In the heart of Queensland's Burdekin region, Ayr stands as an integral part of Australian agriculture, where it grows sugarcane on 90% of farmlands. Facing climate changes and evolving demands, local farmers are increasingly adopting smart technology to boost farming efficiency.
The recent successful testing of the FJD AL02 3D Land Leveling System on a CNH Case Steiger Tractor in Ayr exemplifies this shift. This blog will look at farming in Ayr, explain why land leveling is so important there, and show how the AL02 system is ready to change farming for the better.
Agricultural Landscape in Ayr
Ayr is located about 85 kilometers south of Townsville. As a key part of the Burdekin Shire, Ayr is known for its vast sugar cane (25% of Australia's total) and mango farming, earning it the nickname "sugar cane capital". It's considered one of Australia's largest sugar-producing areas and a significant mango producer.Ayr has a tropical savanna climate, characterized by distinct wet (November to April) and dry seasons. The region receives 1,000-1,200mm of rainfall yearly, though cyclonic storms often distribute water unevenly across the area. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are mild. This climate is great for growing valuable crops, but it also means farmers need to be very careful about managing water.
In this region, the terrain is mostly flat, a legacy of ancient floodplains. However, there are still small elevation changes that affect irrigation. Soil types range from fertile alluvial loams to thick clays, so careful land preparation is essential to avoid waterlogging or runoff problems.
Ayr also grows other fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, eggplants, pumpkins, rockmelons, and watermelons. The Burdekin River waters over 80,000 hectares of farmlands. But with uneven land and unpredictable water access, precision leveling is key to boosting harvests and using resources wisely.
Land Leveling in Australian Agriculture
Land leveling is very important for smart watering on farms these days. If fields are not flat, the water will run off, and soil nutrients will also leach, leading to lower crop yields from the land. But when land is properly leveled, water spreads evenly, which means less waste and more consistent crops.According to the Queensland Farmers' Federation, 60% of the total water resource goes to agriculture in water-scarce regions like Queensland. To quantify that percentage, Queensland agriculture used about 2,250 gigalitres (GL) of water during the period from 2014 to 2015, mostly for irrigation.
A 2022 report by the National Farmers' Federation showed that a large part of irrigated farms in Queensland have adopted precision leveling techniques. As the largest sugarcane producer in the country, the Burdekin region leads the trend because even a tiny slope can cost farmers thousands of dollars each year. However, traditional leveling methods are time-consuming and costly. That is why they are looking for innovative solutions like the FJD AL02.
FJD AL02: A Strategic Land Leveling Solution for Ayr's Agriculture
The FJD AL02 land leveling system was recently tested in Ayr on a CNH Case Steiger 595 tractor paired with a Toomey Earthmovers 4500B scraper (4.45m wide). Farmers were impressed by how quickly the system connected to the tractor's controls—it took just 5 minutes to set up.The installation process was finished in three easy steps: selecting the tractor model in the AL02's machine library, adjusting blade movement speeds, and attaching an antenna to the scraper. This plug-and-play design means less downtime and more time for fieldwork.
The AL02's "Quick Project" tool created a realistic sloped surface to mimic farming conditions. The system guided the scraper with ±2.5 cm precision, adjusting the blade automatically to match the target slope. This reduced guesswork and errors, ensuring the field was evenly leveled.
Barry Cross, Director of Aglantis (a Queensland-based smart farming company and also FJD's local dealer), praised the AL02's ease of use. "The Electro Hydraulic control installation for the CNH system was straightforward, with raise and lower function testing completed easily," he said.
Barry continued, "The technical setup was user-friendly and allowed precise adjustment of raise and lower speeds, ensuring smooth operation and control. Overall it was a positive outcome." This ease-of-use design makes everything simple for busy farmers who need tools that work without hassle.
The AL02 surprised our farmers for three reasons. First, it's fast. Traditional leveling takes hours to install, but this system works in minutes. Second, its 3D mapping and real-time tilt calibration ensure high accuracy, reducing the need for rework. Third, it works smoothly with Australian-made equipment like Toomey scrapers, meaning farmers don't have to replace their existing tools to benefit from new technology.
With this successful test in Ayr, the AL02 shows how smart technology can solve everyday farming challenges. By combining speed, precision, and compatibility with local equipment, the system will help farmers prepare fields more efficiently in regions like Ayr, making land-leveling jobs simpler and helping growers stay ahead in a changing climate.
Paving the Way for Smart Farming
The successful testing of FJD AL02 in Ayr proves this system could change how farmers prepare land. For a region where water and time are precious, the AL02 provides a smart, long-lasting solution. As Aglantis and FJD work together to bring the AL02 to fields, local farmers are excited about the change. By helping growers tackle terrain challenges with confidence, FJDynamics is empowering the future of Australian agriculture.Looking for affordable ways to precisely level your land? Just contact us! We'll work on a customized solution just for you and are happy to help your farming business: Contact FJDynamics