Bindi Isbister

This hybrid autonomous world we work in at the moment as we build autonomous systems is doing my head in this month….everything from poor connectivity, different geo reference systems or the software just can do it yet😬😬😬

Planning how your machines are going to navigate a paddock whether they are autonomous or not is a way to increase efficiency #GrainAutomate @theGRDC @Verge_Ag

@WaddiPark @azam_gaus Not sure how much N deep ripping releases. Have seen in trials 2016 higher N use efficiency with ripping, no sig response to increasing post em N rate. Saw a similar response in large scale test strips applied UAN (soil type yellow sand). Will dig out the trial results on Monday

How do you calculate how much N deep ripping releases/stimulates? Can I burn diesel now to maybe reduce N inputs later in the year, in a world of unknowns at the moment. @azam_gaus @BindiIsbister

One track, two tracks or the whole wheel track zone - some of the options we reviewed at the @WANTFA_farming demo day Frankland. Maintaining tracks helps with an even seedbed, less wear& tear on machinery & erosion risk #SWANWA

“All layers are players - look for soil opportunities not constraints” my fav line from @PitCritic at the @WANTFA_farming wheel track demo day at Frankland last week where we also looked at soil mixing/ripping. A colourful array of soil types.

Wheel track renovation is that on your summer job list? Looking forward to seeing some different renovators in action and learning some tips and tricks from those using the machines.

@Jezzabryan23 @datafarming As expected given the higher resolution the drone picked up the smaller single weeds better. There are Pros and cons for both systems so I think it comes down to scale/size of the farm, skills you have on the farm and what weeds you need to hit

@BindiIsbister @datafarming How did it compare @BindiIsbister?

Out groundtruthing for @datafarming Weedsat project with Flynn from HDT surveyors flying the drone. Cool set up with solar panels&battery to charge the drone batteries and power the laptop to check the data in the field as we go #GrainAutomate

@colbert_marty The crazy erratic weather just keeps coming, it’s proving a very frustrating long harvest. 😬

Another report from the trenches. Mingenew WA. This hail event hit when the crop was being harvested with 5 t/ha+ coming off., thus at its most susceptible.This pdk calculated out at 88.7% loss. Managing the regrowth over summer will be another challenge.

@AJGrovefarming @datafarming Limited release this summer as still in R&D phase $7/ha with discounts for large areas Not sure how it compares to a Weedseeker but given this rain summer spraying will be a big job so I am sure we will be number crunching the different spot spraying options

@BindiIsbister @datafarming What's the cost looking like vs getting a weedit in

Too damp for harvest this morning so we went spraying with a @datafarming’s Weedsat prescription: 30cm satellite resolution, target area to be sprayed 31% of the paddock #GrainAutomate

@gimmeahandle @datafarming 2/2 I like the idea of using satellite as we can capture big areas efficiently

@BindiIsbister @datafarming And what’s your thoughts on the effectiveness Bindi? I’m liking the sound of this tech

@gimmeahandle @datafarming It has potential. worked well on big patches of weeds, it targets weeds >30cm(satellite res 30cm). I think the analytics need a bit of tweaking for our sands & stubbles. limited success with big single melons >30cm. It was lupin crop sprayed out in August(tall stubble) 1/2

@MeredithGuthr15 Yes it’s not been a good week

@BindiIsbister And some fires unfortunately

Sorry grain growers

Track renovation is going to be a job for this summer especially with a wet harvest. With a wet subsoil harvesters and chaser bins can leave residual compaction evident for years to come especially if traffic is not confined to permanent tramlines/tracks @CTFarmingAus

@SPAA_Inc @Angie_McAvoy @TerrabyteAg @phil_honey @Dale_Kirby @CC_Ag @micksea22 @PitCritic @ohalloran_jules @angus_hogan @horsecarn It was my favourite line from Nathan Krichner’s presentation at #IPRAAC2025 so true

Robots don’t need to be a ‘wow’ — they just need to work! 👏 Thanks to one of SPAA's collaborators @BindiIsbister for this line! For Australian grain growers, autonomy isn’t about flashy gadgets -it’s about solving real problems, saving time and making systems run reliably. Farms having success focus on operational issues, not chasing shiny tech. SPAA’s #GrainAutomate project is all about practical steps toward autonomy. Try the Adoption Readiness Evaluation to see: ✅ What you’re ready for ✅ Where the opportunities are ✅ What to do next Small, reliable improvements add up to real impact. Take the self-check 👉 lnkd.in/g5xR7Y-e @theGRDC @AgriKnowHow #SPAA #PrecisionAg #RobotsOnFarm 📷 SPAA at 2025 Gatton AgTech Showcase

@FarmerTonyWhite Lupins like a bit of tough love to pod up. These are lupins on unspaded (left) vs spaded (right) yellow sand. I think the unspaded will yield equal or more than the spaded that have grown lots of biomass and are falling over

Good old jurien lupins. Lots of growth no pods. On good loams the lupins have had such an easy growing season, they only podded up late. When canola yields the same or better on these soils, u can see why the lupin game is rooted.

@DavidHall_Soils @Jenni_Clausen @SoilScienceAust @AgInstituteAus Congratulations David! You been an integral part of that transformation. We are going to miss you! All the best for retirement.

Thank you to ⁦@SoilScienceAust⁩ for giving me the honour of presenting the 2025 Boodja Lecture on the impact that soil science has had in transforming WA soils for crop production. Also to the ⁦@AgInstituteAus⁩ for the excellence in agriculture award.

🤣 yes there are times we still need old school back up plans

With a mechanic& PA consultant in the house lately Software issues are a daily topic - it’s the mental health equivalent for machines- looks fine physically, takes lots of questions to diagnose the problem & the answer is often not simple if there is an answer yet at all!