There is no one size fits all. In these sections, it’s all about helping you figure out what your place needs. You will read about a couple of producers and how remote cameras are keeping an eye on things for them, chances are your place will need a mix of different solutions. As you read through, consider what you want to achieve by using cameras across the place. Like the peace of mind that you know for sure, no one has crossed the grid while your away, or that there 100% definitely is water in that tank, because you can see it.
Broadacre
Feedlot
Livestock
Dairy
National Park
Broadacre
The trouble with broadacre properties is that they are mostly unfenced and with numerous access points around the place, which for the operation of a cotton or grain growing property is essential, but for property security is not ideal. The key philosophy of deterrence, remains top priority. So it’s important to cover the main entrances plus as many other entrances as you can, particularly off main roads and the furthest away. We want the cameras to be prominent to everyone driving past, as the aim is for everyone in the area to know this place is covered.
Cameras across the machinery sheds should be included to protect from equipment tampering. It’s pretty rare for a header to go walkabout (but not unheard of) and more common for the batteries/wiring to be stripped. Given the volume of fuel on site and the frequency of users topping up machinery, 24/7 cameras on the fuel are essential if you want to know where it all went. Other placements for consideration are weighbridges and silos for security and a record of grain movement as well as water channels and pivots from an irrigation management point of view.
Darlington Point, NSW
An ANPR (auto number plate recognition) camera captures plate digits. These are always paired with a wider view camera. ANPR CameraCondobolin, NSW
Security cameras monitoring across the main driveway and loading area with vehicle/human detection. Zoom CameraGatton, QLD
Full time security camera coverage over the equipment as well as capturing movement throughout the compound. Fixed CameraBrookstead, QLD
The inside shed camera doubles as a security camera and OH&S record. If someone flogs the tractor you have footage. Fixed CameraKOOBA STATION - DARLINGTON POINT, NSW
Comprising around 36,000 hectares with 7,000 hectares of cotton plus perennial plantings and livestock rotating with wheat, and barley, is Kooba Station in the Riverina area of NSW. With such a large spread property and high chance of theft/trespassing, water and operations manager Simon Lok started thinking more seriously about the security needs for the station. Simon was on the lookout for “a company that could handle security on a large-scale. agriculturally speaking”. Following a detailed design process, a custom Land Watch solution was implemented to cover all entry points with number plate recognition cameras. Additional cameras monitor assets and water. Using existing silo and tower structures, we were able to take the already existing internet connection from the office and spread it out to all areas where it was needed plus link the cameras back to the office. Kooba Station is now fully equipped with 24/7 live stream to entry points, sheds, paddocks, and pump stations, viewable from the office with recording and remote access. “God forbid something happens we can go in the next morning pull up the cameras and go through license plates, and feeds at certain times. It’s very handy.“ – Simon Lok, Water and Operations Manager, Kooba Station.Feedlot
Vehicles are always coming and going on a feedlot making it sometimes hard to work out who is meant to be there and what that last truck was doing there. Again, as in most instances we recommend the number plate camera on the main entrances. Machinery and equipment are generally stored relatively close to the office making it cost effective to cover the main sheds and equipment with cameras.
Using cameras to monitor animal welfare is increasingly popular across feedlots, as well as piggeries and poultry farms. We know that the vast majority of operators take better care of their stock than city folk do their pets; with cameras, you can prove it.
With places that have intensive work areas, it can be useful to provide cameras for workplace health and safety. Having a camera on the crush or loading ramp and around the key working areas, means that if an injury or an incident occurs you can have a record. It’s not about watching the workers to make sure they aren’t slacking off, it is about protecting them. If someone gets kicked or pinned you want to be able to know how it happened.
Marlborough, QLD
Weighbridge camera for record keeping. ANPR CameraMarlborough, QLD
Yards and loading ramp for security and OH&S. Fixed CameraLotus Creek, QLD
Remote monitoring of river pump as well as Wi-Fi for remote control. Fixed CameraSpringsure, QLD
Chemical shed and fuel security camera mounted on silo. Fixed CameraBARMOUNT FEEDLOT - MARLBOROUGH, QLD
110 km northwest of Marlborough, lies Barmount Feedlot, a 7,500 hectare family owned and operated beef/cattle feedlot with over 40 years custom feeding experience. Between 10-25 staff occupy the feedlot all year- round including admin, caretakers, and farm hands. Barmount also has a variety of external contractors, agronomists, nutritionists, and veterinarians, meaning there are a lot of vehicles, trucks, and people coming and going on a daily basis. With this in mind, it was decided that installing cameras was something that needed to be done, not only for further security of the property but also for the safety of the workers. Most importantly, a camera was installed on the cattle crush to monitor staff safety and also cattle loading and unloading. With such a volume of cattle moving. a video record of the loading ramp might come in very handy one day. An ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) camera placed at the front entry of the property monitors every truck coming in and out carrying grain and cattle with an alert for relevant staff. “If a workplace health and safety incident were to occur, we have 24/7 recording available that we can go back and review. The Land Watch systems are a great solution to help us in our business long term.” – Andrew ConaghanLivestock
Generally, a livestock operation has less accesses than a cropping property and is protected by a boundary fence, making it easier to monitor vehicles accessing the property. Then again, some of the most valuable assets are out roaming around the paddock.
To protect the gear at the main shed complex, we will start with an ANPR camera at the main grid with secondary cameras around the sheds, fuel and yards.
For stock theft prevention and capture, the aim is to monitor the roads and intersections. The main entrances should be covered as a minimum, but a pair of pliers quickly makes a new entrance, so for this reason, all entry cameras should double as road monitoring cameras and all main road frontages should be monitored. Should a vehicle pass one camera and not the next in the expected timeframe, it can be assumed they have stopped in between. Maybe they got a flat tire, or maybe they liked the look of a couple of ewes.
Wandoan, QLD
An ANPR camera is essential at a grid where vehicles are often moving quickly. ANPR CameraTaroom, QLD
Security camera on the loading ramp to monitor cattle truck deliveries and pick up. Vehicle alert notifications. Zoom CameraCoolac, NSW
Security camera covering remote sheep yards. This system also included a Wi-Fi access point for remote connectivity. Fixed CameraSpringsure, QLD
Full time coverage of the fuel tanks to keep track of fuel usage. Zoom CameraREDHILL - COOLAC, NSW
Andy Graham, a fifth-generation Merino sheep and Angus cattle farmer near Coolac NSW, was struggling with stock theft and trespassing on his family property. The issue was the main road that ran straight through the middle of the place, which provides great access for workers but an unwelcome entry to strangers. With black spots over most of the farm and the undulating topography of the land, it made it hard to find a connected solution. Until we introduced Andy to the Land Watch Links. The cameras now cover all main entrances, road frontages and intersections, ensuring all vehicle movement can be reviewed. With long distance Land Watch Links and repeater stations across the steep hilly country, all footage is securely stored away from the cameras. At the same time, each of the camera stations now doubles as a Wi-Fi access point. “With Land Watch, it allowed us to transfer Wi-Fi to intensive areas of the stockyard. It not only gives us peace of mind of the security, but also occupational health and safety. We told them what we wanted, and they knew what they could do straight away.” – Andy Graham.Dairy
Whilst similar in many ways to monitoring any livestock property, a dairy also requires increased coverage around the cattle handling areas. Typically, a dairy will have a higher level of employee and contractor traffic in and out each day, plus the continual movement of tankers and feed deliveries.
For this reason, ANPR cameras on the main roads are essential with extra coverage over the fuel and vats for recording purposes. You need to know the vehicles that are using the fuel or taking the milk.
Aside from keeping an eye on the place for security, many dairy farms will also utilise additional cameras to allow further remote monitoring. This may include a portable camera unit to cover calving paddocks from a welfare point of view as well as cameras on the yard areas and lane for stock management and animal welfare.
Kyogle, NSW
PTZ camera to check on calving paddock and water troughs. PTZ CameraTirau, NZ
Camera over milking area for animal welfare and staff OH&S. Fixed CameraTirau, NZ
Night vision of feed pad for remote stock monitoring. PTZ CameraOrange, NSW
Camera mounted on a shed capturing vehicle movement and a broader view to the dairy. Zoom CameraWATKINS FARM - TIRAU, NZ
Initially cameras were employed across the Watkins family farm out of necessity. Fuel was being used faster than expected but with the high volume of workers, contractors and trucks coming and going it was near on impossible to pinpoint where it was being used. What started as one camera on the fuel to catch an employee helping themselves, turned into a full property roll out with all fuel, milk tanks and work areas covered. “Once we saw the effectiveness of the cameras in answering our questions about the fuel we just started thinking, where else across the properties, do we wish we could see when we are not there.” – Michael Watkins. Consolidating internet plans from 5 down to 1 across the multiple dairies, sheds and houses helped make the numbers stack up on the project even more. Now all cameras and Wi-Fi for business use are run from just one internet subscription and with no ongoing cost for the cameras.National Park
There are some assets that you just can’t put a value on, like things of cultural or environmental significance. In this regard, obtaining footage of thieves and vandals is important but deterrence is of absolute priority. Machinery and even stock on agricultural properties can be replaced and are often covered by insurance, but old growth forests, prehistoric fossils or remnants of pre settlement cultures are one of a kind. We only have one shot at protecting these areas, once damaged or stolen they are often gone for good.
Depending on the situation, live monitoring can be a useful option or simply having a prominent system where it is not expected, for example at the entrance to the park or camping area. In all cases, due to the often remote and secluded position with easy public access, it is imperative to have off camera recording.
Unfortunately, some of these areas are targeted by organised crime. Yes, even in Australia there is a black market for artefacts, so we step it up a notch when protecting these areas. Additional backups and fail safes are implemented such as additional storage and back up power supplies.