him water was low, which surprised him as he’d checked the water levels in person only that morning.

“When he went to confirm the alert, he discovered a massive leak. He was able to fix it immediately, saving 400 head of cattle – cattle that might have gone without water for another two days if he hadn’t been alerted.

“It’s stories like this that highlight how useful technology can be. It’s saving our producers from a lot of stress and financial strain, and it’s saving animals’ lives.” 

With more than 70 producers now involved in TEKFARM – and the number of advisors climbing alongside them – the project continues to expand. To learn more about TEKFARM, visit farmers2founders.com/tekfarm