Making a list of the features that are important for your operation is a useful place to start, as is making a list of the machinery dealers that provide excellent service in your area.

Often the service provided by the dealer is more important than the colour of the machine.

Important considerations should be:

• the range of spraying speeds and total application volumes required;

• the ability to maintain control of the spray quality and to easily change the spray quality when required;

• the ability to maintain boom height;

• matching the measurement system to the other equipment used (stick with all imperial units or all metric units); and

• the ease of operation, maintenance and decontamination.

Find out more

For more information:

• Module 5: spray plans

• Module 13: rate-controller functions and settings

• Module 14: boom stability and height control

• Module 22: integration of the sprayer with other farm equipment

Comparing the options available now with what will be available in the future

The introduction of multi-step systems and pulse width modulation (PWM) marked the beginning of a new generation of spraying systems.

More recent improvements, such as increased PWM cycles per second (from 10Hz up to 30Hz) with fixed frequency systems and up to 50Hz and 100Hz with variable frequency pulse width and frequency modulation (PWFM) systems,) mean that a wider range of nozzles may be able to be operated, including some air-induction types. New releases of multi-step systems, often mean in some situations, the only time the operator has to change nozzles is during regular scheduled maintenance, and not between each job.

Optical spot spray technology (OSST) is becoming an increasingly common option on new sprayers to allow for green-on-brown applications in fallow and, more recently the emergence of green-on-green technology to be able to selectively target weeds in crops. These systems are delivering significant cost savings in weed control by only targeting herbicide application to individual weeds, as well as resulting in large reduction in the volume of water required for spraying and the associated time lost to refilling. Often, better weed control is possible by allowing more robust application rates targeted to weed size where permitted on APVMA approved labels or permits.

Operators should pay close attention to what product releases are scheduled to occur in the near future as this may help with making a decision about which spraying systems to consider and whether to buy now, upgrade, or wait for something that matches most of your needs.

Autonomous sprayers are now operating in many paddocks across the country. This technology is already having an impact on-farm with reduced operational costs associated with labour and also improved farm safety via reduced operator fatigue that comes from long hours on the sprayer.

As these automated systems integrate data from automatic weather monitoring systems the potential for unintended environmental impacts can also be reduced.

Often, following trusted social media and conducting regular searches of machinery manufacturers’ websites will provide advanced information of what new spraying systems will soon be available.

Find out more

For more information:

• Module 16: overview of the spraying systems available

• Module 17: pulse width modulation systems

• Module 18: single line and multi-step systems