The field days, the single biggest agricultural event in southern Australia, will return this September after last year's forced hiatus.

The three-day event, which attracts more than 60,000 visitors each year, was forced to cancel the 2020 event due to COVID-19 - the third time the event has ever been cancelled.

Inventors are being invited to showcase their innovative ideas in the Agri-Innovator of the Year Award.

The entries must meet the criteria of having a practical on-farm application, be based on an original idea of the entrant and not be in full-scale production at the time entry.

HMFD chief executive officer Belinda Anderson said the Agri-Innovators was aimed at tertiary and university students, farmers, backyard tinkerers and innovators.

"Entries can be any agribusiness invention, ranging from a mobile phone app or computer software program to the largest tillage machinery,'' she said.

"This year's entrants receive exposure to the agricultural market place and the opportunity to network with potential manufacturers.''

Temora farmer and the 2018 Agri-Innovation winner for an auto sheep feeder, Justin Dunn, encouraged all aspiring inventors to enter their concept in the awards.

"At some point you have to take off - it may be not finished or perfect but you will never get to that point until you have it out there commercially," he said.

The Shepherd received nationwide media coverage from the win at Henty with about 50 units sold after the event and went on to win the NAB Agribusiness Award of Excellence at the Australian National Field Days.

At Henty, The Shepherd was a solar-powered new generation smart feeder incorporating automated technologies.

The units are now fitted with a 4G remote camera with a 300-degree view, and also an SMS remote controller which sends alerts via text message.

This year's event will be a particularly special field days, with 2021 celebrating 60 years since it began.

The field days are scheduled for September 21 to 23 with online ticket sales for visitors to open in late July.

With the 2019 event drawing more than 850 exhibitors on over 1200 sites, Mrs Anderson is expecting exhibitors numbers to be in excess of 850 for 2021.

"We are back with a bang this year," she said.