High-tech farm research station hooks students

ARGICULTURAL innovation has come to East Loddon P12 College with last week’s delivery of a computerised interactive iFarm science research station.

It’s the 10th station built by designers Steve and Kate Mansur, of Tamworth, for a rollout to 50 schools over the next three months after receiving funds from the then Federal Government in 2019.

College agriculture and horticulture teacher Paula Maxted said iFarm was an impressive agriculture and technology unit.

“The iFarm arrival has been a very exciting day for our agricultural students, teachers and the STEM team at school,” she said.

The iFarm has eight growing beds with subsurface drip irrigation and overhead spray options, a 2000-litre water tank, moisture and temperature sensors, and an in-built digital touchscreen.

The research station is powered by wind and solar, has its own weather station, a composting worm farm and come with both summer and winter shadecloths.

The outer skin of the iFarm is made from recycled plastic and it has fold-down perspex sides to view root growth. Perspex covers over electronic components help students view and better understand electrical design.

Steve and Kate say the iFarm is “literally a platform designed to capture the attention of students as it showcases a huge range of learning opportunities and future employment possibilities”. Steve and Kate they aid came up with the concept of the iFarm after realising they wanted to help students learn about agriculture, science, maths and technology in a more exciting and engaging way and also to make the job easier for teachers