The Fieldays Innovation Awards entries seem to increase in calibre each year and 2015 was no different. This year saw over 60 entrants spread across three categories with some big prizes up for grabs. Jon Calder, CEO of NZ National Fieldays Society says the awards were a huge success.
“The innovations we see at Fieldays continue to impress and amaze – there is always something new. The passion for creating something that will solve real problems for farmers and our ag-industry is exciting and encouraging for the future of New Zealand agritech."
"Fieldays was built around innovation and every year it just gets better and better. The level of ingenuity and creativity shown in the awards every year is inspiring.”
This year our involvement was kicked up a notch, with our very own Timothy Allan heading the Grassroots Innovation judging. "The entries were impressive, it was clear how much thought and ingenuity had gone into the products entered into the awards".
As part of our Fieldays participation, we presented the Locus Research Innovation Award to Bachler Steel for Fence Step. "The simplicity of the Fence Step is what caught my attention." Said Tim, "You took one look at it and knew it was a great idea". Fence Step allows farmers to freely attach a step to fence posts, without having to build a stiles around the fence boundaries. It means you don't have to aim for the gates when moving around your farm.
The Locus Research Innovation Award provides the recipient 4 x 1-day sessions with 4 of our team members to tackle the things which will make a difference to the product. It could be a brochure, brand, technical problem, IP, commercial or any aspect our integrated team can help with.
The 2015 Fieldays Innovation award winners are as follows.
Tru-Test Grassroots Awards
Innovation Award
Felton Industries – Ag Oxijet
An effluent wash down nozzle that draws in air to volumise water droplets and increase water velocity.
Merit
Te Pari – BCS Systems
An automated system for the measurements of body condition scores (BCS)
Bachler Steel – Fence Step
A simple, cost effective, steel step that attaches to a round or square wooden post.
Launch NZ
Innovation Award
Farm Medix – Check Up Mastitis Diagnostic Tool
On-farm mastitis diagnostic tool allowing farmers to test their cows with clinical or subclinical mastitis.
Merit
Zammr Ltd – Zammr Trough Clip.
A clip placed over the brass water inlet in a stock trough to prevent the brass arm from snapping
International Innovation Award
Waikato Milking Systems – Centrus 84 Composite Platform
A fully-composite rotary platform designed to milk several thousand cows a day.
Young Innovator of the Year
Kinneir Groube – Easy-Use Feed Bin Wires
A beam and wire system attached to feed bins that enables stock control on feed pads.
James & Wells IP Service Award
Kinneir Groube – Easy-Use Feed Bin Wires
A beam and wire system attached to feed bins that enables stock control on feed pads.
Locus Research Innovation Award
Bachler Steel – Fence Step
A simple, cost effective, steel step that attaches to a round or square wooden post.
Vodafone Innovation Technology Award
Danz Zappz – Fence Detective
A phone app that can detect whether an electric fence is switched on or off.
Vodafone People's Choice Award
Kinneir Groube – Easy-Use Feed Bin Wires
A beam and wire system attached to feed bins that enables stock control on feed pads.
Sponsored by Vodafone, Soda Inc, NZ Farmer, Tru-Test Group, Locus Research, James & Wells, and Callaghan Innovation
