AI helps combat weeds on Bacchus Marsh farm

A BACCHUS Marsh farming company is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in solving one of their biggest agricultural challenges – removing pest plants in a cost effective and environmentally friendly way.

Salads and fresh vegetable producer Tripod Farmers, a fourth-generation family enterprise, is one of only two farming organisations in Australia to own and use the AI-powered LaserWeeder, and is very satisfied with the results.

Production manager Frank Ruffo said the company invested in the technology in January this year, and it was a big decision because it was a significant financial commitment.

“My mum Angela, a company director, first identified the LaserWeeder and we realised it could be a total game-changer for us,” Mr Ruffo said.

“I travelled over to America last year to speak with Carbon Robotics, the company behind this technology, to see it in action on farms Stateside. It’s fair to say I was very impressed.”

The LaserWeeder unit attaches to the back of a tractor and combines AI deep learning, computer vision, robotics and lasers to eliminate weeds with pinpoint precision.

The unit in use by Tripod Farmers has 15 cameras and 30 lasers, and the AI technology allows it to know and continually learn how to differentiate between crops and weeds.

When it finds a weed, the laser beam zaps it with sub-millimetre accuracy. Mr Ruffo said that accuracy is amazing, given how many weeds look like crops and how closely they often grow together.

“Shepherd’s purse is a weed that looks remarkably like rocket and the LaserWeeder easily targets it and avoids harming the crop,” he said. “You’ve got to see it to believe it.”

The LaserWeeder has a Starlink connection that provides the high-speed connectivity and unlimited data needed to handle the huge amounts of information being processed.

The connection allows the Tripod team to speak in real time to the US support team, who can make changes to the AI and further optimise the machine.

Mr Ruffo said Tripod Farmers had trained key team members to use the machine, and also has a service professional nearby who can repair any issues.

“Once the weed has been zapped it just decomposes and becomes nutrients for the crop,” he said.

“This is a real win for the environment and our business because we’ve significantly reduced herbicide and fertiliser use and spend much less on them.

“AI is still in its infancy and it’s helping us solve huge challenges; imagine what it could help us do in a few years.”

Tripod Farmers employs 90 full-time workers and about 100 seasonal workers.