The recent good falls of rain have enabled farmers to start to turn the corner, and begin to look forward to a much better and more productive season ahead. With soil temperatures still warm enough to grow feed for stock, the weeds are keeping pace with the more productive pasture species and St John Wort, Patersons Curse, Erodium and Capeweed are emerging as a significant challenge for landholders across the
catchment. The arrival of this new spray unit will help in the control of these emerging weeds.
MANAGING WEEDS “Its all in the timing”
The recent good falls of rain have enabled farmers to start to turn the corner, and begin to
look forward to a much better and more productive season ahead.
With soil temperatures still warm enough to grow feed for stock, the weeds are keeping
pace with the more productive pasture species and St John Wort, Patersons Curse,
Erodium and Capeweed are emerging as a significant challenge for landholders across the
catchment.
What could be better timing than the arrival of a new spray unit for the Springhurst and
Byawatha Hills Landcare Group? Purchased through a combination of Landcare Group funds and the Second Generation Landcare program, this GOLDACRES spray unit was developed specifically for use by Landcare groups. Consultation between the groups Rabbit and Weed coordinator, Alby McIntosh, and the Goldacres engineering company has resulted in a unit with unique design features to suit the rougher terrain of the Byawatha Hills in which it will be used. Alby McIntosh demonstrating rotating hand held hoses to group members.
With two hand held hoses, that recess back into the unit when not in use, and a non
retractable boom spray, only the width of the unit and located to the rear, providing spray
coverage of ten metres, the design minimizes the risk of mishap when going through
gateways and working around trees in areas of bush.
Additional user friendly features include quick fill access, a one thousand litre spray tank,
and separate sixty litre water tank for hand washing as needed whilst the unit is in use.
Tank capacity is sufficient for around two hours of spraying time if using the boom spray,
and up to seven hours for the hand held hoses in difficult to access sites such as steep
slopes.
If you would like to know more about the unit you can contact Alby on 57265167.
If you would like to use it to manage your weeds, phone Matt Allen on 57251665
There is an on-going maintenance fee of $10 per day for group members.
Membership enquires to Eileen Ransom on 57265365.