Innovative feeder wins major Henty award

A West Wyalong agricultural business has won the coveted Greater Hume Council Award at the Henty Machinery Field Days, which were held from September 20-22.

The award recognises the best new Australian-designed and built agricultural machine, and the dual auger multi-purpose 70 bag Ezy Feeder from Daniels Engineering & Fabrications was judged the best by a panel of independent judges at the field days.

The award was presented by Greater Hume Council Deputy Mayor Cr Annette Schilg and Henty Machinery Field Days director Matt Noll to business owner Daniel Draper, who was overwhelmed at winning the award in his first attempt.

He said the Ezy Feeder was originally launched in 2004 before its evolution into the 2022-winning model described as a “hamburger with the lot”.

“It has a rear additive box resulting in a better mix of feed, lime, lupins and nutrients if deploying out of the auger or if trail feeding, it drops it straight out the rear end,” Draper said.

“The 305-litre poly-injected additive box was designed by a company in Melbourne. It has a dual auger system for doing short fillings and an extended auger for using as a mini-grouper or seeder to fill an agri-drill.”

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The Ezy Feeder is equipped with Bluetooth-enabled digital scales and an onboard X320 waterproof display, with the read-out transferred to a tablet in the vehicle.

“The operator can wireless remote the whole unit from in and out of gear through to operating the single bins. Feed rates can be manually adjusted or you can remotely add the buffers of salt, minerals and lime,” Draper continued.

“The first Bluetooth version prototype was rolled out two years ago and it is now a lot more responsive with less delay. We now hold one of the fastest actuators, so you get a quicker hitching and adjustment without having to go pneumatic.

“Everything is built in-house at West Wyalong from the ground up.”

Born and raised in Wagga Wagga, Draper is a fabricator by trade and worked in offshore mining for 14 years before founding Daniels Engineering & Fabrications, producing 600 trailers and almost 6000 lick feeders.

It is the second time in a row an agricultural manufacturer from West Wyalong has won the Greater Hume Council Award.

“It’s one of those country towns where we all support each other and it’s good to have a great farming community like West Wyalong,” Draper said.

“I feel very privileged to win this award and will be a benchmark for us. Everyone is under the pump with builds but the patience and understanding of the farmers supporting their local businesses is great.”