Australia, known for its diverse landscapes, unique wildlife, and vast agricultural expanses, faces a recurring yearly threat – bushfires. The impact on farmers, livestock, crops, and the overall agricultural landscape is profound and enduring. These intense and often uncontrollable fires wreak havoc on the agricultural sector, leaving a trail of destruction and resulting in substantial losses.
In 2019-20, one of the largest bushfires yet hit the agricultural sector heavily with a devastating loss of approximately AUD$4.5 billion, and with more than 18 million hectares of land burned throughout the country. To help farmers build themselves back up after such great losses, insurers paid a total of AUD$13 billion to aid recovery.
The loss of crops is one of the most significant blows to Australian agriulture during bushfire season. Although heat is excellent for triggering germination, extremely intense heat and flames kills crops and can actually cause erosion. This has a devastating effect on crop yields, impacting both food and economic security. The destruction of crops can lead to a ripple effect throughout the supply chain, affecting not only farmers but also downstream industries and consumers.
Livestock also faces severe challenges during bushfires. According to the University of Sydney, the Black Summer resulted in over 100,000 livestock deaths. The loss of pasture, destruction of water sources, and the direct threat from flames put animals in immediate danger. Even if they survive the fires, the scarcity of feed and water in the aftermath can lead to malnutrition and a decline in the overall health of the livestock. The economic impact extends to reduced meat and dairy production, affecting both farmers and consumers.
As temperatures gradually increase every year, millions of farmers are left at risk bushfires – with a chance of losing livestock, crop, equipment, or even all of the above. The cyclical nature of bushfires in Australia underscores the ongoing challenge faced by the agricultural sector. As the nation grapples with the aftermath of each fire season, it is imperative to recognise and address the long-term effects on Australian agriculture, ensuring the resilience of the sector in the face of an ever-changing climate.
How can we help?
Although our sensors can’t stop bushfires, they can help detect signs of potential drought and bushfires.
Our parent company, Outcomex, has introduced a Greenmesh – Environment Monitoring Solution with bushfire smoke detection, it monitors the air composition and detects bushfire smoke components in the environment (outdoor or underground), such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, organic chemicals, black carbon and carbon dioxide, and automatically alerts control rooms of any abnormalities in the air. This means that you can be alerted to any potential threats before it strikes, allowing you to take immediate action.
The Farmdeck team is proud to be one of the select few agtech brands that are Australian owned and operated with sensors manufactured locally – including smoke detectors, weather stations, water monitors and soil probes. By being able to detect how the weather is affecting their crops and livestock, Farmers are able to make informed decisions on how to lessen the impact and form a strategy during the bushfire season.
Contact our team today to find out more.