After all, necessity is the mother of invention.

Ian Yeo, operations manager of Northern Feed Systems, used the growing demand for simple and efficient ways to improve feed quality to develop a new attrition disc mill.

The mill allows the processing of all types of grain simultaneously, giving farmers the opportunity to create specialised feed solutions for their stock.

The idea earned the business the Elmore Machine of the Year, presented on Wednesday night.

Mr Yeo said farmers had previously only had the roller mill to crush grain.

"It's just a simple concept really, but farmers generally like the simple and effective," he said.

"There are always people looking for new feed options. We're trying to make life easier for farmers."

The disc mill took about 18 months to develop, a further development in the growing market.

The awards presentation at the Elmore Field Days recognised nine different categories, covering all of the exhibition areas, including the new Taste More pavilion.

Rochester-based Lely Australia won the Bendigo Advertiser Best Paddock Demonstration Award.

The business made the most of the demonstration area, holding regular displays of their Lely Welger bailers.

Lely Australia managing director Clive Edwards said they always tried to be an active company.

He said the additional freight costs to bring all machinery to Elmore was worth it to be able to have live displays on-site.