Standby Rope Access for Flag Changes at APH

2026-11-03

Description: Growers who attended the 2025 NGN Forums in Somerton and Walgett prioritised the need for improved knowledge, skill development and confidence in the use of optical spot sprayers (OSS). This issue has been raised in many other NGN forums across New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (QLD). Growers identified that they need resources and support to build knowledge and skills to help with setup, operation efficiency, drift management and herbicide compliance, calibration requirements, correct nozzle selection and testing and interpreting label instructions for use in precision systems. OSS are increasingly being used by growers. Industry sources estimate that around 70 per cent of grain production businesses in QLD and Northern NSW either own or use a contractor with an optical spot sprayer. Benefits of OSS include less chemical use, improved hard-to-kill weed control, more chemical rotation options, reduced water use, time savings and reduced weed seed-set. Advances in OSS technology and other weed control methods are allowing some paddocks to be brought back into successful cropping, while helping to maintain zero or no-till practices. Issues with optical sprayers in the Northern regions include technical limitations like slow speeds and sensitivity to small or thin weeds, the lack of compatible chemical registrations, challenges with complex technology and lack of local repair capacity, and operational issues such as slower travel speeds, shading from forward-angled cameras, and the need to manually manage headlands on some systems. Environmental factors unique to the Northern region can also be a concern, including increased risk of spray drift and the potential for herbicides to wash away due to high rainfall events. The industry also relies on a small number of experts to educate and guide grain growers in best practise herbicide use and this limits accessibility of knowledge. This investment will improve the knowledge and capacity of growers, staff, advisors, contractors and OSS sales representatives in the set up and use of OSS, through the delivery of training days and extension materials. Outcome:By May 2028, 200 operators of OSS in the Northern region have improved knowledge and access to information pertaining to the safe, effective and regulatory approved use of their equipment for the purpose of protecting crop production and grain quality. Enduring communication artefacts will provide information for all Northern region growers. Outputs Output 1. Title: Reference materials Description: By May 2028 development of reference materials tailored to of growers, staff, advisors, contractors and OSS sales representatives. Deliverables include: • OSS training manual – to be developed prior to the delivery of training days and updated annually. The manual will be used as a training tool and provided to training day participants. The manual and its delivery in workshop forums will need to provide current, high quality technical information and include all aspects of OSS application that is considered essential. Development of the manual content should be done in collaboration with other industry experts and OSS sales representatives. The manual is to be approved by GRDC prior to distribution. • Development of video content that covers key messages of best practice management for OSS use. • Development of written content to produce a GRDC Publication (fact sheet, back pocket guide or technical manual as appropriate). Development of the manual content should be done in collaboration with other industry experts and OSS sales representatives. The extension is aimed to improve grower knowledge and confidence, with attendees’ numbers expected to be over 200 people across the three years. Workshops to be branded as GRDC workshops, with GRDC to hold access to and ownership of workshop material and be provided with e-copies of all material presented. Output 2. Title: OSS Training days Description: By May 2028 coordinate and deliver 27 hands on OSS Training Days in the GRDC Northern Region. Key details to be addressed may include but not be limited to setup, operation efficiency, drift management and herbicide compliance, calibration requirements, correct nozzle selection and testing and interpreting label instructions as pertaining to OSS. Participants are to be provided with the training manual and any other relevant supporting materials developed in output 1. Locations of training days to be determined in consultation with GRDC and based on high use of OSS. The dates of training days should seek to compliment other industry events. OSS sales representatives should be involved in the delivery of the training days in order to build capacity in the industry.

Australia

2026-03-01