Austrade highlights export opportunities at Henty farm show

Austrade media release

Tuesday, 23 September 2008

One of the biggest displays of mixed farming equipment in the Southern Hemisphere showcasing Australian innovation and expertise commences today at Henty Machinery Field Days in the NSW Riverina.
 
Austrade, the Australian Government’s trade and investment development agency, has brought influential buyers from the United States to demonstrate the depth of Australia’s expertise and will highlight the international export opportunities over three days (23 – 25 September) from its Australia Pavilion.

Austrade’s National Manager Agribusiness and Consumer, Robert Sutton, said rural and regional businesses get the opportunity to showcase their products as well as obtain live market information from Austrade’s trade specialist network around the world.

“The Australia Pavilion will provide US buyers with the opportunity to view the latest innovation in broad acre farming systems, water conservation technologies, farm safety devices, precision farming solutions, labour-saving devices and eco-friendly products,” Mr Sutton said.

“Australian agricultural producers are some of the most efficient in the world, due largely to their readiness to adopt cutting-edge technologies developed by home-grown companies.

“Austrade will run a series of seminars over three days as well as International market reports on-site live via video conferencing from Austrade’s Trade Commissioners from around the world including Peru, USA, South Africa and the Philippines,” Mr Sutton said.

Participants will also obtain information and advice on how they can participate in Austrade’s Australia Pavilions at leading trade shows across the United States like Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association (FEMA) held in Reno, Nevada from 5-8 November 2008 and World Ag Expo held in Tulare, California next year.

Henty Machinery Field Days has grown into one of the leading mixed farming expos in the Southern Hemisphere held every year over three days in September. 

Henty is a massive outdoor supermarket for leading edge farm machinery attracting around 800 exhibitors, with more than $350 million worth of agricultural machinery showcased for an audience of over 50,000 farmers, contractors and interested visitors.

The expo also covers a range of market segments which include: irrigation horticulture; viticulture; aquaculture; forestry; sheep and fine Australian wool; Australian and international cattle breeds; poultry as well as ‘alternative fuel seed stocks' such as canola & the emerging bio-diesel developments.

Austrade’s US-based District Manager for Kansas City (Great Plains) and US agriculture specialist, Randall Tosh, Australia’s participation at the last World Ag Expo has lead to significant commercial success for participating agribusinesses, reinforcing Australia’s reputation as a world leader in innovative technology and solutions in this sector.

“Austrade encourages local agribusinesses to consider participating in these events as it helps open opportunities in the lucrative US market that spends over A$280 billion on farm inputs each year,” Mr Tosh said.

“Our agribusinesses are already supplying the United States with a wide array of high-quality products and services across a range of sectors. Australia is a world leader in areas such as minimum tillage farming, water conservation and precision agriculture to name a few,” he said.

Henty Machinery Field Days is situated between the two major NSW regional cities of Albury and Wagga Wagga and is an easy drive from the national capital, Canberra and are serviced by air, road and rail from Melbourne and Sydney.

Austrade’s seminar program for Henty Machinery Field Days is as follows:

Date                                     Time                                 Topic  
Tuesday, 23 September           12 noon       Water Technology& Infrastructure to the World
Tuesday, 23 September           4pm            Selling to the South African Market
Wednesday, 24 September      12 noon       Goats and Sheep to the Philippines
Wednesday, 24 September      3.30pm        Trade events and Selling to the US market
Thursday, 25 September         9am             Water technology, genetics and beyond in Peru



ENDS

Media contact

Sarkis Khoury
Tel: +61 2 9390 2118 
Mob: +61 414 401 072
Email: sarkis.khoury@austrade.gov.au

For further news and information from the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) visit www.austrade.gov.au//mediacentre.