FurrowMate is the future of biological application

FurrowMate is a world first direct air injection unit enabling large scale biological additive application and will be showcased at the Henty Machinery Field Days. 

This patented technology works with most air seeders to deliver biologicals into the planting furrow easily, safely and accurately, saving farmers time while maximising product efficacy. 

As the first technology to provide broadacre farmers with a scalable solution for biological application, FurrowMate represents a significant milestone in the industry and has been entered by Loam Bio.

Designed to be water, dust, heat and motion proof in order to withstand the harshest planting conditions, FurrowMate units simplify inoculum delivery on-farm. 

Loam Bio brand officer Charlotte Wallin said they remove the need for messy and inaccurate seed treatment, while ensuring robust and reliable performance in the field.

“Prior to this ground-breaking technology, farmers had to resort to manual seed coating methods, such as using augers or cement mixers, to ensure an even distribution of the biological product on the seed,” Ms Wallin said. 

“This process was not only time-consuming but also susceptible to challenging weather conditions. Delays in sowing could necessitate a second application, leading to additional costs. 

“FurrowMate eliminates the traditional messy, inaccurate, and unsafe handling of high-value, low-volume biological products.

“With its user-friendly design, the process is as simple as pouring the dry biological powder into the refrigerated hopper - and you're ready to go.”

By working with the tractor's GPS system, FurrowMate modulates dosing, ensuring precise induction into the air stream. 

After the biological mixes with the seed in the air stream they are planted together in the soil, giving farmers peace of mind the seed is coated with the correct dose. With highly accurate dosing rates as low as 5g/ha and easy calibration, FurrowMate ensures grain growers hit their targets per hectare every time. 

“In the 2024 planting season, FurrowMate prototypes underwent extensive testing across Australia. While initially being tested with CarbonBuilder, a biological product containing fungal spores that enable farmers to build stable soil carbon, with further testing, FurrowMate will be compatible with all dry biological powders,” Ms Wallin said.

“Our mission is to eliminate the challenges involved in coating seed with biologicals, enabling farmers to adopt new and existing biological products more quickly. 

“Prior to FurrowMate, no scalable solution existed to address the challenges faced by farmers in applying biological additives on a large scale outside of rhizobium granules. 

“This pioneering technology not only saves farmers time and increases product efficacy but also represents a significant step forward in the adoption of biologicals.”