Mungindi HallSt George St, Mungindi, NSW

Wednesday 21 March 20188.30am – 5.30pm (NSW time)

SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGTECH18 TWITTER: @AGTECH18

The smartest minds at the intersection of agriculture, machinery and technology meet at AgTeCH18 to explore the topics at the heart of future agricultural productivity and profitability, and showcase the latest innovations for farmers and agribusiness in Northern NSW & Southern Queensland.

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SPONSORS

Platinum Partner

Gold Partner Young Tech Partners

AgTeCH18 is hosted by Mungindi Cropping Group and Grain Growers Limited; and supported by Central Highlands Development Corporation.

Trade Partners

Business Supporters

The AgTeCH18 organising committee, Liz Alexander – CHDC, Michael Brosnan – B & W Rural, Susan McDonnell – GrainGrowers and Jo Weier – Mungindi Cropping Group would like to thank

• AndrewEarle– JA Livingston & Partners• SamHeagney– South Bunarba Agriculture• TomGreentree– ATD Farming• LisaOrchin– Balarang Lands

• AllyMcDonnell– B & W Rural• PhilTonkin– Tonkin Farming• EdwardMcDonnell– MD & SE McDonnell

for their support and assistance, without which today would not be possible.

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WELCOME

NEW TECHNOLOGY IS PROvIDING AMAZING OPPORTuNITIES TO TRANSFORM AND GROW OuR AGRIBuSINESS SuPPLY CHAINS.

Supporting the exciting development and widespread adoption of robotic technology, drones, precision agriculture and other big data and sensor applications in our region, GrainGrowers Ltd have partnered with the Mungindi Cropping Group to hold the AgTeCH18: Build it, use it, Profit supported by the Central Highlands Development Corporation.

TheMungindiCroppingGrouphopesthatthiswillbecomeabiennialeventfortheregionbuildingonthesuccessofAgTeCH17heldEmeraldin2017.Togetherthetwoeventswillshowcaseinventionandinnovationintheregionandprovidenetworking,learningandbusinessopportunities.

Thisyear’sAgTeCH18fulldayforumfocusesonearlystageandcommercialapplicationsofAutomation(roboticsanddrones)andCommunication,ConnectivityandPrecisionFarming–withaspecificfocusonimprovingfarmandagribusinessprofitabilityanduserconfidenceinthetechnology.

GrainGrowers and the Mungindi Cropping Group welcome you to AgTeCH18: Build It, use It, Profit.

JO WEIERProject Officer, Mungindi Cropping Group

SuSAN MCDONNELLNorthern Region Coordinator, Grain Growers Limited

MICHAEL BROSNANAgronomist,Mungindi Cropping Group

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PROGRAM

MC PETER LEWISRespectedruraljournalist,PeterLewisisnowthedirectorofBrisbane-basedconsultancyWaywithWordsaftera35yearcareerinbroadcastjournalism.He’saformerNationalRural&RegionalReporterforABCNewsandCurrentAffairs,foreigncorrespondentandExecutiveProducerofABC-TV’sLandlineprogramme.PeteisalsoarepresentativeontheInternationalFederationofAgriculturalJournalists(IFAJ),Vice-PresidentoftheAustralianCouncilofAgriculturalJournalists(ACAJ)andpastpresidentoftheRuralPressClubofQueensland.

NSW time8.30am Registrations Open 9.00am Opening and Welcome MCFormerExecutiveProducerandLandlineReporter,PeterLewis

9.30am Join the interactive questions and answer Panel Session with insights from the best in the field of Automation and Drones.• JocieBate,FounderandChiefFinancialOfficer,SwarmFarmRobotics• DrGrahamBrodie,SeniorLecturer,FacultyOfVeterinaryandAgriculturalSciencesMelbourneUniversity

• GlenCoughran,Manager,BeefwoodFarms• JeromeLeroy,ManagingDirector,InFarm

11.00am Morning tea11.30am Gain a greater understanding of what’s current and whats coming in

Communication, Connectivity and Precision Farming in our second interactive Panel Session.• BrianAhern,RegionalProjectDirector,FieldSolutionsandJustISPNetworks• TomDowling,GeneralManager,GoannaTelemetry• DrBenJones,PrecisionAgronomySpecialist,GrainGrowersLimited• DavidWright,Founder&Director,CollaborationProcessUtilityPtyLtd(CPU)

1.00pm Lunch and networking: Connectdirectlywithindividualswhoshareyourinterestswithourtailoredone-on-one

sessions.

2.30pm Demonstration in the Field: Youropportunitytoexperiencefirsthandthetechnologyfromtoday’sforuminaction

includingSwarmFarmRobotics,microwaveweedcontroltechnology,Infarm,Goannaandmore...

5.30pm Day concludes with BBQ and drinks.

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NOTES

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Jocie BateFounding Director and CFO, SwarmFarm RoboticsEightyearsago,innovativeCentralHighlandsgrainandcattlefarmersAndrewandJocieBatehadthevisiontodevelopsmall,autonomousroboticfarmingtechnology;SwarmfarmRobotics.JocieBateisafoundingdirectorandtheChiefFinancialOfficerofSwarmFarmRoboticsandhaslifetimeexperienceinagriculture.Shegrewuponasheepandbeefcattleoperationsouth-westofBlackall,QueenslandAustralia.Shehastrainedasanagriculturaleconomistandhasmanyyears’experienceinagriculturalconsulting,ruralfinanceandgrainfarming.JociegraduatedfromtheUniversityofNewEngland,ArmidalewithaDegreeinAgriculturalEconomics.

JociewillbejoinedatMungindiAgTeCH19bySwarmFarmteammembersDirectorandBusinessDevelopmentleadNevilleCrookandWilliamMcCarthy,AgriculturalEngineer.

Dr Graham BrodieSenior Lecturer, Faculty Of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences Melbourne UniversityDrBrodieisanelectricalandelectronicengineer,withover35yearsofindustrialandacademicexperience.Hisprofessionalactivitieshaveincludeddesignof:industrialmicrowavesystems;microwavesensorsystems;overheadandundergroundelectricaldistributionnetworks;on-farmanimalwastemanagementsystems;andapplicationofGeographicInformationSystemsandRemoteSensingtechnologiesinagriculture;andon-farmrenewableenergyproduction.Duringthelastdecade,hehasparticularlyfocusedonapplyingmicrowaveenergyto:killingweedsandtheirseedbanksinthesoil;applyingmicrowaveenergytoresourcerecoveryfromwaste;andremotesensingoftermitesanddecayinwood.

Glen CoughranFarm Manager, Beefwood FarmsGlenmanagesBeefwoodFarmsalargescalegraingrowingbusinessintheMoreeregionofNorthernNewSouthWales.OwnedbyGerrit&PamKurstjens,BeefwoodFarmshaveimplementedanautonomoustractorintotheirfarmingoperationinordertoimproveefficiency.GlenhasworkedcloselywiththemanufacturerstotrialandimplementthetechnologyatBeefwoodFarmsandbelievesitvastlyalterstheopportunitiesavailableinfarmingandautomation.Thetechnologysofarhasbeenusedinconjunctionwiththeweedseekersystemallowingthefarmtoimprovetheirweedcontrolprogrambygettingbettercontrolofdifficulttokillweedswhilstreducinginputs.

Jerome LeroyManaging Director, InFarmJeromegrewupinsunnyNorthQueensland.HeattendedUQforhisBachelorsandUWAforhisPostGradDipinMineralExplorationandGeoscience(findingminesusingremotesensing).JeromeworkedinWAandabroadbeforelaunchinghisfirstbusinessWesternAerialMapping,aUAVserviceprovider.HegrewthebusinesswhichnowhasclientsinQLD,NSW,VICandWA.Jerome’sdiverseskills,knowledgeandaviationexpertiseformedastrongbaseforhisnewbusiness,InFarm.InFarm,anagriculturalplatformthatusesdronesandartificialintelligencetohelpfarmers.Jeromeandthecompanyarebothbasedlocally,intheAg-TechCapitalofAustralia,Goondiwindi.InFarmfirstproductisadronetotractorfallowweedsolution.Theplatformusesstateoftheartartificialintelligencetoidentifyweeds,determinesthelocationsoftheweedsandthenusesfarmersexistingmachines,turningthemintospotsprayers.Withnoextraequipmentrequirementforfarmers,InFarmstechnologyissettorevolutionisefallowweedmanagement.

PANEL SPEAKERS:AuTOMATION: DRONES AND ROBOTICS

JOCIE BATESwarmFarm Robotics

DR GRAHAM BRODIEMelbourne University

GLEN COuGHRANBeefwood Farms

JEROME LEROYInFarm

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Brian AhernRegional Project Director, Field Solutions and Just ISP NetworksBasedintheBWRuralFlourMillinMoree,theJustISPnetworkcontinuestoGrowandSpreadacrosstheAgribusinessSector.BriancomesfromhumblebeginningsatUniversityofQueenslandwherehewasaSparkyandDataTechrollingoutUQ’sFibreandCoppernetworksacrossCampusandInter-campusbeforemovingintotheTelcoBuildspacewithNDC(Telstra’sConstructioncompany)andlaterrunninglargeScaleOpticFibreBuildsforTelstraCountryWide.Hehas28years’experienceintheElectricalCommunicationsandCarrierNetworkGame.BrianischargedwithdeliveringJUSTISP’sHighSpeedNetworktoFarms,FarmersandtheCommunity.ACommunitybasedmodelthatcanbreaktheDataDroughtinRegionalAustralia.

Tom DowlingGeneral Manager, Goanna TelemetryTomDowlingisthefounderandgeneralmanagerofGoondiwindibasedcompanyGoannaTelemetry,developingsensingequipmentforagriculturalapplications.GoannaTelemetryaimtoproducemonitoringdevicesenablingfarmerstomonitorweatherandcropconditionsinapractical,economicalandtimeefficientmanner.OneofthelatestsystembeingimplementedbyGoannaTelemetryisthetemperatureinversionmonitoringequipmenttoindicateandalertgrowerstothetimesofinversionconditionsandsubsequentriskofspraydrift.Tomhasextensiveexpertiseinplantandsoilnutrition,crophealthandirrigationschedulinghavingspent27yearsasanagronomistandispassionateaboutprovidingfarmerswiththeskillsandtechnologytobettermanagetheircropsinordertoincreaseproductivity.

Dr Ben JonesPrecision Agronomy Specialist, Grain Growers LimitedBengrewuponafarmintheVictorianMallee.Returningtheretoworkinresearch,andtryingtoapplyPrecisionAgricultureideasatthescaleoflow-inputfarming,especiallyforfarmadvisers(andhisdad),laidthefoundationsforthelaterdevelopmentofthePASourcePAplatform.Ben’scurrentworkistointegrate“essential”PAcapabilityintotheProductionWiseplatform.Alongthewayhewantstoleveragetheuniquesynergiesthathavingmanagement,climateandPAtogetherprovides,whilekeepingitsimplefortheuser.

David WrightFounder and Director, Collaboration Process Utility Pty Ltd (CPU)DavidWrightisafounderanddirectorofCollaborationProcessUtilityPtyLtd(CPU)basedattheUniversityofNewEngland’sSmartRegionIncubatorinArmidaleNSW.Davidhas35yearsinbusinessandresearchcoveringarangeofindustriesandsectorsincludingthelivestockandmeatindustry,cropping,informationtechnology,UAVs,aerialsurveysandvariousspatialtechnologies.CPUalongwithleadingtechnologyandresearchpartnersareassemblinganddevelopingasuiteoftechnologiesrelevanttotheremotemonitoringandconductoffarmingbusinessesandhighvalueindustriesthatco-existacrossthelandscape.CoretoCPU’ssolutionsuiteisthedevelopmentofa3Dvisualisationandsituationalawarenessplatformandcommandcentre.Integratingaudioanddatacommunicationgateways,thissolutionwillallowremoteandin-fieldaccessandvisualisationoflandscapedatasetsfusedwithenterpriseandoperationaldataandprecisionspatialdatasetsfromaboveandbelowground.CPU’ssolutionsuitewillaidintheplanningconduct,management,remotemonitoringandsurveillanceoflandscapescalebusinessesandactivities.

PANEL SPEAKERS:COMMuNICATION, CONNECTIvITY AND PRECISION FARMING

BRIAN AHERNField Solutions and Just ISP Networks

TOM DOWLINGGoanna Telemetry

DR BEN JONESGrain Growers Limited

DAvID WRIGHTCollaboration Process Utility Pty Ltd (CPU)

About GrainGrowers LimitedGrainGrowersisanindependentandtechnicallyresourced,grainfarmerrepresentativeorganisationwithover18,000membersacrossAustralia.GrainGrowers’goalisamoreefficient,sustainableandprofitablegrainproductionsectorthatbenefitsallAustraliangrainfarmersandthewidergrainsindustry.AcrosstheNorthernRegion,GrainGrowershavesupportedandfacilitatedawidevarietyofeventsandworkshopsfocusedonthelatestagriculturaltechnologyandinnovation,includingAgTeCH17.www.graingrowers.com.au

About Mungindi Cropping Group MungindiCroppingGroupisanotforprofitorganisationengaginggrowersfromacrossnorthernNSW&southernQueensland.Thegrowergroupwasinitiatedin2012byagroupofgraingrowersandadvisorsintheregionwantingtoencourageresearchprojectsofrelevancetotheirfarmingsystem.TheMungindiCroppingGrouphasfacilitatedarangeofinitiativesacrosstheregionbridgingthegapbetweengrowersandinnovation.

About CHDCCentralHighlandsDevelopmentCorporation(CHDC)isanotforprofitorganisationandtheleadeconomicandtourismdevelopmentagencyfortheCentralHighlandsregionofQueensland,Australia.In2016,theCHDCandtheCentralHighlandsRegionalCouncil(CHRC)establishedtheCentralHighlandsAccelerateAgribusiness(CHAA)initiativetogrow,promoteandrealisethevalueandopportunitiesforallbusinessesproducingagriculturalandfoodproducts,processingandprovidingothervalue-addingservicesintheCentralHighlands.TheinauguralAgTeCH17:Buildit,Useit,ProfitwasheldinEmeraldtoasell-outcrowdof240on8November,2017.AgTeCH19willbeheldinEmeraldonWednesday7November2019.www.chdc.com.au

Contact:Susan McDonnellNorthernRegionCoordinatorNorthernNSW,QueenslandandNTGrainGrowersLimited“Minoo”ThallonQLD4497M:0407170315E:Susan.McDonnell@graingrowers.com.au