Agricultural tech day set to help KI farmers in bushfire recovery
A tech-focused agricultural event is set to highlight the cutting edge of tools and tech in the agricultural world, whilst also an opportunity for farmers to get together to discuss bushfire recovery
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The Farming Tools & Tech Field Day, organised by the new KI Landscape Board and Agriculture Kangaroo Island (AGKI), will now have a focus on helping farms recover from bushfires whilst also providing an insight into what the future has in store for farming.
Presiding Member of the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, Andrew Heinrich, says that this important event will help bring farming on KI into focus, both on how it will recover and how it will lead the way going forward.
“Farmers and their families have been disproportionately affected by the recent bushfires on KI, losing friends, homes, livestock, machinery, farm infrastructure and in some cases their entire livelihoods,” Mr Heinrich said.
“We and AGKI hope that this and our following events will help refocus the island’s agriculture and highlight how small advances in tools and tech available to farmers can help agriculture thrive into the future.”
Rick Morris, Chair of Agriculture KI, says that the island’s progressive farming community will get a lot out of what’s on offer at this field day.
“The field day will be a good opportunity for people to get off the farm for an afternoon and recharge the batteries,” Mr Morris said.
“There are a lot of good exhibitors lined up offering a mixture of farming solutions, cutting edge science but not out of reach.”
This major event is joined by many smaller events being planned by the new KI Landscape Board to help the island recover from the bushfires such as the up-coming Soil Health workshop with Nicole Masters on 18-20 March.
The three-day intensive workshop includes field visits and practical sessions to help develop deeper appreciation for what drives soil health and boost bottom line outcomes, especially relevant to help soil recover from the bushfires.
Major exhibitors in attendance at the Tools and Tech event to help support the island include the likes of Darren Ray (formerly of BOM) and Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI).
Tickets are $10 paid at the gate on the day
Darren Ray
After working as a meteorologist and climatologist with the Bureau of Meteorology since 2002, Darren Ray is now working as a private consulting climatologist and long range forecaster.
The last few years have seen dry and hot conditions across Australia leading up to the extreme challenges of this summer. Darren will look at climate influences that impact Kangaroo Island and what this means for the outlook for the remainder of 2020. Along the way he will show useful tools for producers for keeping an eye on the weather and climate through the coming growing season.
Marius Cuming, Australian Wool Innovation Limited
AWI is pleased to be involved in this important day for KI, we will be there with the latest shed designs and infrastructure ideas, AWI will also have relevant materials depending on what woolgrowers are wanting to do across their businesses. AWI would be happy to talk through the design of new woolsheds as well as what AWI can offer through the SheepConnectSA network.
AWI recently put out the KI-recovery special on their podcast The Yarn which can be downloaded, here: https://d2nqfrasr84me9.cloudfront.net/The-Yarn-EP116.mp3
Daryl Higginson, LawrieCo Wealth from Soil
“Purchase any LawrieCo product at the Tools & Tech day, and receive a voucher to the value of 10%, to be redeemed at Landmark Kingscote, on your next purchase.”
Madeline Willoughby, Shearwell Australia
Shearwell Australia are leaders in the Electronic identification, established in 2011, Shearwell pride themselves on exceptional customer service, support, and can supply all stages of the system from Tag to Record. Our EID tags have a proven to be 99.5% retention rate and our sophisticated Eid recording equipment has put us as a major player in Eid recording and traceability.
James Pudney, Territory Manager, Commander Ag-Quip
Commander Ag-Quip has been working alongside farmers for 28years.
Come and Chat to Commander Ag-Quip for all your shearing shed Fitouts, Sheep and Cattle Yards and handling requirements, Grain Augers and Livestock feed out solutions.
Shane Oster, Managing Director, Alpha Group Consulting
Alpha Group Consulting has been leading the way on remote monitoring in agriculture for two decades. Specialising in water meter monitoring, tank monitoring, soil moisture probes and weather stations. Alpha Group is a local SA business which prides itself on its unrivalled backup and support.
Jari Karvonen, Territory Manager at Datamars TruTest
Datamars Livestock is here for farmers like you. We are here to support you through the everyday requirements of livestock farming. We’re bringing our innovative and well-developed technology, and working alongside you to apply it to the real nitty-gritty, the day to day.
Mark Watherston, Business Development Manager, Rowater
Rowater your local established water purification specialists providing systems including UV, softeners, RO desalination and other filtration equipment. We have a dedicated team of technicians to maintain & service all water related equipment. Visit us to view our Membrane Desalination System.
Book tickets for the Soil Health Workshop with Nicole Masters here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/building-soil-health-with-nicole-masters-of-integrity-soils-tickets-82562644091
There are limited stalls still available for potential stall holders, book your place via link below or contact Damon.Cusack@sa.gov.au for more details:
