Adelaide Open Day | Monday 12 October
Discover Nelson Hardie airblast sprayers and Orchard 4000 WEED-IT optical spot spraying technology.
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Spot spraying delivers big benefits at Aroona Farms
FOR Ross Grigg, Farm Operations Manager at Aroona Farms near Robinvale in Victoria’ s Sunraysia region, every machinery investment must deliver practical value. Managing 1,200 hectares of almonds at Margooya, Aroona Farms’ Bannerton property, Ross is focused on reducing costs, improving efficiency and keeping machines working where they matter most: in the orchard. Having spent decades in horticulture, including a background in stone fruit production, Ross was already familiar with Croplands equipment before joining Aroona. Having previously operated Croplands sprayers, including the Nelson Hardie airblast range, he was keen to introduce WEED-IT herbicide spot spraying technology – through the Croplands Orchard 4000- into the business.“ I’ d used Croplands equipment in a previous role and always thought it was excellent,” Ross said.“ When the opportunity came up to bring in a spot spraying herbicide attachment, I was very supportive of
it. I reckon it’ s a ripper of a machine.” The benefits were quickly realised. Depending on weed pressure, Ross estimates WEED-IT technology has helped deliver chemical savings of between 40 and 60 per cent through targeted spot spraying.“ Obviously that’ s a direct cost saving, but it’ s not only the chemical,” he said.“ With fewer refills there’ s less travel time between the paddock and filling up, which means more time spent actually spraying weeds.” Like many almond orchards, Margooya contends with a range of weed species including fleabane, marshmallow weed, wild radish, wireweed and various grasses. As weed pressure continues to challenge growers, Ross sees spot spraying technology playing an increasingly important role.“ If I had my way, I’ d have two of those machines running 24 hours a day,” he said.
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Adelaide Open Day | Monday 12 October
Discover Nelson Hardie airblast sprayers and Orchard 4000 WEED-IT optical spot spraying technology.
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