The Minister for Lands details the Liberal-National government's initiatives to provide farmers with technology, specifically highlighting the 'Pastures from Space Plus' program, Doppler radar, and GM technology, while contrasting their commitment with the Labor Party's perceived lack of focus on agriculture.

AnsweredQoN 133Legislative Assembly
Asked
17 March 2016
Portfolio
Lands

QuestionView source ↗

FARMING — TECHNOLOGY
133. Mr T.K. WALDRON to the Minister for
Lands:
Can the minister please explain to the house how the Liberal–National
government is giving farmers access to the latest technology to help boost
their productivity and profitability?

AnswerView source ↗

Mr Speaker, I know that you are going to be really, really excited
about this. A lot of members in this place will know that Landgate operates in
a geospatial platform and uses satellite imagery. Mr Speaker, I know that you
are going to get excited here. A number of tools can be used commercially that
utilise that platform to monitor rangelands and the like. One tool developed in
2000 was Pastures from Space to help farmers utilise that technology in order
to make decisions on their land. Landgate recently upgraded that to Pastures
from Space Plus. This was developed in conjunction with the Department of
Agriculture and Food, the CSIRO and a range of agronomists to ensure that the
tool is well and truly usable by farmers. It gives a higher level of
resolution. It reports on food on offer and stocking rates on a weekly basis.
It is able to produce customised reporting for farmers. Through this, along
with the other technology that this side of the house has been able to roll out
for farmers such as Doppler radar and GM technology, we are giving farmers all
the information that we can in order for them to make good decisions. I am
really excited by this. I was able to launch it at the Wagin Woolorama in front
of a very excited group. We know that agriculture is not in the Labor Party
dictionary, but it is definitely in our dictionary. We are going to continue to
deliver for that sector.
The SPEAKER : Very exciting, Leader of the National Party.

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