Challenge
Wade Bidstrup operates a 4,000-hectare mixed cropping farm on vertisol soils in Warra, Queensland. His primary weed challenges included Sow Thistle, Fleabane, and Feather Top Rhodes grass. Initially, Wade used OSST to manage these weeds. However, he encountered several significant issues:
Poor detection: OSST struggled with stubble shadowing, missing weeds and requiring multiple passes.
Limited coverage: The technology had difficulty effectively spraying taller weeds like Fleabane due to the fixed boom height.
Operational inefficiencies: Delays in weed control and difficulties in estimating herbicide volumes led to wasted resources and time.
Solution
To address these challenges, Wade transitioned to the WeedMapper solution. Wade used WeedMapper to identify weeds and their sizes in fallow land. This enabled Wade to focus on larger weeds and minimise the need to spray smaller, less problematic ones.
Additionally, the data collected is integrated into Wade’s Ag Leader console, which is used in his self-propelled Rogator sprayer equipped with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) for precise application.
Outcome
The switch to WeedMapper technology yielded several positive outcomes for Wade's operation:
Herbicide reduction: Wade achieved a 70% reduction in herbicide use across his property.
Increased efficiency: Field efficiency improved from 50% to 90%, and operational speed doubled from 12 km/hr to 24 km/hr.
Cost savings: The targeted approach reduced the area requiring spraying to just 30% of the paddock, leading to significant cost and time savings.
Seamless transition: The adoption of WeedMapper technology was smooth, with minimal equipment changes and easy integration into Wade’s existing system.
Overall, the WeedMapper technology gave Wade a more effective and economical solution for managing weeds on his farm.
Reach out!
Ready to see how the Single Ag WeedMapper can bring success to your farm? Reach out today!
