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The National Ploughing Association (NPA) Innovation Arena is the perfect place to launch new innovations and this year, Irish Farmers Journal readers can vote for their favourite innovation in the People’s Choice category.
The NPA Innovation Arena puts inventions from Ireland on show to the world and helps establish their success by introducing them to the marketplace and facilitating networks that will help them take steps towards achieving commercial success.
In the build-up to this year’s Ploughing championships, each day we profile four of the innovators.
The gaffer clip device allows the operator to fence with just two hands. It can be fitted on the fence post using a battery-operated drill.
This innovative clip is designed to replace a staple. The clips are attached to the fencing post or hedge using a Posi drive screw.
The battery-operated drill, with a magnetic screw-holder, holds the screw in place, allowing the fencer to attach the clip using a one-handed operation.
FarmEye is a software system which forms a digital chain-of-custody from the soil, to the plant, to the animal, to the dinner table.
FarmEye allows the user to easily maintain and analyse a digital record of the soil management and nutrition for every field on the farm. It is an easy-to-use, highly visual, map-based system for use on laptop, desktop and smartphone app.
Soil-Mate is a smartphone app, based on GPS and barcoding, which tracks a soil sample from its geo location in the field to the lab and back.
The Hanntec Defender has been designed for use on Irish farms.
It utilises highly effective externally mounted electronic dual-tech motion sensors to detect unauthorised entry into a farmyard. Once detected, the Hanntec defender switches on external sounders and multiple high-powered LED floodlights. It then alerts the farmer of the intrusion via his/her mobile phone.
The Hanntec Defender is designed to stop intruders before they proceed to break into workshops, tool-sheds, houses, etc. Operation is extremely simple via a mobile phone, time clock or keyfob.
‘Watch Tag’ is Herdwatch’s newest innovation. It is a small device that is easily fitted to an animal’s ID tag or a leg band without the need for an invasive procedure or interference with legal ID requirements.
When a farmer wants to view or record information about an animal, he/she will simply open the Herdwatch app which will detect any nearby WatchTag and display the relevant information.
The competition takes place over the three days of the National Ploughing Championships from 19 to 21 September and the winner will be announced on the final day.
To take part in the voting, click here.
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