'Take a breather' from rapid technology

That's the general consensus among delegates attending last week's Farm Machinery Industry Association's (FMIA) annual general meeting.

Assessing the challenges of autonomous farming facing machinery dealers and manufacturers, FMIA president Alan Fisher said there were compelling reasons for the adoption of such technology, including use of so-called robots which may reduce the reliance of controlled traffic farming (CTF).

"Smaller machines will mean less compaction apart from other serious benefits they bring," he said.

But when he asked delegates whether the FMIA should investigate and support the development of autonomous farming in WA, it sparked a robust discussion.

Dongara manufacturer Peter Nunn was quick off the mark saying the association should endorse any development "but not spend money".

"There may be an inevitability about autonomous machinery but I don't think our association should be directly involved," he said.

Bunbury machinery dealer Andrew Newnham, South West Machinery Centre, also agreed that an "acknowledgement" was all that was needed from the association at this stage.

"It's (autonomous machinery) already happening," he said. "

Narrogin dealer Geoff Perkins, Perkins Farm Machinery Centre, said technology was getting ahead of the industry.

"We're chasing technology for the sake of technology," he said. "We need to slow it down because there's not enough people on the ground to support it.

"And if you don't get the support the whole thing will fall in a hole.

"I have no problems with communicating with the (precision farming) industry but there should be no monetary support."

Mr Fisher added that it was not the FMIA's intention to provide financial support.

"But we can be facilitators of information to pursue the interests of our members," he said.

According to FMIA executive officer John Henchy, the topic of FMIA's involvement in autonomous farming, was first raised in discussions about the lack of education on the subject at a tertiary level.

"The education of our industry is terrible," he said. "That is why we have continually been pushing for more skills-based courses for young people to follow career pathways in the farm mechanisation industry."