Spray technology helps Bulla Burra make most of inputs

They use a Croplands WeedIt precision sprayer, which has helped to cut back their spray bill by up to 90 per cent, while one of their John Deere self-propelled sprayers use the Exact Apply nozzle control system, which reduces any off-target chemical issues, while the lightweight R Series' carbon fibre boom means less power, and ultimately fuel, is used.

"Our spray carts barely stop between summer spraying, prior to seeding, during seeding, at crop emergence, potentially during the season and then desiccation," Bulla Burra operations manager Andrew Biele said.

"Because glyphosate has become such a ridiculous cost, this season we have been using the WeedIt for summer spraying more than our SPs. Even if we go up to 40-50pc strike rate, we are still saving enormously compared with a blanket spray - to buy glyphosate now, it is $12 a litre, compared to $4/L last year, if we are putting 2L/ha out, that's a huge saving.

"We may do more passes due to the technology not picking up smaller plants, and therefore use more fuel and labour, but when it comes to saving on chemical, it is still nowhere near the same cost."

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Weed control is vital to a business that is running on limited subsoil moisture.

"Last year, the season was very below-average (122-135 millimetres growing season rainfall), while the year before that was 200-230mm GSR," Mr Biele said.

"It's commendable what growers have been able to grow in this low rainfall environment, assisted by technology, new farming practices and varieties.

"We averaged just over 0.8 tonnes/ha on wheat - we lost 20pc to hail - and averaged just under 1t/ha for our barley - and lost 12pc to hail. These may have been good yields back in the day, but fixed costs and input costs are so high these days, depending on grain prices, you need over 1.2t/ha to break even in an operation like this.

"High grain prices certainly helped, but we are also facing higher chemical and fertiliser costs."

Bulla Burra buys its chemical months in advance.

"It's not uncommon to have chemical supply issues, so we like to give our resellers time to look around, it can be cheaper that way," Mr Biele said.

"We have plans to cut back inputs if we have to, but those decisions will be made at the eleventh hour."

Mr Biele said they were aided by their paddock rotations this year, as at least 30-35pc of the crop was being sown back into legume stubbles or spray fallow.

"We are able to mine the residual nitrogen, but that won't be an ongoing management decision," he said.

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