The Australian Farmer

the australian farmer

properly was the biggest hurdle,” Tom said. Because the farm already had sectional control on several machines, integration was seamless. Even without long-term yield data, the benefits have been clear. Crops in high-yield zones are healthier, nutrient distribution is more even, and fertiliser is being invested where it matters most. “We haven’t necessarily seen higher yields yet, but the plant health in those high-yielding crops looks better,” Tom said. “It’s a system you have to stick at for a while to see the full results.” Fighting resistance with camera sprayers Chemical inefficiency and herbicide resistance were becoming growing concerns on the Coggan farm. Blanket spraying was costly and often ineffective, prompting the search for a smarter, more targeted approach to weed control. Herbicide resistance, particularly to glyphosate, had started to appear in some paddocks and was requiring a double-knock method to have any effective control. The introduction of camera-guided optical sprayers provided a practical solution. Using sensors to detect weeds and apply chemical only where needed, the system reduced input costs and improved the effectiveness of each spray pass. “The camera sprayers meant when we do that second knock, we can run a more targeted brew for that specific area, and we’re not putting herbi- cides on country that doesn’t need it,” Tom said. In practice, the technology has cut chemical use by up to 85–90 per cent, aligning with industry figures, while delivering greater precision and consistency. Every litre of chemical is now applied where it will make a difference — reducing waste, curbing resist- ance pressure, and protecting margins. Despite the success of the camera sprayers, one problem persisted — labour. The machines saved chemical but still required an operator for every hour of operation. “The value of those sprayers comes from keeping them going, and that’s one thing we couldn’t do,” Tom said. Solving the labour bottleneck with automation In 2021, two SwarmFarm robotic sprayers joined

manded constant refinement of systems and equipment. As the business grew, so did the need for more accuracy, more automation, and fewer wasted hours in the paddock. Building a precision agriculture platform The Coggans’ transition to automation didn’t happen overnight. It began decades ago with zero-till, controlled-traffic farming (CTF) and, in 2003, real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS guidance across the fleet. At the time, the challenge was clear — inconsis- tent machine guidance was costing time, fuel and inputs. Each pass overlapped the last by as much as 30 centimetres — a small margin on paper, but a significant cost when multiplied across thou- sands of hectares. “If you can bring that overlap back to three centi- metres, it’s a massive saving year on year,” Tom said. “It’s saving on seed costs, chemical costs, labour costs, wear and tear — basically everything. The whole system’s efficiencies improved.” The decision to invest in RTK wasn’t about chasing the latest gadgetry but about building on what already worked. “We try to pride ourselves on having equipment that does a successful job, whether that’s putting a seed in the right spot or spraying the right rate,” Tom said. “Using GPS at RTK subscription level was about maximising what we already do well.” As data from RTK and yield mapping accumu- lated, the next challenge was input efficiency. Fertiliser was a major cost driver, and the team wanted to ensure they were applying it where it would deliver the best return. In another incre- mental step toward smarter resource use, vari- able rate technology (VRT) came into the picture. “Part of the reason we went to variable rate was to increase the bottom line,” Tom said. “It wasn’t about saving money; it was about putting inputs where they’re going to return it.” Adopting VRT came with its own learning curve, and the hardest part was wrapping their head around how to do it. “Once you’ve done it once, it’s easy, but getting that first map loaded and working