Show set for success

By Danny Buttler
FOR many men and women on the land, Farm World is one of the highlights of the year.
Not only is the annual event at Lardner Park a chance to check on all the new technologies and gadgets for the farm, it also offers an opportunity to catch up with some familiar faces that might not have been seen since the previous year’s Farm World.
This week’s event, which will run from Thursday to Sunday, will delve into the rapidly expanding opportunities for farmers with its theme of New Directions in Agriculture.
Chief executive officer Mark Cockerell said Farm World is Australia’s premier mixed farming event and will include more than 700 exhibitors who span the spectrum of requirements for successful and sustainable rural living.
Exhibitor displays will cover everything from basic to sophisticated farm machinery and equipment, backed up by a host of essential information and services.
“Farm World is all about helping visitors to make informed purchasing decisions,” he said.
“A visit to Farm World will help them with decisions on the latest agricultural machinery, essential equipment and the latest information, technology and available support systems.
“Our theme this year, New Directions in Agriculture, is sponsored by the Department of Primary Industries, and the Lardner Park Exhibition Centre will showcase new technologies and initiatives to make farming more profitable and sustainable.
“These include practical advice for farming newcomers, high-tech developments in modern agriculture, computer-based farm planning programs, pasture monitoring, safe use of farm chemicals, soil testing and how to care for small herds and flocks.”
Mr Cockerell said that among other featured exhibitors on the theme include Hortworks, which supplies glasshouses and equipment for the hydroponics industry; Capitas Accounting Solutions, with an extensive range of Fairport farm management software customised for specific agricultural applications, plus Farm Mapping Services; The Landcare movement; The Victorian Farmers’ Markets Association; The Bureau of Meteorology, with its site-specific forecasts to within a 5km range.