The Wimmera Field Days at Longerenong wrapped up last week, and as always, the technology displays drew crowds. I spent two days wandering the exhibits and talking to farmers about what interested them.

Here’s what was generating real interest—not just curiosity, but genuine purchase intent.

Precision Agriculture Equipment

Variable Rate Technology

Multiple exhibitors featured variable rate application systems for seeding, fertiliser, and chemicals. The technology creates application maps based on yield data and soil testing, then automatically adjusts rates across the paddock.

Farmer interest was high. The maths is compelling: applying inputs where they’re effective, reducing waste where they’re not.

What I heard: “I’ve been zone managing manually for years. This automates what I’m already doing, but does it better.”

Key players: John Deere, Case IH, and CLAAS all had systems on display. Third-party providers like Precision Agriculture were busy throughout.

Soil Sensing Technology

Electromagnetic soil sensors that create detailed paddock maps were popular exhibits.

The technology measures soil conductivity at multiple depths, creating maps that show variation in soil types, moisture, and salinity. This data feeds into variable rate systems.

What I heard: “I thought I knew my paddocks. The soil map showed me things I’d never noticed in 30 years.”

Livestock Technology

Smart Ear Tags

Several companies demonstrated GPS-enabled ear tags that track livestock location, movement patterns, and health indicators.

The technology has matured since last year. Battery life has improved, costs have come down, and the software for interpreting data is more user-friendly.

What I heard: “If it can actually tell me which ewes aren’t grazing properly before they get crook, it’s worth it.”

The challenge: Connectivity. These systems need to get data off the property. Farmers with poor mobile coverage were skeptical.

Water Point Monitoring

Remote monitoring of water troughs—levels, quality, pump operation—attracted significant interest.

For properties with multiple water points across large areas, the savings in time checking waters is substantial.

What I heard: “I drive 50km checking waters every day in summer. If I knew which ones needed attention, I’d save hours.”

Farm Management Software

Integrated Platforms

The trend toward all-in-one farm management platforms was evident. Systems that combine mapping, record keeping, compliance documentation, and financial tracking.

What I heard: Mixed feedback. Farmers appreciated the concept but worried about lock-in and complexity. “I don’t want to learn another system. Will this one actually stick around?”

Climate and Weather Services

Advanced weather forecasting services specifically for agricultural decisions were well-represented.

Beyond basic forecasts, these services predict frost risk, spray windows, disease pressure, and optimal timing for operations.

What I heard: “The free weather apps are useless for farming decisions. This is specific enough to actually change what I do.”

Emerging Technology

Drone Services

Several drone operators displayed crop monitoring and spot-spraying services.

The technology is mature, but the business model for broad-acre farming remains challenging. Farmers were interested but price-sensitive.

What I heard: “Great for finding problems. But I can’t justify the cost for regular use.”

Carbon Measurement

With carbon farming interest growing, several exhibitors offered soil carbon measurement and certification services.

Farmer interest varied. Some saw opportunity; others remained skeptical about the commercial viability of carbon markets.

What Wasn’t There

Notably absent or underrepresented:

Autonomous tractors: Lots of driver-assist, but genuine autonomy wasn’t prominent. Manufacturers seem to have moderated expectations.

Robotics: Unlike horticulture shows, broad-acre agriculture robotics remain limited.

AI-everything: The hype cycle may have peaked. Exhibitors focused on practical benefits rather than AI as a selling point.

Overall Impressions

The technology on display felt more practical than previous years. Less futuristic speculation, more tools ready for real-world use.

The common thread: technology that helps farmers make better decisions with the data they already have, or could easily collect.

Connectivity remains the limiting factor for many advances. Until that’s solved, the most sophisticated technology remains unavailable to many properties.

If you’re exploring agricultural technology options, Team400 can help evaluate what’s practical for your specific situation and connectivity constraints.