With drones zooming across the sky and concept driverless tractors on display, Falcon UAV’s Phil Lyons said the 2017 Henty Machinery Field Days proved farmers were at the forefront of technology.

Mr Lyons said drones could scare birds from orchards and be fitted with near-infra red cameras which could map plant stress, not yet visible to the naked eye. 

The technology could also show healthy areas that don’t need fertiliser. 

“It shows plant stress weeks before it would be seen by a human eye,” he said.

“It means you’re able to fix problems before you can even see them.”

Mr Lyons said with drones able to search for lost cattle, check if farmers have closed gates and complete many money-saving jobs around the farm, it would be only years until they became as common as sheepdogs. 

Tumbarumba’s Tom Robertson said birds cost him $23,000 worth of chestnuts on his farm last year alone.

He had been looking to purchase drone bird-scaring technology, likely to set him back $3000, and was especially keen after seeing the machine in work on his property last week.

Far from being resistant to change, modern farmers are embracing new ideas to make their lives easier and their job more precise. 

New Holland national production manager Tony Peters said people were always wary of new inventions at first. 

“You look back to the guidance technology 15 years ago and no one thought it would take off … now we don’t sell anything without guidance,” he said.

Mr Peters said the site’s concept autonomous ‘driverless’ tractor was a popular talking point for visitors. 

“Ideally in the future you’d be able to operate the machine from the phone or tablet and the farmer can go do something else,” he said.

“It’s also about productivity, it could keep going as long as there is fuel in the tank. It wouldn’t just be broadacre farming, it could be used in vineyards and harvesters.”

The Henty Field Days too are embracing change and looking to remain on the forefront of innovation as the biggest agricultural event in Australia, with a larger demonstration area planned for next year. 

“We’re really proud of that. There will be extra agricultural exhibits for visits especially as that’s the most important part, the machinery farming,” event coordinator Graeme Hicks said.

Mr Hicks said the Field Days had retained its strong visitation and he was hopeful the great atmosphere would continue into the third day.