On Wednesday 26 July 2017, Southern New England Landcare will host an event at the Mike O'Keefe Woodland Centre in Armidale that will draw audiences from around the New England to explore how locally manufactured scientific instruments can be used to optimise plant water use and species selection.

Shane Andrews from Southern New England Landcare said, “Like in many other industries, agriculture is moving fast when it comes to new technologies that are changing the way we work with plants and animals.”

“Keeping abreast of these changes is essential if we are to continue being effective,” he said.

Topics covered will include plant function, water response and growth, impacts of soil condition on plant establishment, sap flow monitoring and psychrometry, and tree monitoring in practice.

Presenters will include Dr Peter Cull and Dr Ben Umali from Armidale-based ICT International – leaders in precision agricultural solutions and wireless sensor networks. ICT International has seen demand for their instruments increase, particularly overseas.

“These instruments have applications in horticulture, viticulture, agroforestry and ground water dependent ecosystems and this event will be of interest to anyone studying or working in the agricultural and rural science space, including interested landholders and extension officers” said Shane.

“We’d love to see as many students or practitioners of agricultural, rural or environmental science as possible attend the day,” he said.

The event will run from 9am to 3pm and include morning tea and lunch. Download the flier here. Download a program here. RSVPs essential here. Contact our office for more information.

This event is part of the $25 million of National Landcare Programme investment to boost farm gate productivity and improve environmental health across NSW.