Hay Innovators Part 2: with Damon Humphris and Gavin Leersen

For the second part of the Feed Central Hay Matters Hay Innovators series, Jon Paul Driver caught up Damon Humphris of Taggr and Gavin Leersen of BaleTime at the recent AFIA Conference. This episode dives into the solutions both innovators have developed to tackle age-old challenges in hay production. Discover how Damon's journey led to the creation of an automated tagging system for hay bales, simplifying the traceability process for exporters. Meanwhile, Gavin introduces BaleTime, a device that transforms hay baling timing with accurate humidity readings, boosting productivity and allowing farmers to manage baling schedules remotely, reducing the need for early morning field checks.Damon Humphris describes the inception of Taggr’s automated hay bale tagging system, highlighting its role in streamlining the baling process and ensuring traceability for hay exports.Through trial and error, Damon integrated advanced robotics into Taggr, ensuring that each hay bale was tagged accurately and efficiently, setting a new standard in the industry.Damon’s journey through the technological hurdles overcome to develop Taggr included creating an effective tag-feeding mechanism that could withstand the rigors of large-scale farming operations.The idea for BaleTime came to Gavin Leersen while he was timing his sheep shearing; a farmer's offhand remark about needing to know the best baling time led him to harness humidity sensors for precise baling schedules.BaleTime provides farmers with a system to measure ambient and in-windrow humidity, helping them to optimise hay baling times with precision, improving yield quality and reducing unnecessary labour.The monitor operates effectively in areas with poor cellular service by utilising a simple SMS-based system that requires minimal signal, ensuring reliable communication and functionality even in remote locations.With their innovative approaches, Damon Humphris and Gavin Leersen are actively shaping the future of farm management, setting new benchmarks for operational excellence in agriculture.