• Charles Sturt researchers to offer packed three-day program of presentations at Henty Machinery Field Days
• Experts will provide sessions on topics including the Global Digital Farm, the Food Agility Cool Soil Initiative and Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
• The HMFD will be held from Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 September

Charles Sturt University researchers will deliver three days of presentations covering the University’s impactful research and its innovation and research hub at the Henty Machinery Field Days (HMFD).

The HMFD will be held from Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 September and Charles Sturt is announcing its presence to offer insight into new technologies, resource conservation and efficiency and improvements for farming practices.

Executive Dean of the Charles Sturt Faculty of Science and Health Professor Megan Smith said the University was proud to be represented at the field days to demonstrate how it is contributing to its communities through research.

“Charles Sturt University is a leading regional university and leading producer of agricultural higher education,” she said.

“The Henty Machinery Field Days offers the opportunity to present our innovations and research to industry leaders and producers in the agricultural industries.

“The field days is attended by thousands of industry experts over three days and is the perfect platform for the University to show how it is striving to grow the industry and become part of the conversation on how to make agriculture more profitable and sustainable in Australia and overseas.”

Professor Smith said the field days is a way for the University to cultivate new and existing industry partnerships and build on its reputation for producing research that creates a world worth living in.

A panel of experts from the Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, the Gulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment and the Global Digital Farm will deliver three days of presentations from the University’s site at the field days. The program is as below.

Tuesday 20 September:

• 10am to 10.30am: Executive Director of the Southern NSW Innovation Hub Ms Cindy Cassidy – Discover the Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
• 12pm to 12.30pm: Dr Jane Kelly – Barley grass seed contamination in sheep: Options associated with early integrated weed management
• 1.30pm to 2pm: Dr Cassandra Schefe and Mr Jonathon Medway – Food Agility Cool Soil Initiative, a project through the Gulbali Institute
• 2.30pm to 3pm: Mr Jonathon Medway – Global Digital Farm Initiative – using precision data to make better farm decisions

Wednesday 21 September:

• 10.30am to 11am: Associate Professor Skye Wassens – What can frogs and reptiles tell us about wetland health and farm biodiversity?
• 11.30am to 12pm: Professor Jane Quinn – How can efficient feeders improve on-farm productivity?
• 1.30pm to 2pm: Dr Jeff McCormick – Transforming cattle production on farm with dual-purpose crops

Thursday 22 September:

• 10.30am to 11am: Dr Shawn McGrath – Better productivity and profitability – Sheep nutrition, management and reproduction
• 11.30am to 12pm: Dr Martin Combs – Effective diagnosis, treatment and protection of dogs from grass seeds
• 1.30pm to 2pm: Dr John Broster – Project herbicide resistance

Technology from the Global Digital Farm, such as ATV and soil sensors, drones, soil probes and a livestock weighing unit, will be on display for the duration of the field days at the Charles Sturt site.

The Charles Sturt Winery will also be conducting wine tastings. Three Rivers Department of Rural Health will also be at the site, allowing prospective students and visitors to use professional equipment to take blood pressures, heart rate and temperatures.

Charles Sturt will be located at Site 564/565, Block N at the Henty Machinery Field Days from Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 September.

For more information on the presentations or to reserve a seat at one of the sessions, visit the Charles Sturt HMFD page.