AGRIBUSINESS

Call goes out to farm inventors for Henty Field Days

FARM inventors and budding designers are invited to showcase their ideas in the Agri-Innovator of the Year Award at the 2021 Henty Machinery Field Days (HMFD) to be held in Henty, New South Wales, in September.

Staff writer
 Justin Dunn, Temora, NSW, winner of the 2018 Henty Agri-Innovator of the Year Award with The Shepherd auto sheep feeder. Image courtesy HMFD.

Justin Dunn, Temora, NSW, winner of the 2018 Henty Agri-Innovator of the Year Award with The Shepherd auto sheep feeder. Image courtesy HMFD.

The entries must meet the criteria of having a practical on-farm application, be based on an original idea of the entrant and not be in full-scale production at the time entry.

HMFD chief executive officer, Belinda Anderson, said Agri-Innovators was aimed at tertiary and university students, farmers, backyard tinkerers and innovators.

"Entries can be any agribusiness invention, ranging from a mobile phone app or computer software program to the largest tillage machinery,'' Anderson said.

"This year's entrants will receive exposure to the agricultural market place and the opportunity to network with potential manufacturers.''

Temora, New South Wales, farmer and the 2018 Agri-Innovation winner for an auto sheep feeder called The Shepherd, Justin Dunn, encouraged all aspiring inventors to enter their concept in the Agri-Innovators Award

"At some point you have to take off - it may be not finished or perfect but you will never get to that point until you have it out there commercially," he said.

The Shepherd received nationwide media coverage from the win at Henty with around 50 units sold after the event and went on to win the NAB Agribusiness Award of Excellence at the Australian National Field Days.

The Shepherd is a solar-powered, new generation smart feeder incorporating automated technologies. The units are now fitted with a 4G remote camera with a 300-degree view, and also an SMS remote controller which sends alerts via text message.

People wishing to enter the Agri-Innovators Award can contact the HMFD office on (02) 6929 3305.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Farming Ahead team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Farming Ahead team.

editions

Research Report: Harvest Weed Seed Mills

The Report includes a round up of commercially-available batching plants as well as farmer-made approaches.

editions

Research Report: Agritechnica 2023

Kondinin Group’s Mark Saunders, Ben White and Josh Giumelli went to Agritechnica, Germany. This report covers the key award winners from the event and some of the latest autonomous platforms displayed.

editions

Research Report: Fronting Up

This Research Report looks at harvester fronts including research and expertise from Kondinin Group’s Ben White, with input from harvesting specialists Brett Asphar, Kassie Van Der Westhuizen, Murray Skayman and Martin Reichelt.

editions

Research Report: Liquid Applications At Seeding

Kondinin Group’s Mark Saunders, Josh Giumelli and Ben White have rounded up liquid application Case Studies for this Research Report including tips and tricks from experiencd producers.