Innovation Awards 2020

Gold: Garford Farm Machinery, Robocrop baby salad leaf hoe

Combating increasing restrictions placed on herbicide weed control, Garford’s baby salad leaf hoe is designed for delicate hoeing in crops working at narrow row spacings below 50mm.

Using inter row technology and disc steering, 5mm accuracy is achieved providing maximum weed control using unique shares for minimal soil disturbance, says the manufacturer.

Silver: SOYL, MySOYL yield insight tool

Gold: JF Hudson, AktivPuls milking cluster and liner concept

Designed to improve udder health, particularly when it comes to lowering somatic cell counts and reducing mastitis cases, German milking technology specialist AktivPuls, imported into the UK by JF Hudson, has developed a new milking cluster concept.

At the heart of the innovation is the liner which is said to create a more ‘natural’ milking experience, using lower vacuum levels. The liners feature seven zones to adapt to teats of all sizes and are said to last up to 320 per cent longer than conventional liners, while speeding up milking times by 8 per cent.

Silver: Kuhn, Twin reel film binding system

Silver: Easyfix, Jupiter F cow mattress

Silver: Huesker, Agritec Silage Safe clamp covering system

Gold: Herbst Machinery, Agri Screen three-way screener

Ideal for agricultural contractors and farmers looking to diversify, the Herbst Compac Screen is a three-way split screener, able to be towed behind a tractor.

The screen consists of a screen box with a pan feeder, with material fed directly onto a two-deck screening area. Material is then separated into three different fractions, with the machine producing three-stock piles of material, says the manufacturer.

The screener features its own power unit and hydraulics, making it self-sufficient when parked up and operating on site, says Herbst.

Silver: Forest Master, Zero Hand Trucks zero pivot system

Silver: Howseman Agriculture, six row drip tape laying unit

Gold: Martin Lishman, ImpacTrack data logger

Designed to replicate the movement characteristics of fruit and vegetables prone to damage and bruising during handling and transport, Martin Lishman has developed ImpacTrack, a low-cost data logger featuring a family of synthetic food shapes.

At the hub of each shape is a small data logger cube. Via Bluetooth transmitter, they allow real-time monitoring or recording of damage and temperature during handling at any stage from the field to the shop floor.

Silver and IVEL award winner: Veenhuis, Nutri Flow real time slurry analysis

As well as picking up a silver innovation award, Veenhuis’ Nutri Flow was also recognised for its beneficial contribution to the environment.

The system was developed on the back of a requirement in the Netherlands for each load of liquid manure moved from farm to have a sample taken, analysed by a laboratory and recorded – an often lengthy and costly process.

To combat this, Veenhuis developed an analysis system which can be incorporated onto a slurry tanker or slurry application rig giving real time data analysis.

Silver: Agrifac, AiCPlus camera-guided spot spraying

Silver: Hampton Steel, Versalok metal intermediate post and clip system

Gold: Apollo Vredestein, Traxion Optimall tyre

Able to be operated at up to 25 per cent lower pressure in the field than comparable VF (very high flexation) tyres currently in the market, Vredestein’s new Traxion Optimall tyre has been designed to improve traction while at the same time reduce soil compaction.

A key design trait is the highly flexible sidewall, which sees the shoulder area support the carcass at low pressure for extreme deflection, says the manufacturer.

For road work, a specially designed rigid upper bead zone supports the stability of the tyre at low pressure.

Silver: Bombardier Recreational Products, Can-Am ATV anti–lock braking system

Gold: Sparex, Connix LED magnetic wireless lighting system

Inspired by the need for an easy-to-use and effective update to trailer lights, Connix is a wireless LED lighting set consisting of two magnetic LED lights and a seven pin plug.

With the ability to be used on practically any vehicle, the kit functions as indicators, hazard lights, brake lights, as well as a vehicle registration highlight.

Silver: Herdwatch, Farm Medicine Scanner