Message in a Lower North paddock captures national attention

Lower North farmer Harry Schuster has used his John Deere tractor to create an outline of Australia - complete with Tasmania - and the Australian flag in time for Australia Day.

Mr Schuster said the idea started when he wanted to see just what was possible with tractor technology.

"The point of no return was when I got to the bottom star of the southern cross, and then got the drone out and had a look at how well it was turning out," he said.

The tillage art was created by Mr Schuster using a creative commons image to upload a custom "fenceline" into his John Deere app, which he was then able to follow in his tractor.

His brother, Corbin Schuster, then captured the image from the sky in his light airplane.

Last year the paddock was used for hay, with canola planned for seeding this year in the paddock that sits next to his family's wedding and accommodation venue, the Barns of Freeling.

"We often have to use tillage before seeding if the stubble is too thick, although that paddock wasn't due for tillage," he said.

"It was only one pass with the tillage and I'm impressed with the contrast."

This was not the first time Mr Schuster had used his tractor to share a message.

In 2015, following the Pinery bushfire, he wrote a message thanking the Country Fire Service and BlazeAid.

At the time, he needed to blindly write that, without GPS assistance.

Then last year, with his family growing sunflowers to raise money for charity, he created a sunflower in the paddock, which was captured on Google Earth.

Mr Schuster said the sunflower last year stayed visible until seeding and he is hopeful the map can remain visible until they begin seeding, usually around Anzac Day.

"It can put a good town on the map for a great country," he said.

Mr Schuster said he was a little surprised at how much attention the illustration had created, with him fielding media interviews from across Australia.

"It just took off like a jet," he said.

"I feel good whenever I see 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie' or others like that in the comments."