A new remote sensing tool has been developed by Landgate and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to assist pastoralists with stock and land management strategies boost sustainable production and rangeland condition.
The partnership’s Pastoral Remote Sensing tool is based on satellite imagery, sourced from the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Copernicus Australasia Regional Data Hub.
It provides current and historical estimates of total green biomass, vegetation cover and rainfall for every pastoral lease in the State.
In a statement, DPIRD said pastoralists could use the modelled information to guide management decisions and on-ground monitoring and measurement.
“The information allows pastoralists to compare ground-cover condition and observe seasonal trends so they can devise and adjust land management strategies, such as feed budgets and stocking rates, to align with the productive capacity of the rangelands,” the Department said
“The easy-to-use tool was developed in response to dry seasonal conditions across large parts of the rangelands in 2018 and 2019, when the need for readily available, fit-for-purpose spatial imagery and support tools was identified.”
Minister for Agriculture and Food, Alannah MacTiernan said the Pastoral Remote Sensing tool was an invaluable addition to pastoralists’ toolkits, providing a wealth of information, including total green biomass, fractional ground cover, total dry matter, and cumulative rainfall.
“This new resource will be particularly useful in dry seasons, informing crucial stock and land management decisions to best manage the condition of both the animals and the rangelands,” Ms MacTiernan said.
