Innovation to improve the efficency and productivity of mixed farming operations across Central NSW is the focus of the Agribusiness Today Forum in Parkes next month.
The Forum on Thursday 2 August and Field Day on Friday 3 August will feature skilled speakers and live demonstrations of new technology in the livestock and cropping industries.
Forum organiser and Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer Mrs Jane Kelly said the forum will also provide practical information and market intelligence to producers and key industry players across the region.
“The two-day event is an opportunity to step off the farm to consider how new technologies could make farming and grazing more efficient and productive and how it may create additional income streams in the next decade,” Mrs Kelly said.
“The Forum at the Parkes Services Club on Thursday 2 August features an impressive line-up of a dozen speakers who will present innovative technologies which have been developed for use within the livestock and cropping space, in addition to the outlook for domestic and global markets.
“The focus on technology will continue at the Field Day on Friday 3 August at the Northparkes Mine Farm Demonstration Site.”
Julia Andrews, Executive Director of Regional Development Australia (RDA) Central West, said events such as the Agribusiness Forum are critical to supporting agricultural businesses and regional competitiveness.
“The majority of businesses actively trading in the Central West are ag businesses,” said Ms Andrews. “Agriculture is one of our most important sectors, now and into the future. With 96 per cent of participants at last year’s Forum telling us that the information presented would directly improve decision-making in their business, we know there is great value in this Forum.”
Topics to be covered include:
- SwagBot robotics
- Sensor driven data collection in the livestock supply chain
- Data and satellite technology to drive productivity
- Herbicide use for cotton farmers
- New farming technologies for the next decade
- Challenges to adoption of new technologies
- Current technological developments in the wool industry from Australian Wool Innovation (AWI)
- Market updates and predictions from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA)
The cost for the Forum is $30 per person, $90 per family business and $15 per student. The cost for the Field Day is $20 per person. Tickets must be purchased prior to the event, with bookings closing Friday 27 July 2018.
The Forum is supported by CSU and Regional Development Australia (RDA) Central West, in partnership with the Graham Centre for Agircultural Innovation, Local Land Services Central West and Central Tablelands and Central West Farming Systems (CWFS).
For more information and to purchase tickets visit https://agribusinesstodayforum.com/
Media Note: To arrange interviews or for a copy of the program contact
Graham Centre communications officer Emily Malone on 0439 552 385 or email emalone@csu.edu.au
Regional Development Australia Central West, Executive Director Julia Andrews on 0448 288 698 or email julia@rdacentralwest.org.au
The Graham Centre is a research alliance between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI)