Loam Bio mechanical engineer Andrew Godwin with judge Warren Scheetz and newly appointed HMFD chairman Matthew Noll after the world-first FurrowMate’s win in the coveted Machine of the Year awards at the 2025 Henty field days. Photo: HMFD.
It’s been described as a “small but nifty machine” delivering world-first technology to broadacre farmers.
The aptly named FurrowMate – a direct air injection unit that enables large-scale biological additive application – took out the coveted 2025 Henty Machine of the Year Award on 23 September.
Developed by Loam Bio, the patented technology works with the vast majority of air seeders to deliver biologicals into the planting furrow easily, safely and accurately, saving farmers time while maximising product efficiency.
A total of eight machines and equipment at the cutting edge of agricultural technology were shortlisted for judging in the Henty Machine of the Year with the winner announced on the opening day of the field days.
Judging criteria included the machine’s purpose and suitability, scope of application, construction (durability and design), ease of maintenance and service, ease of operation and adjustment, availability of parts and overall value for money.
Highly commended was the DASH, a next generation spray tender system for agricultural field work, entered by PhiBer.
Judge Warren Scheetz paid tribute to the excellence in design displayed by all entrants, which varied from the world’s widest draper platform down to the FurrowMate, which is mounted on an air seeder.
As a long-standing judge of the Machine of the Year, Mr Scheetz said a win in the awards delivered fantastic exposure for recipients.
“It’s been incredible to see the evolution of machinery in these awards during the past 15 years,” he said. “So much is being done with technology, the research that goes into producing a machine like (the FurrowMate) and also the safety and ease of use of the machinery.
“The FurrowMate impressed the judges with its simplicity and design, accuracy and the fact further development into other products is being undertaken so it is adaptable to fit almost any air seeder currently on the market.”
Designed to be water, dust, heat and motion proof to withstand the harshest of Australian planting conditions, the unit ensures the biology gets exactly where it’s needed, according to Loam Bio mechanical engineer Andrew Godwin.
It removes the need for messy and inaccurate seed treatment, while ensuring robust and reliable performance in the field, he explained.
“Prior to this groundbreaking technology, farmers had to resort to manual seed coating methods, such as using liquid-based slurry relying on an auger for mixings, to ensure an even distribution of the biological product on the seed,” Mr Godwin said.
“The process was not only time-consuming and labour intensive but also susceptible to decay of the biological organisms due to extended exposure to air prior to sowing.
“Delays in sowing due to weather or machinery breakdown could necessitate a second application, leading to additional costs.”
During day one of the field days, newly appointed chairman Matthew Noll pointed to the “magnificent line-up of innovative new technology” on display this year while also acknowledging the previous generations of machinery makers who had contributed to Henty and Australia’s agricultural legacy.
“Today we pay homage to our forefathers with our popular vintage display marking 100 years since the famous Caterpillar brand was launched, and 100 years of the Ford Motor Company in Australia with a display by long-standing exhibitor Biti Motors,” Mr Noll said.
