Company Overview: Altora Ag
Altora Ag is a forward-thinking agricultural business committed to modernizing farm operations while staying rooted in its people, communities, and sustainability values. Guided by the purpose of “Bringing heart to modern agriculture,” Altora Ag strikes a balance between tradition and innovation, ensuring both long-term sustainability and industry-leading growth.
Traditionally, their yield forecasting relied on Water Use Efficiency (WUE) models, but these methods had limitations, particularly in mitigating weather risks caused by adverse events. Recognizing the need for greater accuracy and a data-driven approach, Altora Ag turned to Octopusbot, an AI-driven forecasting platform.
The Challenge: Overcoming Uncertainty in Weather and Yield Forecasting
For years, Altora Ag’s yield forecasting was based on historical rainfall, soil moisture levels, and WUE formulas. However, these methods lacked accuracy and real-time adaptability. The team at Altora Ag often had to make critical decisions—such as when to sell, amount of fertilizers to use or adjust crop strategies—based on high level estimates rather than a scientific method.
According to Shane Bird, CEO at Altora Ag, their previous approach was largely based on in-field analysis, agronomic estimations, and past weather trends. These methods had no scientific basis for quantifying risks, often leading to missed opportunities or inaccurate yield expectations.
"We would take a snapshot of our rainfall to date, plug in decile ranges for possible future rainfall scenarios, and make a decision based on risk appetite. But it was all just a guess. Sometimes we got it right, sometimes we didn’t—and when we weren’t wrong, it wasn’t because of analysis, just pure luck." – Shane Bird
Altora Ag sought a solution that would remove guesswork, improve forecasting accuracy, provide real-time weather data and customized forecasts for better decision-making.
The Solution: Implementing Octopusbot for AI-Driven Forecasting
Altora Ag integrated Octopusbot’s AI-driven forecasting models into its decision-making process. Octopusbot provided two key components:
- Farm Weather Data – Real-time integration with global climate agencies and their precision ag stations, customized for each farm.
- AI Yield Forecasts & Yield Sensitivity Analysis – AI models incorporating historical farm data, rainfall, and hundreds of weather parameters.
Initially, Altora Ag used Octopusbot primarily for weather actuals and forecasting, aiming to gain a clearer picture of local weather rainfall predictions. However, over the past 12 months, they fully integrated AI-yield forecasting allowing them to make data-driven & confident farming decisions.
"At first, we just wanted a more accurate forecast of what our rainfall would look like for the year. But once we saw how accurate Octopusbot was compared to traditional WUE models, we knew AI forecasting had to be a core part of our planning process." – Shane Bird
The Results: Unmatched Yield Accuracy, Data-Driven Decisions & Inputs Efficiency
Octopusbot’s AI forecasting proved to be a game-changer for Altora Ag. The results showed significant improvements:
- Unmatched Yield Accuracy – Achieved 90% accuracy before planting and 95% accuracy before harvest, a level of accuracy unmatched by WUE.
- Data-Driven Decisions – Provided reliable & 100% data-driven yield forecasting, allowing Altora Ag to make profitable decisions with greater confidence.
- Inputs Efficiency – Enabled precise application of fertilizer, pesticide, and water usage, reducing costs while maximizing yield potential.
- Weather Resilience – Allowed Altora Ag to anticipate & quantify the impact of extreme weather events, and rainfall variations.
"The AI absolutely destroyed the Water Use Efficiency model in accuracy. In one case, WUE was predicting over 5 tonnes per hectare, while Octopusbot called 3.2. The actual yield was 3.1. The difference was massive." – Shane Bird
One of the biggest advantages for Altora Ag was the ability to identify missed opportunities. Many growers might assume they have maximized yield, but AI-driven forecasts show they could have achieved even higher results by optimizing input applications.
"The hardest thing to quantify isn’t just what you lose—it’s the opportunity you leave on the table. A grower might get 5 tonnes/ha. and think they did well, but maybe they should have gotten 8. If you don’t have accurate forecasting, you don’t even realize the potential you’re missing." – Shane Bird
The Future: Scaling AI Forecasting for Maximum Impact
As Altora Ag continues to integrate AI forecasting into its business, the company sees Octopusbot as a key decision-making tool rather than just another data source. While some in the industry remain sceptical about AI adoption, Shane believes in a gradual confidence-building approach.
Scepticism around AI in agriculture is not uncommon, but as Shane points out, consistent accuracy over time proves its reliability.
Moving forward, Octopusbot will be a core part of Altora Ag’s strategy, helping them optimize every aspect of their farming cycle. With AI-driven forecasts, Altora Ag is shifting from reactive to proactive decision-making—knowing before they grow.
Final Thoughts & Recommendation
For agribusinesses looking to improve accuracy in forecasting, optimize inputs, and mitigate weather risks, Octopusbot offers an accurate, data-driven approach.
Altora Ag’s success with AI-driven forecasting highlights the future of modern agriculture:
- Unmatched yield accuracy
- Weather Resilience
- Optimize input use
Take the Challenge – See for Yourself
Farmers & agribusinesses across Australia are now using Octopusbot to improve their yields and reduce uncertainty. Take the challenge & Try Octopusbot for Free: Get AI yield forecasts localized for your farm & see for yourself how accurately you can predict the next season.