The free and open to the public 2017 Banana Shire Industry Summit being held on Tuesday, August 8 from 9am to 1pm at the Biloela Civic Centre Auditorium is sure to generate a lot of interest from primary producers living and working in the region.
Banana Shire Council Administration and Community Services manager Frank Smallwood said the annual event gives people from the region an opportunity to unite and discuss the key challenges and issues they're currently up against.
The key theme of this years annual Industry Summit will be ‘Sustainable Farming – An Economic Driver’.
“This year we’ll be looking at innovative technology pertinent to agriculture like robotics and drones, and how they can help overcome the challenges local primary producers are facing,” Mr Smallwood said.
“During the event guests will be able to get a look at the tech available and gather first-hand information from the people using it,” he said.
The event will be chaired by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, senior industry development officer, Ken Murphy, and Banana Shire Council mayor Nev Ferrier will officially open the proceedings.
Pulse Australia’s Northern Region industry development manager Paul McIntosh will discuss the benefits of crop rotation and export standards, while Swarm Farm Robotics chairman Campbell Newman will detail the companies delivery of commercial weed control services using robots.
Managing director of Toowoomba Engineering, Andrew Farquharson, will present on precision farming technology and how to obtain best yield under a variety of scenarios, and Peter McMeekin, origination manager for Nidera Australia Pty Ltd will provide his insights into the marketing of winter crops with an emphasis on chick pea and wheat.
After the presentations, guests will have a chance to learn more from the speakers during a Q&A session.
Guests will also be able to enjoy a delicious lunch using locally sourced products prepared by well known professional chef Matt Golinski, while they network with the speakers and each other.
During the day one lucky guest will take home a holiday prize pack courtesy of Outback Queensland Tourism Association.
In the morning before the Industry Summit begins, managing director of AuSafety Systems and executive director of Farmsafe Queensland, Jamie Cupples will provide practical farm safety ideas and solutions for farming families during a breakfast being held at the Biolela Civic Centre Supper Room from 7am at a cost of $20 per person.
To register for the Industry Summit and breakfast please visit www.eventbrite.com.au , bookings are essential.
