Farm equipment field days
THE 2012 Commonweath Bank AgQuip Field Days are coming up soon and time is running out to enter the regional judging of the NSW Farm Inventor of the Year competition.
Innovations from the simplest farm gadgets to the most complicated pieces of farm machinery will be judged at regional competitions at the AgQuip Field Days in Gunnedah, to be held from Aug 21 to 23.
The competition brings out the best in farm ideas and is a forum for farmers, tinkerers or anyone who is “handy” to show their skills and share their concepts with others.
Over the 49-year history of the Farm Inventor competition, it has showcased many outstanding inventions, some of which have gone from humble beginnings in the AgQuip regional judging, to commercial success.
Past entries have ranged from a ladder clamp safety device and a method for turning rice stubble into a compressed building board to a simple water foot valve holder made from a couple of plough discs and a binder lock for tying down loads.
Entry is free and is open to inventions that have practical on-farm application, are based on an original idea of the entrant and are not be in full scale production at the time of entry.
After AgQuip, there are two more opportunities to enter regional judging - the Henty Machinery Field Days (Sept 18-20) and the Australian National Field Days in Orange (Oct 16-18) - and the winners will meet at Orange for the national judging.
Regional judging will be held in two divisions covering innovations valued at Under $1000 or Over $1000 in retail value.
Prizes at regional level are: first $1500, second $700, encouragement award $400.
Winners and runners-up at regional level will qualify to compete in the final at the ANFD in Orange in October.
Prizes at the final are: first $4000 plus a trip for two to the Mystery Creek Field Days in NZ; second $1750 plus trip for two to Mystery Creek Field Days; third $1000; fourth $500.
The NSW Farmers Association is the major sponsor of the competition with additional support from patent attorneys, Fraser Old and Sohn, and agricultural tour specialist, Quadrant Australia.
Source: farmonline.com.au