Precision spraying can help orchards and vineyards adapt to changing weed management requirements

THE Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority’s (APVMA) recent decision to remove paraquat and diquat herbicides from orchards and vineyards has created new challenges for the Riverland’s horticultural industries, but it also presents an opportunity to rethink weed management strategies.

WEED-IT Australia managing director Hamish McIntosh said many orchard and vineyard growers would now be assessing alternative herbicide programs, with some replacement products carrying a significantly higher cost than traditional blanket applications.

“For many orchard and vineyard growers, this isn’t simply about replacing one herbicide with another,” Mr McIntosh said.

“It’s about finding practical ways to maintain effective weed control while managing input costs and protecting the long-term effectiveness of available chemistry.”

Mr McIntosh said precision spot spraying systems such as WEED-IT, now being designed specifically for horticultural properties, could play an important role in helping growers adapt by making the use of higher-value herbicides more economically viable.

“When herbicide is applied only where weeds are present, growers can dramatically reduce the volume of product required,” he said.

“That means alternative herbicides which may have previously been considered too expensive for blanket application can become a practical and financially viable option in orchard and vineyard situations.”

Hamish said the changes also reinforced the importance of integrated weed management and preserving the effectiveness of available herbicide chemistry.
“Herbicide resistance continues to be one of the biggest long-term challenges facing Australian agriculture and horticulture,” he said.

“Spot spraying technologies allow growers to be more targeted in their weed control programs, reducing unnecessary blanket spraying and supporting broader resistance management strategies.”

WEED-IT’s optical spot spraying technology detects the chlorophyll in living green weeds and applies herbicide only where it is needed, significantly reducing overall chemical use while maintaining effective weed control.

Mr McIntosh said every orchard, vineyard and farming business would respond differently to the APVMA changes.

 “Our role is to provide technology that gives growers more flexibility and efficiency, helping them make the best use of the chemistries available while improving productivity and reducing unnecessary input costs,” he said.

“Australian growers have always been innovative and forward-thinking.

“We’re confident spot spraying and precision application technology will become an increasingly important part of integrated weed management as the horticulture industry continues to evolve.”