| Livestock
Brand new event : Dairy-Tech 2018
Dairy-Tech is taking place at Stoneleigh Park on Wednesday 7 February . This brand new , one day event will showcase ground-breaking technology and innovation . It will inspire uptake of the latest science and field-based skills , introduce a fresh range of innovative products and services and pioneer new global concepts .
T he future of dairy farming relies on innovation , innovative changes and the development of technology and Dairy-Tech will reflect this with some brand new concepts . The event aims to answer questions including : What can satellite mapping offer farmers ? How much potential do drones have to monitor cattle welfare ? How can a better understanding of the complexities of genetics make a step change in herd performance ? And what innovations could improve slurry management ? There are an extensive number of new products being brought to the event by exhibitors , with many entered in the Royal Dairy Innovation Award ; these will be showcased on the innovation hub in a ‘ Dragons Den ’ style pitch to the judges .
Tickets are now on sale ; they cost £ 17 when booked in advance at www . dairy-tech . uk and are free for RABDF members .
The two speaker ‘ hubs ’ – innovation and dairy – will feature overseas and influential industry speakers who will deliver presentations and interactive workshops focusing on key topics relevant to the sector . Speakers will cover subjects such as drone mapping and the laws surrounding drone use ; developments on automation and how these could answer the potential labour shortage ; applied genomics for progressive dairies and how to bust the ever growing series of milk myths facing the industry .
The innovation hub has been designed to expand horizons , ways of thinking and introduce new concepts . Session formats will take that of interviews , new product launches and road-testing technology whilst highlighting the possible future options for dairy farms ; can dairy farms really go ‘ off grid ’ and be sustainable ? Can they print their own parts for essential machinery or the parlour ? How can they reduce their carbon footprint ? Or even float on a river ? Sessions will focus on solutions for dairy farms that could be applied
www . farmingmonthly . co . uk tomorrow or in ten years ’ time . All presenters have been challenged to present in a novel way , reduce powerpoint slides , use props and engage with the audience .
Whilst the innovation hub is tech-focused , the dairy hub will offer advice , guidance , political insight , knowledge and take home messages for current problems experienced on dairy farms . Sessions will include forums , workshops and seminars focusing on antimicrobial resistance , the overseas labour shortage , organics , increasing profitability and farm health planning . Budding inventors and entrepreneurs will also be able to listen to funding advice here and learn how it is possible to turn an idea in to reality .
The show will house a tech-zone made up of small stands , allowing visitors to road-test new technology , products and services . These solutions will offer dairy farmers a glimpse of the technological revolution that is coming their way ; there will also be a working 3D printer and virtual reality feature in this area .
Drone AG and Bexcopter will be showcasing their drones and highlighting just what they can offer a dairy business ? In short the possibilities are endless ; geo mapping , grass disease management , counting cattle .
There will be additional demonstrations during the day including a variety of automation from Lely . They will be demonstrating their Astronaut milking robot using six to eight halter trained cattle . Cows will be milked on the hour , every hour . The Vector and Juno will also be on show , completing the automation line up . Lely ’ s brand new Discovery robotic scraper can also be found on the Lely exhibit – a product due to be released to the market in early 2019 . Visitors will also have the chance to observe the Hands Free Hectare kit in action ( on screen ) and ask the engineers from the Hands Free Hectare project questions surrounding their work , its aims , its future goals and its success to date . Hector the driverless tractor and their working drone will be based on stand I21 .
Tickets are now on sale ; they cost £ 17 when booked in advance at www . dairy-tech . uk and are free for RABDF members . All pre-bought tickets are eligible for our personalised itinerary service , a copy of which will be emailed out ahead of the event . The itineraries are in place
to ensure visitors utilise their time efficiently and will advise which exhibitors match up with the categories of interest they have outlined during registration as well as suggesting the most relevant seminars and workshops to attend . The event opens at 8:00am and closes at 5:30pm and will be signed from all main routes ; parking is on site and is free of charge .
For further information please visit www . dairy-tech . uk or call the office on 02476 639 317
January 2018 | Farming Monthly | 21