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Autonomous tractor
Following the initial trial reported in FY25, RFM has continued to expand its use of autonomous tractors across RFF's macadamia orchards, which are leased by The Rohatyn Group (TRG) and managed by RFM. The Maryborough unit now operates daily on one macadamia orchard as part of routine operations, and RFM plans to acquire a second unit for Maryborough along with three more for the Fitzroy orchards.
Remote cattle weighing units
In FY25, RFM introduced portable walk-over livestock weighing units to monitor cattle weights efficiently and in-paddock, without the need for yarding. Cattle step onto the unit's platform, which records their electronic identification and measures weight from their front legs, then calculates each animal's total body weight and transmits the data directly to farmers' devices, enabling daily weight sampling throughout the backgrounding and finishing periods and supporting data-driven management decisions.
Virtual cattle fencing trial
RFM is exploring virtual fencing technology with an initial trial of virtual collars for cattle at Kaiuroo Aggregation. The solar-powered collars guide cattle using audio and sensory cues, allowing herd movement to be managed and sensitive areas excluded without the need for physical fencing.
The collars are being trialled as a means of keeping cattle away from cropping operations. The conventional alternative would require new fencing, much of it across flood-prone country where infrastructure is costly to install and vulnerable to damage. Virtual fencing offers a way to achieve the same control with less permanent infrastructure, reducing materials and maintenance and avoiding the disruption of building fences on flood-prone land.
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