Duncan steers precise course

Popanyinning farmer Duncan Patten has been appointed sales manager of agricultural electronics manufacturer FarmscanAG.

Mr Patten, who has been farming at Popanyinning for the past 11 years, will be supporting the brand in WA and South Australia.

He has used advanced farming technologies for many years and is looking forward to passing his knowledge on to others.

Mr Patten hails from a mixed farming enterprise at Boddington and previously carried out contract work for the local gold mine and on the Rewards Group's sandalwood plantations before acquiring the Popanyinning property.

He is anticipating a second wave of adoption of precision farming systems by growers and said demand already was strong because producers continually sought to gain improved efficiencies in their operations.

The company, through its extensive dealer network, provides farmers and contractors with a completely integrated range of electronic products to help steer, map, monitor and control spraying, spreading, planting and harvesting machinery.

Its AgGuideV4 software provides GPS guidance, auto steering, spray control and variable rate options and is capturing attention for its extensive capabilities specifically designed for Australian farmers.

Other products in the company's range include the multi-functional Jackal monitor and single task controllers like the 24V1 spray controller through to fully integrated, multi-product control and monitoring systems such as Canlink 3500.

FarmscanAG is supplying leading manufacturers in Australia and New Zealand, including Gason, Simplicity, Horwood Bagshaw, Smale, John Shearer, Agrowplow, DuncanAg, Silvan, Hydraboom, Sonic, Marshall, Kuhn and Riteway.

"FarmscanAG offers a stable company under a new ownership structure and with strong backup service to customers," Mr Patten said.

"The AgGuide V4 software is proving very popular with cane, broadacre and raised bed farmers and a new FarmscanAG airseeder hose blockage monitor is being trialled this year in Victoria and WA.

"It is a wireless monitoring system, meaning there is no need for a cable back to the tractor cab - it runs on an iPad and offers monitoring of all hose outlets."