FARMING smarter was a key theme at the Henty Farm Machinery Field Days, which began on Tuesday.
In opening the event, Henty Field Days chairman Ross Edwards focused on innovation.
"The Henty Machinery Field Days has celebrated 50 years of solid growth and now looks beyond the horizon to the next 50 years," Mr Edwards said.
"The challenge for Australian farmers for the next 50 years is to focus on farming smarter, not harder."
This theme extended to the Machine of the Year award winner - the Tow and Fert Multi 4000 - a New Zealand-made fertiliser sprayer exhibited in Australian for the first time at Henty by Tow and Farm sales manager Neil Parker, Melbourne.
The Tow and Fert Multi 4000 can use liquid fertiliser, biologically active fertiliser, soluble fertiliser and insoluble fine-particle fertiliser.
"We are really excited; we are a small family-owned business, so an award like this is really prestigious for us," Mr Parker said.
National Stockyard Systems at Rutherford via Maitland was recognised with a highly commended award for its Stabiliser 200 crush.
Among those with confidence to spend up were Mount Mulga Pastoral Company manager Andrew Cumming, West Wyalong, and owner Richard Davis (both pictured), who used the occasion to buy a new Stoll Boomspray.
- NICK HEYDON