Best ag innovators recognised at grains industry gala night

GOONDIWINDI agri-business consultant Jerome Leray has taken out the Innovation in Ag award at the Queensland Grains Gala Dinner for his groundbreaking weed targeting technology.

AgForce Grains President Wayne Newton said Mr Leray’s business InFarm was at the forefront of herbicide technology and he was a deserving winner of the award.

“Mr Leray’s drone-to-tractor technology defines the zones that need to be sprayed, saving producers up to 80% on their fallow weed herbicide bill and turning their everyday tractor into a weed-targeting machine,” he said.

“Thanks to this technology, producers are saving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on herbicide costs.

“This is a great innovation because the producer does not need to do anything different apart from plugging in a USB, abolishing the need to buy expensive spot spraying equipment.”

Mr Newton said it was fitting to be celebrating innovation in agriculture in Goondiwindi where so many cropping innovations were born.

“From 50-metre booms to early-controlled traffic systems, many good ideas came to fruition around Goondiwindi, and we wanted to ensure the Queensland Grains Gala Dinner acknowledged and celebrated that,” he said.

“Mr Leray won the award because the measurable outcome for the grain industry are two-fold; chemical savings for the farmer and a reduction in environmental chemical impacts.”

This year’s Service to the Grains Industry award was presented to Michael Castor from MCA Consultants at the gala night.