Happy Tuesday ranchers,

For decades, ranchers have been told that technology would “make things easier.” Most of the time, that meant more screens, more dashboards, and more data to look at after the work was already done.

This week’s story is different.

Instead of helping you analyze cattle work, this technology actually does cattle work.

An Australian startup called GrazeMate has built autonomous drones that can move cattle between paddocks without a human pilot. You open an app, select a paddock, and press a button. The drone finds the herd, moves them calmly, and sends you a notification when the job is finished.

It sounds like science fiction. It isn’t.

GrazeMate just raised $1.2 million from Y Combinator, one of the most selective tech accelerators in the world, along with backing from Meat & Livestock Australia and several ag-focused venture funds. The company is now expanding from Australia into California, with North America squarely in its sights.

At a time when cattle prices are high, labor is scarce, and time is the most expensive input on the ranch, autonomous mustering deserves a serious look.

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