Show-goers with an app-etite for agriculture will enjoy a visit to the Department of Agriculture and Food’s display at this year’s Perth Royal Show for the latest apps and online technology.
Department displays and staff will be set up in two locations - Farmtech and Farm to Food pavilions.
In Farmtech, the focus will be on technology and smart-device applications (apps) that farm businesses and the wider community can use.
The apps comprise a mixture of calculators, identification, reporting and information delivery tools, and visitors will be encouraged to use the department’s MyPestGuide Reporter app and take part in the 2016 Biosecurity Blitz.
Department sub project manager Rosalie McCauley said an app centre on the website landing page provided links to all department apps from the one location.
“The app centre provides information on all of the department’s apps, including MyCrop, the MyPestGuide suite, IrrigateWA, Flystrike, Sheep Conditioning Scoring, Snapcard, PestFax Reporter and weather,” Dr McCauley said.
“Visitors to the department’s display at the Farmtech Pavilion will be able to hotspot the wi-fi and download any of the apps on-the-spot.
“Several iPad stations will be provided and staff will be on-hand to demonstrate how to use the MyPestGuide Reporter app to submit reports of pests to the department and take part in the 2016 Biosecurity Blitz to help maintain WA’s international market access.
“The MyPestGuide Reporter app helps community members to participate in pest reporting and consolidate the understanding that biosecurity is a shared responsibility.”
Access to live weather reports for the showground and from throughout the State would also be available from the Farmtech Pavilion.
Department project manager Tim Maling said the department had 172 weather stations across WA which provided updated weather information every 10 minutes.
“Weather information will be streamed live in the Farmtech Pavilion, and a mini weather station set up outside the pavilion will provide live weather information from the Showgrounds,” Mr Maling said.
The department is naming rights sponsor for the Farm to Food Pavilion where the Buy West Eat Best supermarket activation will once again be located.
Also in the Farm to Food pavilion each day would be a 10 minute demonstration by one of the department’s QuarantineWA detector dog and handler followed by 15 minutes of question time on Western Australia’s quarantine activities and the benefits to Western Australians.
Media contact: Jodie Thomson, media liaison +61 (0)8 9368 3937