Trains, Planes and Automobiles (and Ships)

Not a member of Farm Tender yet? Join the others and register here.

Extracted from the Farm Tender weekly Newsletter - Sign up and get the email every Wednesday morning before 5 am. www.farmtender.com.au

By Dwain Duxson

We were lucky enough to do a presentation at the NB2 conference dinner last night. They are an MLA-funded group that works together to try and improve Beef Breeding in the North of the country. The event was held at the Brisbane Airport Ibis Hotel. I came up on the Monday as I had a big day of work to do on Tuesday. The presentation wasn't until Tuesday night.

I think the presentation went ok, as the feedback was good. We have a panel session today and I like that style as it brings out more conversation than someone just presenting on their own.

In my hotel room on the 9th floor, I have a fantastic view (see image) of the 4 kinds of transportation we use and pretty much take for granted. Vehicles, Trains, Ships and Aeroplanes.

It really got me thinking about these very important, but very different forms of transport.

Car Parks are now massive at Airports and it's a great way for us Country folk to travel. Leaving our vehicle in the long-term car parks is a pretty good service. 

The Air Train arrived and dropped off passengers, and I wondered why Tullamarine (Melbourne Airport) has taken so long to build something similar. Madness. I mean, these Trains aren't delivering Chickpeas or Wheat to Port but provide a wonderful service for the people. So easy.

Then there's the Airport and a myriad of Planes that take off and land each day is well worth spending 30 minutes studying.

And in the background is the Port of Brisbane, where a lot of Agricultural Exports head to other countries that make our country richer. And Brisbane is a big Port for things like Fertiliser, Chemicals, New Machinery etc, coming in.

I don't know, but Logistics and Freight could be bigger than Agricultural Production. Please, someone, correct me if wrong.

The Vehicles are an interesting one. We were told by the people in the know that cars would be buzzing around the City without drivers delivering people by now. That certainty is nowhere near happening as yet.

One of our favourite sayings is from Jeff Bezos (Amazon guy), who said that we should be focussing more on the things that won't change rather than the things we think might change in the next 10 years. This is very applicable to Agriculture. Wheat Growers will still be growing Wheat in 10 years, and the changes will occur around doing it better. The dynamics of Ag don't really change that much.

Stick to what you do best and do it well, but don't be afraid to try things on the side. Tech and Ag Tech has their place in Ag. It's just that adoption rates are much slower than these Ag Tech companies would have ever thought.

I might be wrong, but I don't think we will be jumping in an Uber with no driver in 10 years time to get from Brisbane Airport to the City.

End of message