Laser weeder insights from Australia

A robotic laser weeder was a standout talking point for a Fruitfed Supplies group who joined BASF for a study tour in Victoria and South Australia. There were parallels to New Zealand production challenges like extensive duck damage during crop establishment, to quirkier differences such as turtles navigating a large crop of spring onions.

The tour group included Fruitfed Supplies Product Manager Richard Rutherford, Technical Specialist Chris Lambert, and Technical Horticultural Representatives Jesse Clark, Bruce Marriott, Harrison Still and Stuart Paull, accompanied by Tim Herman and Brendon Arnet from BASF New Zealand.

Tim says, “Seeing the way things are done over the ditch always sheds light on where our own crop management and marketing may be headed or could have taken a different direction.” The group saw plenty of leafy vegetables, including extensive spinach and lettuce variety trials run by Nunhems, and growers of single vegetable crops and mixed vegetables, an onion packhouse
and a reseller.

Bruce Marriott observed one consistent theme: “Successful growers chose a clear pathway, even when their business plan was very different to other growers’. It was great to see a mixture of growers, both small and very large-scale operations, some doing one crop like spring onions or Brussels sprouts really well, having supply contracts or being the ‘go-to’ grower, while others are doing a lot of different things, thinking outside the box and using marketing to grow the business.”

While the group was interested to see familiar practices and crop protection products being used in slightly different ways, it was the marked contrasts and innovations that really caught their interest.

The laser weeder – a Carbon Robotics, tractor-mounted, 3-bed model worth well over a million dollars – was a star attraction at Tripod Farms property where it creeps along, zapping small weeds among the lettuce, spinach and rocket crops. Often a second pass is needed to reach an acceptable level of control. In-field calibration trains it to differentiate the target weeds from the crops.

The grower is happy with its performance and the savings on labour and herbicides. The Fruitfed group were impressed but had some reservations about the level of control and upfront cost. A potato grower near Adelaide used regular foliage testing to determine finely tuned fertiliser use. “That grower’s use of fertigation opened my eyes to how that system could be utilised
back home,” said Harrison Still. “Their fertiliser applications were more precise throughout the lifecycle of the crop, targeting key nutrient timings.”

Integrated pest management (IPM) practices were part of every farm’s programme but were especially evident at the Platinum Ag store in Virginia, SA where they supply greenhouse and outdoor growers with beneficial insects for pest control and worm castings for use as fertiliser. 

Jesse Clark was interested in learning more about the stresses faced by the Australian crops and how IPM practices were used. “Seeing new chemistry that is not yet registered in New Zealand gives me a head start for when these products are registered and available here, especially how the growers were using the new chemistry in conjunction with currently available options.” Tim concludes, “As always, conversations with local growers, agronomists, and suppliers provided a lot of extra insights and added to the tour’s value and the travellers’ enjoyment. Everyone from our side of the Tasman was very grateful for the organisation, time and care provided by the tour’s hosts from BASF and the diverse group of businesses and people that they were able to visit.”