Growers often ask if SnailCam could map mouse burrows in paddocks.
I ran some tests, and the results look promising. The system can detect burrow openings and map them across the paddock.
This could enable variable-rate mouse baiting instead of blanket spreading.
SnailCam has been awarded the 2025 Innovation Booster Grant.
This supports our new data-visualisation platform to turn millions of detections into clear, practical maps for growers — helping target baiting, reduce costs, and make better decisions.
Big milestone for the project.
I will travel to SA tomorrow to check how SnailCam went at York Peninsula. If anyone wants to catch up on Thursday/Friday, and discuss possible use of SnailCam, let me know!
After a long night of software debugging the first SnailCam setup has been shipped to South Australia, Yorke Peninsula for testing and data collection.
This is a conical snail mapping done 2024 (wheat) and 2025 (canola) harvest. It's been few dryish summers in a row so they have not been very active, and they have also been variable rate baited in the hotspots (50+ kg/ha). The detection model has been improved a lot since 2024.
@0xDegenerate Thats good idea but as all the 4 buttons are in use (1-clutch/revs, 2- green light for truck driver so they know when to move, 3-motor start, 4-motor stop) I would need to make up something myself
@BrettPage72@FarmerTonyWhite No, these 11in ones don't need one. I have added automatic throttle so it always engages the clutch on idle and then revs up.
@jacktbarlow True, probably not much use of the data at harvest time but it enables to create VR maps for baiting when the snails become active (and that could be Feb-March in South coast of WA so before the seeding).
@rainplaado Love the concept. But what is the purpose on a harvester? Materials already in machine along with most of the snails. Attached to a seeder has more merit IMO?
This is an example of how many images SnailCam is processing when your working speed is ~9km/h. This is over 9000 images per hour and it can do it day and night.
Grateful to see SnailCam featured in Farm Weekly. What started as a small idea on the farm is now helping growers see exactly where snails are and target their control. Thanks to everyone supporting practical innovation in agriculture.
Thanks @farmweekly@KBridcutt