A wet winter like the one East Gippsland is currently experiencing means access to paddocks is limited, with activities like spraying broadleaf weeds or adding pasture booster nigh on impossible using heavy machinery.
Fortunately, the latest technology in the form of drones is shouldering that workload, helping to get sprays and fertilisers where needed, including blackberries and other weeds in difficult to reach places.
Anthony James, of Farm Forest Drones based near Newmeralla, has worked his drones in industries as diverse as forestry, vegetables and steep beef and sheep country helping farmers accomplish their jobs.
“Using a drone certainly beats lugging spraying hoses up steep hills,” Mr James said.
A fitter and turner by trade, Mr James, 34, previously worked at the Orbost gas plant and has had the drone equipment for two years.
“I spent the first year learning all about drones and spraying, and completing courses, then the past 12 months trying to turn it into a business,” Mr James said.
He has worked recently in Gelantipy spraying weeds in ryegrass paddocks, and over summer spent a lot of time around Swifts Creek and Omeo in steep places, getting at blackberries and other weeds.
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Each drone capacity is 40 litres of liquid or 50 kilograms of granular material like urea or pasture booster.
Mr James owns three machines and alternates them, he takes with him a trailer with a water tank, a chemical mixing tank and generators with multiple batteries.
He says each battery needs charging after about nine minutes, with the flight time varying, depending on the weight of the load.
Coverage is based on how many litres per hectare are being applied, but at 50 litres a hectare, the drone can achieve 10ha/hr, while at 80l/ha the drone can achieve 6ha/hr.
Test paper is used to check the droplet coverage.
Being based at Newmerella, the local produce store is AG Warehouse, and Mr James works in with the agronomist there, who is actually based at Yarram.
The Farm Forest Drones have travelled to Central and South Gippsland as well as working within the forestry industry aiding with pre-planting, spraying out weeds, as well as copper sprays and broadcasting fertiliser.
“The drone is pretty affordable compared to a helicopter, especially in steep and hard to access country,” Mr James said.
“In the past one of the helicopters collected a powerline which makes the drone a good alternate means.”
Farm Forest Drones is on Instagram where a range of photos and different jobs can be found.
