increase font size
Abbey Machinery is teaming up with Munster Technological University to develop the next generation of intelligent, connected tankers and feeders.
As agriculture moves rapidly into the technological age, the advancement of Irishmade autonomous farm machinery is being enhanced by researchers at Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software and Tipperary-based Abbey Machinery, who recently announced a new research partnership agreement.
Led by Professor Joseph Walsh from the Munster Technological University’s Kerry campus, the partnership says global food production will need to increase by nearly 70% to feed a growing population, meaning the agricultural industry has to become more innovative by using technology to add value to our food supply chains.
“The farmers leading the way in adopting the new technologies will ultimately accelerate the movement that transforms the global agri-food system into one which will efficiently feed nine billion people by 2050,” says Walsh.
The partnership with Abbey would leverage MUT’s innovative Agri- Tech research in IoT, AI and manufacturing to develop the next generation of intelligent, connected tankers and feeders.
“These machines will be designed to allow remote operation and monitoring by employing state-of-the-art technologies and techniques in sensor networks, communications, and data analytics,” he says.
Abbey Machinery managing director Clodagh Kavanagh says that as an export-orientated company with 60% of sales coming from overseas, their goal is to research and develop the next generation of smart, connected, and automated tankers and feeders.
designed to allow remote operation and monitoring by employing state-of-the-art technologies and techniques in the fields of telematics, sensor networks and communications, and data analytics to meet the needs of our customers in Ireland, Britain, France, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia, New Zealand and Iceland,” says Kavanagh.
“The research has two strands, namely nextgeneration smart electronic architecture for agriculture machinery and software systems for telematics monitoring and remote operation.
“The necessary deliverables for Abbey Machinery will be a prototype of the full-stack software platform that monitors the telematics, automates service reminders, and also remote operations that have the potential to lead to the development of new products and services for us globally.”
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Wrapped bales arrived in the 1980s offering a viable alternative to clamp silage, and they remain a solution for those not wishing to invest in expensive clamps – a solution for smaller farms and a means to clearing excess grass at the end of the season.
Celebrating 50 years of being in business in 2025 and specialising in the design and manufacture of an extensive range for the rural industries, Feilding-based McKee Plastics was at Fieldays highlighting a range of feeding products.
John Deere have recently announced upgrades to its round baler offerings, with all models of this latest generation equipped with advanced ISOBUS capabilities, allowing them to be fully integrated into the John Deere Operations Center.
The Landini Rex 4 Series, recently released in New Zealand, is designed with vineyards in mind.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.
