US company Farmwave has developed harvest-loss monitoring software is being trialled in Australia and is already in use in North and South America (pictured here in Kentucky, US). Photo: Farmwave US

TWO SOUTH Australian growers have had early success trialing United States-developed artificial intelligence software, Farmwave, to reduce grain losses during harvest.

Farmwave is based in the US state of Georgia, and its system uses three harvester-mounted cameras that take photos every three to five seconds for analysis by the software to determine grain loss counts in real time.

The operator can then make adjustments in real time to reduce crop losses.

Initial trials in Australia were carried out this harvest by Mark Schilling from AG Schilling & Co in South Australia.

“The initial testing we undertook on our farms on Yorke Peninsula and on another SA farm at Malalla showed some really positive results and we are keen to undertake more trials and testing into the next harvest,” Mr Schilling said.

“With around $800 million of grains lost during harvest in Australia, this technology can help reduce waste and increase profits to our industry.”

Throughout 2024 and into the 2024-25 harvest season, Farmwave will partner with farm machinery company AgCulture, AG Schilling and Co. and traceability and sustainability software commercialisation company Trust Provenance to adapt and demonstrate the system across Australia.

Trust Provenance co-founder and CEO Andrew Grant said his company was best placed to help mould the system to Australian conditions.

“Farmwave brings 10-plus years, many millions of dollars of investment, and a US grain industry-proven harvest loss-minimisation solution which we are adapting to Australian conditions to solve a very real issue,” Mr Grant said.

“The Farmwave team are world-class at image capture hardware through their proprietary camera units and have an image analysis software platform which we are ‘Australianifying’ with Australian grains images and conditions, to then commercialise into the Australian grains industry for all growers.”

Australia marks the fifth country and third continent for Farmwave’s solution to be utilised.

Farmwave software can monitor harvest losses on crops including corn. Image: Farmwave

Farmwave founder and CEO Craig Ganssle said this gives a solid base for the technology to continue to improve and continue to add more value to the world’s grain producers.

“We’re very excited to be working with AgCulture and their partners in Australia to help farmers reduce loss during harvest season,” Mr Ganssle said.

“Digital solutions that solve real issues is what we are focussed on, and working with Andrew and Mark has been great to help Farmwave better understand the needs of Australian grain farmers and adapt our solution accordingly.”

Farmwave’s software currently covers corn, cotton, peanuts, soybeans and wheat, and a model for canola is being developed.

Source: AgCulture