The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Coastal Weeds Forum will be held on Friday, July 21, 2023, in Casino, NSW, where growers and agronomists can learn about the latest technologies and best practices for weed control in coastal farming systems.

The event will be held at the Casino Returned Servicemen’s Memorial (RSM) Club and is free to attend with morning tea and lunch provided, however, pre-registration via the GRDC website is required.

Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with industry experts and gain a deeper understanding of the latest weed technology and its practical on-farm application in coastal farming systems.

The morning agenda will kick off with local grower Paul Fleming from Soy Australia, discussing issues of social license and trade, followed by Garry Dorr from APVMA who will give an overview of buffer zones, sensitive environments, and labels as they apply to coastal systems.

The second half of the morning agenda will be dedicated to exploring new technologies, including novel herbicides, drones, and optical spot sprays. The results and observations from the 2023 herbicide matrix demonstrations in soybean will also be discussed.

In the afternoon, weather permitting, the day will move from the Casino RSM for some on-farm demonstrations including sprayer set up for both drift mitigation and maximising efficacy in coastal environments.

Different spray set up parameters (boom height, nozzle selection, wind, drift reduction adjuvants versus drift creating adjuvants) will be demonstrated, and a showcase of the WeedIt® optical spot sprayer and Skytech Solutions drones will conclude the session.

GRDC program manager Dr. Michael Thompson says the forum is a great opportunity for growers to discuss issues specific to coastal regions.

“It’s really important to consider spray drift and what this means in coastal environments. Fields are often small and can potentially have hazards on several sides, so growers and agronomists need to be aware of neighbours and the impacts that spray drift can have,” Dr Thompson says.

“The Coastal Weeds Forum is an excellent opportunity for growers and agronomists to stay up to date with the latest information and advancements in weed control technology as it applies to their region.”

For more information or to register, please visit the GRDC website.

View the GRDC Coastal Weeds Forum agenda.