Cutting edge take on technology

ALL roads – from the northwest and across northern Victoria – will lead to Charlton next month when Birchip Cropping Group stages its Ag Tech Expo.

Expected to attract farmers, researchers, advisers, and agribusinesses, the full-day event will showcase cutting-edge digital tools and technologies designed to support the future of farming.

To be held at Charlton Park, the expo will spotlight automation, precision agriculture, sensor technologies, and weed control innovations through a practical, grower-focused lens.

Event organiser Jess Bidstrup said with tighter margins and more data to juggle and work with than ever, it is critical peak industry groups help farmers translate technology into decisions.

She said the Ag Tech Expo is a step toward building the digital confidence and capability the future demands.

“Growers are often told they should be using more data or digital tools, but this expo will help them understand exactly how to use what they’ve got, and where to go next,” Ms Bidstrup said.

“The event is designed to take some of the guesswork out of ag tech.

“We will cover what’s practical and profitable on-farm right now, but also what’s possible and perhaps not so far away.”

The Expo will feature an impressive line-up of speakers, with representatives from organisations such as Pairtree Intelligence, Society of Precision Agriculture Australia CSIRO, Charles Sturt University, Single Agriculture, and INCYT, presenting alongside farmers.

“We know the most powerful learning often happens between growers – when farmers can share experiences and ask practical questions, it accelerates understanding and adoption,” she added.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Grain Automate program, led by the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia (SPAA) will feature throughout the day with facilitator Edward Scott, delivering workshops about variable rate technology (VRT), farm mapping, and getting your farm ready for autonomy through data collection.

The sessions will provide hands-on demonstrations in VRT, data mapping, and system integration.

A highlight of the day will be a panel discussion addressing ‘The future of weed control technologies’ featuring Charles Sturt University’s Professor Michael Walsh, Ben Single (Single Agriculture), Bailey Kilpatrick (SwarmFarm Robotics) and Warakirri Cropping’s Baingarra site manager, Jono Robinson, and ‘On-farm sensors for more informed decision making’ with Gallagher Animal Management and INCYT.

Participants at the BCG Ag Tech Expo will also have the opportunity to watch technology demonstrations and interact with a range of exhibitors such as O’Connors, AgCloud, SwarmFarm Robotics, Precision Ag, Weed-IT Australia, MagrowTec, and Single Agriculture, showcasing practical tools and innovations.

The Ag Tech Expo is proudly supported by the Grain Automate program, facilitated by SPAA.

Registrations to attend are essential and now open at www.bcg.org.au