Sprayer calibration / application workshops to increase spray efficiency and efficacy

This investment proposes the engagement of an extension specialist to educate WA broadacre grain growers (particularly the new generation, those with new machinery and/or grower employees) on how their spray equipment should be best set-up and calibrated. The investment also presents an opportunity to discuss with growers the best practice for getting product to the target and avoiding spray drift issues. Workshops will deliver to attendees current 'best practice spraying' information, enabling them to make correct and effective decisions across different spraying situations.

Working closely with grower groups or other relevant groups (where no active grower group exists) to deliver the workshops, the workshops will specifically include:

Sprayer setup

• Calibration
• Stability
• Ground speed
• Hydraulic nozzles v's PWM
• Different spray controller systems

Operational efficiency

• Travel time / distance to filling points
• Use of batching / mixing equipment

Efficacy

• Nozzle selection
• Spray quality
• Coverage
• Getting the product to the target
• Differing requirements of product types
• Contact v's systemic herbicides

Insecticides
Fungicides

Drift mitigation

• Weather conditions
• Spray quality

Farm safe chemical handling message.

As echoed by GRDC survey data, which indicates that growers' value face-to-face training, the information will be practical and delivered safely on-farm using grower's own machinery. As such, a minimum of two sprayers (standard nozzle sprayer and pulse width modulation) and three batching plant/mixing systems will be made available for the purpose of demonstration during the workshops, with the assistance of local growers/grower groups.

A post workshop survey will be incorporated into this investment in order to measure the grower practice change as a result of attending.