Herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, the list of spray jobs goes on at this time of year.
Before you head out, have you checked conditions are suitable?
wind speed between 3-15km/hour in the paddock
delta T between 2 and 8 is optimum, above 12 is unsuitable
keep the boom as low as possible and slow down
select appropriate product
use the coarsest droplet size that’ll achieve acceptable efficacy
set up, calibrate and clean equipment correctly
read and follow product label instructions
check for an inversion layer - 1-2 hours after sunrise and before sunset are highest risk
be aware of sensitive areas nearby e.g. waterways, sensitive crops
ensure spray operator is properly qualified with an AQF3 chemical accreditation certificate
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Off-target damage can be expensive, damaging to your reputation and that of the agricultural industry. In some cases, drift can also lead to poor control of the target species, increasing the selection pressure for resistance and likely causing some economic loss from the reduced efficiency.
Remember, it’s also a legal requirement to keep accurate spray records for every application either manually or digitally. This includes the onsite weather conditions, time of application, product and operator details. To test your record keeping, ask yourself, could someone else pick up your records and clearly understand what you did without any guidance?
For more information on spray applications and managing drift you can access the GRDC’s online resource hub > Spray application and drift management online resources hub https://www.graingrowers.com.au/graingrowers-spray-drift-resources-hub
Contributed by Kimberley Beer, local lands officer - mixed farming with Murray Local Land Services.
