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New technology helps growers The Reef Rescue program has helped macadamia growers to save chemicals and water by installing new spraying technology. With the assistance of funding from the Australian Government program, Bundaberg macadamia company Macadamia Farm Management has purchased new sensor technology for spraying equipment to allow selective spraying of foliage. The previous practice of under tree weed control meant herbicide was sprayed on a path approximately 1.2 m either side of the tree line, from three jets spaced 500 mm apart. On average they were using approximately 300 L of water per hectare. The new technology was fitted to their existing double sided herbicide rig. The result is herbicide is now being applied to the weeds only, while bare soil is being left unsprayed. “Use of the technology is so far resulting in approximately a 45 per cent reduction in total herbicide application,” said Scott Gregson-Allcott, farm manager of Macadamia Farm Management. The technology can be retro-fitted to many spray rigs. It consists of sets of sensors and nozzles spaced along the boom. The sensor emits light towards the target, which reflects light back towards the sensor. A detector on the sensor calculates whether the reflected light is coming from a green plant or not. If a green plant is detected the sensor triggers a solenoid to open the spray jet, to apply herbicide to the plant. Each jet works independently of each other. “The independence of each sensor along the boom allows selective spot spraying of the section under the boom, rather than spraying the entire area,” said Mr Allcott. Whilst the technology has been in Australia for more than 20 years it has only recently been adopted by farmers and local councils with the commercial release of such systems as Weedseeker ®. Manufacturers of the Weedseeker ® equipment claim pesticide applications using the equipment can be reduced by more than 75 per cent. “The savings don’t just stop with the amount of herbicide that is used,” said Mr Allcott. “Reducing the volume of herbicide that is applied means we can travel much further on the one spray tank, before having to return to the filling area. This is saving us diesel, water and precious labour resource required to manage the same amount of orchard.” “The macadamia industry is aware of the consumer pressures facing our industry and both growers and processors are working to meet the challenges,” he said. The horticultural industry is promoting the adoption of improved farm practices to assist growers meet consumer expectations. “Our industry is under pressure from two angles,” said Growcom Field Officer Robert Doyle. “We are being asked to increase farm productivity to feed a growing population and to demonstrate our positive environmental credentials,” he said. The Australian Government’s Reef Rescue program allows horticulture growers to access funding of up to 50 per cent to a maximum of $10,000 for out of pocket expenses to implement farm management practice changes to reduce the risk of sediment, pesticides or nutrients leaving their farm. Projects that have received funded over the past two years include installation
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“Obvious benefits for growers are either a lowering of the costs of production, increased productivity for the same inputs, or both,” said Mr Doyle. In the Burnett Mary region, the program is delivered to landholders under a partnership arrangement between BMRG and farming industry bodies. Growers are assisted in submitting applications which are competitively assessed by a panel and the incentive funding is awarded based on the best value for money for the Great Barrier Reef. Unsuccessful applicants can re-submit again next round. Horticultural landholders wishing to get involved in the program can contact
Robert Doyle at Growcom’s Bundaberg office on 07 4153 2555 or 0439 898 867.
The new technology uses sensor to selectively spray
The control panel of the sensor  Inspecting field results - savings of herbicide, diesel, water and labour |
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