Case Study
Using precision technology to teach the next generation of farmers
2 Minutes Read
Summary
Technology is the future of farming. Explore the ways Western Australia College teaches high school students farm tech that will save them money and time once they enter their careers.The Esperance Farm Training Centre at Western Australian College teaches best practices for new-generation farmers, preparing them for farms of the future in Western Australia. The high school has an 800-hectare, fully operating school farm and a four-hectare agricultural demonstration block attached to the main school campus.
The school also encompasses a fully commercial operating farm with numerous successful enterprises including broadacre wheat, canola, lupins, barley and oats. While at school, students undertake a Certificate II in Agriculture with progression to local industry traineeships. They also have opportunities to compete at local and rural agricultural shows, giving them vital industry experience.
Approach
Recognizing that technology is the future of farming, the school began integrating precision ag technology into their curriculum, teaching students the importance of auto-steering and guidance while spraying, seeding and super spreading. To do this, they incorporated Trimble® CenterPoint® RTX correction services to provide high accuracy in each of these tasks.
Results
The teaching team currently uses a Trimble TMX-2050™ display with CenterPoint RTX correction service on its T8 New Holland tractor with a variety of implements, including a Hydro Boom sprayer, Super Marshall spreader, Morris Seeder Bin and Bar. Trimble CenterPoint RTX real-time GPS is used for all the school’s mapping of paddocks, as well as seeding and spraying, and has been fantastic in teaching relevancy and applicability for students to understand the technology before entering their working careers.
