Bus Tour Explores Innovation in Freeling

Monarto Ag Bureau members on tour. Photo: Monarto Ag Bureau Facebook Page

On Friday, 14th February, members of the Monarto Ag Bureau embarked on a fascinating bus tour to the Freeling area, exploring a range of innovative agricultural businesses.

Our first stop was AGT at Roseworthy, where Dan guided us on a behind-the-scenes tour of their research and development facilities. It was eye-opening to see the process of breeding new wheat, barley, canola, and lupin varieties, highlighting the science and dedication that goes into advancing crop genetics.

Next, we visited the Schusters, where Corbin introduced us to the EzyBale Machine and their unique accommodation, The Barns. It was intriguing to see silos repurposed in such a creative way!

From there, we headed to the Freeling Hotel, where we met Ben and Marcus from Balco. They shared exciting plans for their new site at Monarto and discussed what it will mean for farmers in the region in the years ahead.

Our final stop was Ahrens, where Mark took us on a tour of their impressive shed manufacturing and grain storage facilities. He also shared the fascinating history of the Ahrens family business, which began in a humble blacksmith’s shop and has grown into a major player in the agricultural sector.

It was a fantastic day, providing valuable insights into cutting-edge agricultural developments. A huge thank you to AGT, Corbin Schuster, Balco, and Ahrens for their time and hospitality!