Murray Dairy’s Amy Fay and Lyndell Shannon.
Photo by
Sophie Baldwin
Global innovators and local dairy farmers met in Shepparton recently for Elevate Dairy - a Gardiner Foundation initiative to better position farmers to manage challenges and opportunities.
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The showcase featured technologies including Levno monitors for critical on-farm infrastructure, Oceans2Earth biofertilisers, Surge Energy, Resolution farm management software, K2 Agri Skelex 360 a lightweight exoskeleton, Trev - centralising farm management information, and Uniform Agri, an easy-to-use herd management tool.
Cohuna dairy farmer John Keely and Saputo’s Tim Fulton.
Photo by
Sophie Baldwin
Murray Dairy’s Amy Fay said they were pleased to partner with the Gardiner Foundation, Dairy Australia Murray and Beanstalk to bring these new ag tech opportunities to farmers in the region.
Donna Gibson program manager, research and innovation, Gardiner Foundation, Stuart Crosthwaite, farmer and on Elevate Industry advisory group for Murray region, Jolien Paalman, principal, Beanstalk AgTech, Monique Bryant farmer and Elevate Industry advisory group member for Murray region, and Allan Cameron, Gardiner Foundation CEO.
Photo by
Sophie Baldwin
“As part of this visit, we hosted the ag tech innovators on a tour of the region, showing them some excellent examples of what our farm businesses look like, the variety of farm systems we have, and the opportunities and challenges our industry faces, that might look different to their experience overseas or in other regions.
“We also gave them a crash course in water policy and how that impacts farmers' investment and planning decisions,” Amy said.
The Skelex 360 reduces shoulder strain by up to 40 per cent.
Photo by
Sophie Baldwin
The innovators were blown away by the complexity and how farmers approach their businesses, which has helped them further refine their technology offerings.
Deputy chair and farmer Hamish Crawford said the showcase was a great outcome and leg up to companies who may have been hesitant without a forum to connect to farmers.
“There has clearly been a lot of thought into how farmers can manage their businesses better. Farmers need to physically see these options in order to consider them."
Cohuna dairy farmer John Keely said it was good to get out and have a look at the technologies that are available.
He was particularly interested in the Uniform Agri technology as that is an area he wants to invest in and improve on his own farm.
Finley dairy farmer Megan Hay said her business was always looking to use tech to help reduce workload in their family-operated business.
“It’s great to come along and have at look at what is available,” Megan said.
