By using plants as sensors this project will provide farmers with a Framework for improving Nitrogen efficiency (FINE) a management tool to support better nitrogen utilisation, management input decisions and Nitrogen use efficiency reporting. Nitrogen uptake data measurements will taken form plants through the season, through remote sensing, sensors, and soil measurement and be used to support accurate nitrogen timing and rate input decisions. This system will support reduced nitrogen applications though more efficient use, providing clear insight to use. With reductions in Nitrogen use and emissions we will explore new income opportunities for farmers financed by reduced carbon emissions. Our aim is to make nitrogen use efficiency measurements the new benchmark from which farmers utilise nitrogen providing more profit, and environmental gains.

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BACKGROUND The soil conditions underground are often very different from the surface due to multiple soil types and recent weather conditions. If you are trying to make important decisions regarding flood prediction or how to maximise farming operations, just knowing what's on the surface is not enough. Until now, soil sensors were expensive and they required wired power and connectivity, which doesn't work very well when the data you need is located in a remote field or valley. As a result, there are very few units in the field providing real time status on the local conditions, and farming and flood prediction is based on scant data. The Dales Land Net Soil Monitor sits 50cm into the ground, and provides real time readings of soil moisture and temperature every 30 minutes, using IoT network connectivity. The unit provides soil moisture data from 4 separate zones, and 6 soil temperature readings from 6 different depths. Dales Land Net is manufacturing the unit in low volumes and is currently in field tests with a range of researchers in agriculture and flood prediction along with farm technology suppliers. THIS PROJECT Grant funding is sought to undertake extensive validation of the data produced by the unit, followed by efforts to customise the presentation of the data to meet the differing needs of farming and flood prediction. The validation of the data and the customising of it will form the foundation of our go to market strategy, providing potential customers with the assurance that the Dales Land Net Soil Monitor will facilitate accurate decision making for farming and flood prediction.