The team at Ag Logic will deliver this module, drawing on their extensive experience gained from many seasons helping Tasmanian growers improve their irrigation scheduling. Participants will learn more about how their own farm can be better irrigated and familiarise them with a range of tools available to assist irrigators in making better scheduling decisions.

Measuring to Manage – soil moisture probes to optimise irrigation

Monitoring soil moisture content allows for informed irrigation decisions, enabling efficient water use and optimised plant growth by helping determine when and how much water to apply. Irrigators who use soil moisture monitoring tools to inform their irrigation practices are finding they have more control over water on their farm and are better positioned to match irrigation with plant needs. This case study shares the story of Scott Atkins, who is supported by Marek Matuszek from Ag Logic in using a soil moisture probe for the first time. His first season experience has helped him understand how his soils behave under pasture and the data which will then inform irrigation scheduling on his property ‘The Birds.

Farmers without their own soil moisture probes can access dryland soil moisture data through the Ag Logic weather station and soil moisture probe network. The network has over 50 locations across Tasmania and the data can be subscribed to here.

Real time measurements and automation – the key to irrigation scheduling success

Precision irrigation is essential in berry farming, where plants are grown in controlled environments and rely on exact water and nutrient delivery for optimal growth. In hydroponic systems, even slight variations in moisture or nutrient levels can significantly impact fruit quality and yield. Precision tools help farmers monitor and adjust irrigation in real time, ensuring consistent plant health and productivity.

At Hillwood Berries in Tasmania, farm manager Andrea O’Halloran explains how the operation has expanded from 2 hectares of soil-grown strawberries to 50 hectares of hydroponic berries, also including raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. All crops are grown under protective tunnels using coco peat and receive nutrients through a highly controlled irrigation system. Hillwood has implemented automated monitoring tools like TDR sensors and centralised computer systems that adjust irrigation based on environmental conditions. This technology allows real-time oversight across multiple sites, including a new farm in Queensland, and supports precise water and nutrient management tailored to microclimates within each block.

Drain to maintain – Drainage lessons to optimise irrigation

Effective drainage is a crucial aspect of agricultural land management, especially in irrigated cropping systems. Proper drainage ensures excess water is removed from paddocks, preventing waterlogging, promoting healthy root development, and improving crop yields. Without it, even well-irrigated paddocks can suffer from poor plant performance due to uneven moisture distribution.

In this case study, John Ramsay, a farmer in Bothwell, Tasmania, discusses how he collaborates with Reuben Wells at Ag Logic to manage surface drainage on his farm. Given seemingly flat terrain, certain areas retain water, or surface runoff is limited, making drainage essential. Using EM38 and elevation mapping to create drainage models, John receives detailed plans that identify both visible and hidden drainage needs. These plans are integrated into his John Deere system for implementation. The process also accounts for complexities like planting on curves, which require customised drainage solutions. John emphasises that he doesn’t need a spreadsheet to calculate return on investment as the benefit is so clear through improved crop performance and reduced waterlogging.

Variable Rate Irrigation – for driving water use efficiency

Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) is a precision agriculture technique that allows farmers to apply different amounts of water to specific zones within a paddock based on soil type, crop needs, and topography. This targeted approach improves water efficiency, reduces waste, and enhances crop performance, especially in fields with variable conditions.

In this case study from Bothwell, Tasmania, farmer John Ramsay and Ag Logic’s Reuben Wells detail their experience implementing VRI on John’s cropping farm. Using EM38 and elevation mapping and drainage modelling, they identify zones prone to over- or under-watering. While initial plans are created digitally, the real value comes from extensive ground-truthing; walking the paddocks, verifying conditions, and adjusting irrigation zones accordingly. This process, though time-consuming, is especially worthwhile for high-value crops. The VRI system is most effective when continuously refined throughout the season, responding to dynamic soil and plant conditions. When properly tuned, it delivers precise irrigation, improving crop health and resource efficiency.

Remote monitoring of soil moisture – informing irrigation scheduling across multiple sites

Growing premium potatoes is a highly precise process where even minor inconsistencies can drastically affect quality and market value. From soil conditions to irrigation timing, every detail must be carefully managed to ensure a flawless skin finish and uniform shape which are key traits for the fresh market.

At Yum Tasmanian Gourmet Potatoes, Terrence Rattray highlights how critical even moisture is to avoid blemishes, disease, and deformities that can reduce a potato’s value by up to 80%. To maintain this precision, the farm uses EnviroPro moisture probes connected to Wildeye telemetry units across sites in Tasmania and Bundaberg. These tools allow remote monitoring and real-time adjustments, freeing up time for business operations while ensuring optimal irrigation. A notable example involved detecting missed irrigations in a remote paddock, which was quickly corrected thanks to the data. The system also encourages friendly competition among staff, improving performance.

Technology and collaboration – Underpinning irrigation scheduling management

Irrigation in vineyards is a delicate balancing act that directly influences grape quality, vine health, and ultimately, wine production. Precision irrigation helps manage water stress, optimise fruit development, and maintain consistent yields, especially in regions with variable weather patterns or limited water resources such as cool climates like Tasmania.

At Josef Chromy Wines in Tasmania’s Tamar Valley, vineyard managers Kellie Graham and Felipe Bustamante partnered with Ag Logic and SWAN Systems through a Wine Australia agtech demo vineyard project to modernise their irrigation practices. Starting with infrastructure which required updating and very little data, they implemented advanced agtech tools to monitor soil moisture, weather, and crop needs in real time. Through the SWAN systems platform, they tracked irrigation events, refined crop coefficients, and adjusted water application based on phenological stages. Despite early-season challenges like heavy rainfall during flowering, the data-driven approach led to efficient water use and balanced canopy growth. This precision helped maintain stable yields and high-quality fruit, demonstrating the value of real-time data and collaborative decision-making in vineyard irrigation.

Soil water holding capacity and infiltration

Soil texture and structure play a key role in how much water soil can hold, and how easily it infiltrates. Finer-textured soils, such as clay, have a higher water holding capacity than sandy soils, but also hold it more tightly.
The video explains key concepts relating to soil structure and water holding capacity, including Readily Available Water (RAW), Plant Available Water (PAW), wilting point and how they affect plant growth. As well as demonstrating how to assess soil types, we are then shown how to calculate our soils water holding capacity in millimetres, which can then be used as an irrigation scheduling tool.
By understanding these principles, irrigators can better match irrigation volumes and timing to their soil’s capacity, improving water use efficiency and supporting healthy plant growth.

Linking data to decision making

Combining spatial and monitoring data can guide decision making and significantly improve water management on farm. Spatial data, such as topographic maps, electromagnetic soil surveys (EM maps), and land capability maps, provides a snapshot of the whole farm, showing soil types, drainage patterns, and areas at risk of waterlogging or drying. Monitoring data, including rainfall records, weather station outputs, and soil moisture probe readings, tracks changes over time and measures the impact of irrigation and other management decisions.
Used together, these tools help irrigators choose the right crops for each site, design efficient irrigation systems, and respond to seasonal conditions. The video demonstrates practical ways to collect and interpret both data types.
The video also explains where there are some great free tools for data relevant to Tasmania producers, including LISTmap, Farming Forecaster and NRM. showing how better data can lead to more informed, confident, and profitable on-farm decisions.
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Using soil moisture data

Soil moisture probes provide a clear picture of how water moves through the soil and how much is available to your plants. Installed vertically with sensors every 10 cm, down to a maximum of 80 cm, they measure moisture over time and display it as graphs showing total water in the soil and its distribution by depth. Graphing soil moisture is an effective way to measure how irrigation and rainfall events are influencing plant growth.
The video explains how to interpret probe data to track daily plant water use and identify infiltration issues such as compaction, cracking soils, or preferential water movement that bypasses root zones. Understanding soil moisture patterns helps irrigators plan and adjust irrigation to ensure water is applied efficiently and effectively, supporting healthy plant growth and reducing plant stress.

Irrigation scheduling

By starting irrigation at the right time, monitoring soil and plant needs, and fine-tuning application rates, irrigators can protect yields, conserve water, and maximise productivity throughout the growing season.
This video explains when to start and stop irrigating, how to determine infiltration rates for different soil types, and how to select the most effective application amounts. It highlights the importance of understanding moisture levels in your own paddocks, demonstrating how to measure them using the soil-texturing method or a moisture probe and interpreting the data.
It also explains key concepts that underpin sound irrigation decisions, including Evapotranspiration (ETo), Readily Available Water (RAW), and crop factors. By applying these principles and adapting them to your specific soils, crops, and climate, you can improve water efficiency, reduce stress on plants, and ensure your irrigation strategy supports strong, consistent growth from spring through summer.

Webinar 1 - Mid-winter seasonal update
Access webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLC7mX0yYvo

Webinar 2 - Mid-summer seasonal progress snapshot/update 

Access webinar here: https://youtu.be/QLC7mX0yYvo?si=sDpFTNWPVAKoAByX

Webinar 3 – Early autumn seasonal progress snapshot/update
Access webinar here: https://youtu.be/57Ys6VlFIPs?si=WBume_A7SKgmeMxE

Webinar 4 –  Autumn break snapshot
Access webinar here: https://youtu.be/voEq-D2bOWc?si=eKkLgOmzCNpZTFLF