The next farmhand

The technology changing the way you farm.

For years, autonomous machinery felt like something that was always just around the corner. Now, it’s becoming a practical option for more growers.

As farms continue to grow, labour becomes harder to find and the pressure to work more efficiently continues to increase, autonomous technology is moving from an interesting concept to another practical tool on the farm.

One company helping drive that shift is SwarmFarm. More than 260 SwarmBots are already operating on farms across Australia, tackling everything from spraying and weed detection to mowing and slashing in orchards. And while spraying remains their best-known application, the machines have been designed to do far more than a single job.

National Sales Manager Alec Duffy says the industry has reached an exciting stage.

“We’ve gone through the crawl and the walk stage, and we’re now moving towards the walk and the run. Almost a little canter,” he laughs.

While SwarmBot is best known for autonomous spraying, Alec says that’s only part of the story. Designed as an autonomous platform, it can integrate with a range of technologies and implements from different manufacturers, rather than locking growers into a single system.

“The robot itself actually doesn’t do much,” Alec says. “It’s all our partners that do a lot of the work. However, the robot is the key enabler for a lot of these technologies that have already been out in the marketplace.”

SwarmBot works with a range of spraying systems and weed detection technologies. In orchards, it’s already mowing and slashing, with the latest generation introducing enhanced vision and perception to expand where it can operate.

Alongside the robot is SwarmFarm’s new Autofill Station, which automatically batches chemicals to keep spraying operations moving. It can also be used with conventional sprayers, streamlining chemical handling across the farm.

So why is adoption accelerating now? Alec says several factors have come together. Farm sizes continue to increase, labour remains one of agriculture’s biggest challenges and rising costs are putting more pressure on efficiency.

One of the biggest enablers has been Starlink.

“Low Earth orbit satellite technology has really unlocked some doors for digital agriculture in general, particularly robotics,” Alec says.

Just as importantly, growers are becoming more confident in the technology.

“The technology has been there for five to 10 years,” he says. “The challenge now is getting people to adopt it and start utilising it.”

While some people still worry autonomous machines are designed to replace farmers, Alec says that’s never been the goal.

“We’re looking to free people up for higher-value tasks on their operation,” he says. “Sitting in a self-propelled sprayer over summer is a pretty unfulfilling job.”

Instead, autonomy gives growers another machine working alongside the rest of the fleet, freeing operators to focus on the jobs where their experience adds the most value.

“If you take away the autonomy and just talk about good farm management, it’s all about timing,” Alec says. “You’re getting over your country more frequently, you’re hitting smaller weeds and you’re conserving moisture.”

Better timing means growers can control weeds earlier, conserve valuable soil moisture and get more work done when conditions are right.

Who’s SwarmFarm?

This Australian ag technology company is helping bring autonomous machinery to broadacre and horticultural farms.

Founded by Queensland farmers Andrew and Jocie Bate, SwarmFarm started with a simple idea: autonomy wasn’t about replacing the driver. It was about creating a new way to farm — one where smaller, smarter machines could work when conditions are right, reduce labour pressure and unlock new farming practices.

Making the leap

For many growers, the biggest hurdle isn’t the technology itself — it’s taking the first step.

Alec says one of the biggest misconceptions is that autonomous machinery is difficult to learn or relies on mobile phone coverage to operate. In reality, once a property has been mapped, SwarmBot can continue working from those maps, while dedicated support teams help growers build confidence and get the most from the technology.

“We focus a lot on understanding who that customer is, getting to know them and getting to know their business,” Alec says.

That also means recognising when autonomy isn’t the right fit, taking the time to understand each farming operation before making a recommendation.

What’s next?

While autonomous spraying continues to expand, Alec believes the biggest changes are still ahead.

SwarmFarm is already developing new applications including spreading, seeding, tillage and under-vine spraying, allowing the machine to take on multiple jobs throughout the season.

“This isn’t where it ends,” Alec says. “This is just the start of that journey.”

Looking further ahead, he expects autonomous machinery to become increasingly connected with artificial intelligence and agronomic data, helping growers make faster decisions in the paddock.

The biggest question isn’t whether the technology is ready, Alec says. It’s whether growers are ready to start exploring it.

“What does the next 10 years look like for my farm if I don’t invest time or money in autonomy or understanding it?” he says.

“Most importantly, what’s the impact of not making that decision?”