Hundreds flock to Ag Innovation Expo

More than 200 people with connections to the land cast their eyes from the ground to the sky to see the latest technology used in agriculture at the Ag Innovation Expo held at Hagley Farm School on Wednesday.

Delivered annually for more than a decade, the Expo has become a cornerstone of industry engagement and technology transfer and collaboration, attracting participants from across agriculture, forestry, research and service sectors.

A presentation by the Tas Farm Innovation Hub, and a field walk with Julie Finnigan, John Mcphee and Dr Doris Blaising to talk soil biology and cover crop mixes were just the start of a big day of learning.

The school oval was filled with the biggest and best tractors and farm equipment and the latest autonomous drone and AI technology, robotics for weed detection and spraying and helicopter spraying services.

Out in the field the precision and power of new drainage methods was demonstrated by Cressy’s Robbie Tole.

The red dirt of Hagley was sent flying as he pulled a Wolverine ditcher to create shallow surface drains that had been mapped by AgLogic.

Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce, who opened the Expo, said that in a world that bites away at the farmers’ bottom line, the only way to get ahead and combat that, is through research and development and maximum utilisation of technology.

“This is absolutely a force multiplier when it comes to growing more with less,” Mr Pearce said.