AgQuip 2024 hosts innovators in agtech | Gallery

AgQuip 2024 has heard how Australian agriculture is doing great things already but has the potential to do a whole lot more.

Regarded as Australia’s biggest field day, AgQuip was officially launched on Tuesday morning with a presentation by the country’s leading agri-innovation exhibitors.

Guest speakers delivered expert seminars covering topics such as carbon farming, remote monitoring, the ‘internet of the things’ and data.

Gunnedah shire deputy mayor Rob Hooke delivered an opening address, highlighting the great steps already achieved in agricultural innovation.

He called on those in attendance to “look how far we’ve come” in the last five decades since AgQuip’s inception.

Mr Hooke said AgQuip has played a pivotal role in that innovation, showcasing the latest development in machinery, technology and new ways of working.

Many of those innovators were hosted at AgQuip’s AgSmart Connect Hub.

ACM’s national agriculture news editor, Penelope Arthur, who also runs a sheep and cattle property outside Roma, said the hub was a great opportunity for innovators to “get their message out” about the new advancements.

One of the first to speak was Simon Blyth who supports farming businesses become more efficient by enabling them to remotely monitor and control critical assets through one central dashboard.

Mr Blyth, who grew up on a farm in North West NSW, said Australian agtech is making great gains on the world stage but the opportunities are huge.

“Globally, we’re doing really well in agtech … but we need to do a whole lot more,” he said.

Mr Blyth said agtech is nothing new Australian landscape as “we’ve been doing it forever” in various forms. But what is new in the increasing take up of the developments among consumers.

“A lot of agtech has been in the innovator stage for quite a while but we’re now seeing a lot more uptake in the early majority – that’s where a lot of value has been proven,” he said.

This upward trend would help further the ultimate aim of farming businesses – “how to make the land more profitable and easier to run”.

Given the challenges of connectivity in rural areas, he also urged those looking to establish agtech on their property to focus on the strengths.

“We don’t need coverage everywhere – we need the right coverage in the right place,” he said.

In closing, Mr Blyth also urged people to share the love around with their steak sandwich choices this year.

“Angus has a great marketing campaign, but the Murray Grey sandwiches are still pretty good,” he said.

“I like to go around AgQuip and get a sample of the different cows – AgQuip is the one few times you can do that.”

More than 2500 businesses hosted exhibits at AgQuip this year across three days this year.

AgQuip traffic was steady across the Gunnedah shire, particularly on Tuesday’s opening day, as visitors and local residents negotiated the early morning and evening road closures.

Organisers were this year expected to better gauge visitor numbers with the second year of ticketed gate entry. Crowds were still streaming through gates as the Gunnedah Times went to print on Wednesday.

The NSW Premier Chris Minns, accompanied by NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty, were expected to visit AgQuip today.

Following a welcome to site, the pair was expected tour several exhibitors, including the Shorthorn Beef stand, run with the assistance of Calrossy Anglican School students.