MORE than 50 table grape growers and industry service providers converged on Mildura and Euston last month to enhance their spray application knowledge.
Participants heard from New Zealand spray guru David Manktelow and the Australian Table Grape Association’s Alison MacGregor on how to optimise spray application to ensure spray programs are hitting pest and disease targets.
Effective spray application is an essential part of a spray program, and it’s even more critical during mild seasons, as conditions are favourable to pests and disease outbreaks.
“We are really encouraging spray operators to get off the tractor and look at the sprayer setup,” Ms MacGregor, a development team member, said.
“Looking at sprayer setup is about making smart decisions, and that’s what we wanted to demonstrate.
“We want growers to assess the types of nozzles they’re using on their sprayer, the suitability of the droplets for the target, the direction of the air, and the speed of the air.
“We also looked at the use of adjuvants, because they can help a droplet spread once it lands.
“The workshop also demonstrated multiple sprayer set-ups which explored how small changes can make a big difference to spray coverage.”
