Henty Field Days: Farmers prove tough judges for new machinery
ENTRIES at the cutting edge of agricultural technology will line up before the judges in the Henty Machine of the Year Award.
ENTRIES at the cutting edge of agricultural technology will line up before the judges in the Henty Machine of the Year Award.
Announced on the opening day, this farmers’ choice award is presented to the most outstanding new piece of agricultural machinery exhibited at the field days.
It is judged by an independent panel of regional primary producers.
In many cases, the machine has become a standard piece of equipment on farms.
Judging criteria includes its purpose and suitability, scope of application, construction, ease of maintenance and service, ease of operation and adjustment, availability of parts and overall value for money.
This year, entries range from an innovative round bale feed-out system and offset slasher to a deep ripper from Western Australia, and one of the widest seed drills in the world from Canada, the 3420 PHD Paralink.
Last year, the award drew 24 entries with the sheep-handling system, Back Up Charlie, entered by Charlie and Tana Webb, Urana, NSW, impressing judges with its design and manufacture.
Highly commended was the Miller Nitro 6365
self-propelled sprayer.
HMFD director Nigel Scheetz said the award was open to all machines on site released into the Australian market in the past 12 months.
“A win at Henty gives the entrant valuable exposure for their product,” Mr Scheetz said.
An additional accolade is the Greater Hume Shire Award for the best new Australian designed and manufactured machine.
It is judged and presented on the final day. Last year it was won by the Landaco Maxispread TS12000, from Landaco, Wagga.
Nominations are made by the Henty Machinery Field Days Co-operative members who unload the machines — in the vein of the Archibald Prize packer’s award.
Judges then visit each nominated company during the field days.
Last year’s winner Charlie Webb said it was a great thrill to win the award, and the following 12 months had been a steep learning curve in marketing and export.
Mr Webb said the award was more about innovation than modification.
“If you do have a good idea and you think it’s worth running with, make sure you protect it first, and then have a go,” Mr Webb said.
“We started off doing this to make life easier at home and then people starting asking us about it.”
Following the award win, the family had calls from the UK, Canada, South Africa, Ireland and the US.
They visited the New Zealand National Agricultural Field Days to speak to manufacturers.
Kioti gaining traction
Visitors to the recent AgQuip, Henty and Elmore field days had the opportunity of a first-up look at the latest offering from Kioti Tractors – the company’s new 115hp cab model.
Harrow arrives Down Under
Made in Brazil, the new Tatu Marcheson GAPCR HD 8013 offset disc harrow is distributed in Australia by Serafin Machinery, of Griffith, as a preferred supplier.