Rain Plaado

SnailCam founder and developer

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

@AmberB_C If you can tell them apart from a photo then it probably could be done.

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

Growers often ask if SnailCam could map mouse burrows in paddocks.
I ran some tests, and the results look promising. The system can detect burrow openings and map them across the paddock.
This could enable variable-rate mouse baiting instead of blanket spreading.

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

Spending few days in Melbourne to see the newest Agtech innovations @evokeAG

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

@agromick82 Basically anything that can be identified on the photo it takes can be built into detection model.

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

SnailCam has been awarded the 2025 Innovation Booster Grant.
This supports our new data-visualisation platform to turn millions of detections into clear, practical maps for growers — helping target baiting, reduce costs, and make better decisions.
Big milestone for the project.

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

I will travel to SA tomorrow to check how SnailCam went at York Peninsula. If anyone wants to catch up on Thursday/Friday, and discuss possible use of SnailCam, let me know!

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

Today @WestTechFest in Perth

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

The snails seem to like current weather conditions, it helps if you know where they might pop up #snailcam

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

Evening truck loading

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

After a long night of software debugging the first SnailCam setup has been shipped to South Australia, Yorke Peninsula for testing and data collection.

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

Data processed with PCT Agcloud @pctagcloud

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

This is a conical snail mapping done 2024 (wheat) and 2025 (canola) harvest. It's been few dryish summers in a row so they have not been very active, and they have also been variable rate baited in the hotspots (50+ kg/ha). The detection model has been improved a lot since 2024.

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

@BrettShearwood @MalJMckay134377 Yes, have tried, but this seems to be the easiest to set up and use

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

It's great to have remote controlled augers 👍

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

@MalJMckay134377 Field bins give us more flexibility and we can split up augers when we have to load from several locations

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

@0xDegenerate Thats good idea but as all the 4 buttons are in use (1-clutch/revs, 2- green light for truck driver so they know when to move, 3-motor start, 4-motor stop) I would need to make up something myself

[VRT Solutions @vrtsolutions]

Snails are tricky little buggers. Snail cam data processed into @Spectare_VRTS #jfg

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

@BrettPage72 @FarmerTonyWhite No, these 11in ones don't need one. I have added automatic throttle so it always engages the clutch on idle and then revs up.

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

@jacktbarlow True, probably not much use of the data at harvest time but it enables to create VR maps for baiting when the snails become active (and that could be Feb-March in South coast of WA so before the seeding).

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

This is an example of how many images SnailCam is processing when your working speed is ~9km/h. This is over 9000 images per hour and it can do it day and night.

[Rain Plaado @rainplaado]

Grateful to see SnailCam featured in Farm Weekly. What started as a small idea on the farm is now helping growers see exactly where snails are and target their control. Thanks to everyone supporting practical innovation in agriculture.
Thanks @farmweekly @KBridcutt