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National Farmers' Federation

Australian Farm Data Code

The Australian Farm Data Code aims to promote adoption of digital technology, by ensuring that farmers have comfort in how their data is used, managed, and shared.

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About the Code

The Australian Farm Data Code (the Code) was developed and adopted by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) in consultation with industry, and with support from the Australian Government.

The Code is intended to inform the data management policies of product and service providers who manage data on behalf of farmers. It is also a yardstick by which farmers can evaluate the data terms and policies of those providers.

Benefits to farmers include:

  • increased awareness and understanding of the ways in which providers are collecting, using, and sharing their farm data;
  • a framework to compare providers and inform negotiations about data terms and policies; and
  • improvements to industry-wide data practices over time.

Benefits for service providers include:

  • clear and agreed guidance on data policies; and,
  • a helpful framework to inform discussions with farmers about data.

Adopting the Code

The Code is a voluntary code of conduct, and all product and service providers who manage farm data on behalf of farmers, either directly or further down the supply chain, are encouraged to comply with the Code’s principles.

Providers who have a direct contractual relationship with farmers and manage farm data, are eligible for an independent assessment by the NFF of their data terms and policies against the Code. Providers who fully comply with the Code are eligible to be certified by the NFF. 

Read more about Assessment and Certification against the Code here.

In future, certification will be opened up to any entity that is managing farm data.

Governance of the Code

The Farm Data Code was funded by the Australian Government, and developed by the National Farmers’ Federation Farm Data Working Group – bringing together farmers, researchers, industry experts and technology providers.

Members of the Farm Data Working Group (active Dec 2021 – Feb 2023):

  • Andrea Koch, DigiSoil (Chair)
  • Adrian Roles, NSW Farmers
  • Ben Kelly, John Deere
  • Cameron Scadding, Source Certain
  • Charles Thomas, National Farmers’ Federation
  • Hamish Munro, Pairtree Intelligence
  • Irene Sobotta, MLA Integrity Systems
  • Julian Butler, Telstra
  • Leanne Wiseman, Griffith University
  • Leighton Wilksch, AgByte
  • Meredith Conaty, CRDC
  • Nick Bryant, Agratel
  • Oli Madgett, Platfarm
  • Peter Leonard, UNSW
  • Peter Thompson, Echo Farm
  • Phillip Guthrie, Nine Creeks Consulting
  • Richard Heath, Australian Farm Institute
  • Robert Bramley, CSIRO
  • Robert Davies, Telstra

During the development of the Code, the Farm Data Working Group was the first point of consultation, followed by community consultation with farmers and industry.

Following its initial release, the Code is now subject to regular reviews to adapt it to industry changes.

For ongoing reviews of the Code, the NFF will consult with the wider farmer and industry community, which will include NFF members, agronomists, industry experts, technology providers, research institutions, and government.

Providing feedback

The NFF welcomes feedback on the Code at any time. Simply contact us  at farmdatacode@nff.org.au to have your say.

Past versions of the Code

Australian Farm Data Code Edition 1 Published Feb 2020