GALLERY: Sun shines on Henty Machinery Field Days

Many farmers say they would prefer to walk the Henty field day site in the rain, but warm weather set the tone this year. See the faces in the crowd.

One conversation was on the lips of agricultural innovators and farmers alike during the third day of Henty Machinery Field Days in southern NSW: the weather.

Traditionally, exhibitors like to see rain during the three-day September event that regularly draws crowds of more than 60,000 people through the gates.

However, this year the field days were marked by the Bureau of Meteorology’s confirmation of El Nino and characteristic dry and sunny conditions.

There was a distinct focus on livestock feeding options, and the Australian Designed and Built Machine of the Year fitted this criteria.

The award, supported by the Greater Hume Council, was won by an AusMix XL26-cube mixer.

Kayley Schneider, 13, of Culcairn, Jasmine Lieschke, 13, of Holbrook, and Zoe Wilson, 13, of Jindera, catch up at Henty Machinery Field Days. Pictures: Nikki Reynolds

Michael Giltrap of FarmTech at Wodonga said the machine was made on the Border, and there were 44 people employed in the workshop.

“It’s wholly manufactured and assembled in Wodonga,” he said.

The feeder mixer attracted good interest from farmers during the field days, with one sold to a dairy farmer in Gippsland, Victoria and another heading to a livestock operation at Walgett in NSW.

A Border agricultural machinery company’s newly released feed mixer has won the coveted Greater Hume Council Award at the 2032 Henty Machinery Field Days.
Read more 👉https://t.co/tgZ130BBjQ#hentyfielddays#henty#HMFDpic.twitter.com/7knVs1lDlH

— Henty Field Days (@Hentyfielddays) September 20, 2023

“When it gets dry, producers get more creative about their feeding solutions,” Mr Giltrap said.

He said the mixers were ideal for feeding a ration of hay and silage and were popular among those in intensive livestock enterprises.

Robert Allen of Mudgee, NSW and Carl Upton of Corowa, NSW pictured with a 1976 fully restored Upton tractor at Henty Machinery Field Days.

Along with the latest in agriculture, there was nostalgia at Henty with a display of 38 Upton tractors.

It was the first time all 38 machines, manufactured at Corowa, NSW, had been assembled in one place.

New exhibitor to Farm Gate, Whitton Malt House, is showcasing all the beautiful produce from the Riverina. Kate O'Callaghan, general manager, samples some local preserves from Griffith. The Malthouse has top end accommodation, cuisine and malt whiskey. #HMFD#hentypic.twitter.com/x5uAlv4CdC

— Henty Field Days (@Hentyfielddays) September 21, 2023

Design engineer Carl Upton said there was overwhelming interest in the machines.

Robert Allen from Mudgee in NSW had his 1976 fully-restored Upton tractor on display and said it was great to see the machines earning so much interest from the crowd.

When the Upton tractors were manufactured, they used bits and pieces of army disposal equipment that was left over from World War II.

The crop trial site, presented by Baker Seeds of Rutherglen, also drew crowds with cropping farmers interested in seeing new varieties.

Aaron Giason of Baker Seeds at Rutherglen inspects a barley crop at Henty Machinery Field Days.

Aaron Giason of Baker Seeds said there was a lot of talk about the weather and how the season in southern NSW and Victoria might hold up after the past week of warmer conditions.

He said the trials at Henty looked good, and there was still available subsoil moisture despite the dry conditions.

Livestock exhibitors were kept busy throughout the three days, too. Mike O’Hare of Wild Oat SheepMaster Stud said plenty of people were exploring the options of shedding sheep.

He said producers were assessing their options and considering the difficulties experienced in sourcing shearers.

Agronomist Frank McRae of DLF Seeds at Orange is pictured at Henty Machinery Field Days.

Tim and Rachel Westblade with son Owen, 12, of Pastora Stud at Lockhart, NSW, pictured with some of the July/August 2022-drop sale rams. They were exhibiting at Henty Machinery Field Days.

Exhibiting vintage machinery at Henty Machinery Field Days, Chris Menz from The Rock in southern NSW with a 1924 International three-horsepower petrol kerosene engine.

Adrian Findlay of Melbourne pictured with a Solis 50 horsepower cab tractor at Henty Machinery Field Days.

Emily and her mum Alarna Hall of Lime and Soda Collective at Moss Vale, NSW catch up with Jamayne Tunks of Henty, NSW during day three of Henty Machinery Field Days.

Bob McCormack of West End Water at Junee in southern NSW said there had been keen demand for pumps for stock and domestic use at Henty Machinery Field Days.

Mike and Velia O'Hare, with their daughter Tessa and their SheepMaster sheep from the Wild Oat stud at Beckom in NSW are pictured at Henty Machinery Field Days.