Modern technology is revolutionising the local horticulture industry out on the paddocks of the Lindenow Flats, where a machine imported from the US is using lasers to strike out weeds, rather than using traditional herbicides.
Riviera Farms’ managing director, Nelson Cox, said the main benefit of using the
Laserweeder technology was soil health as so much less chemical would go into the soil.
“We looked at one working at Tripod Farms at Bacchus Marsh and did the numbers and thought why not, it’s the way of the future,” Nelson said.
“We had to be at the size that warrants it.
“We’re proud to be the first in the area with one of these machines.
“We want to minimise our reliance on herbicide, ideally, if we didn’t have to use any herbicides we would go that way.”
The day the Primary Producer visited, the $2.4-million machine had its computer set on four-row green lettuce, with lasers striking every plant that wasn’t the shape of a young lettuce.
The machine was the fourth of five to have arrived on Australian shores, with just 125 working worldwide.
The manufacturer is Carbon Robotics, and its implementation manager, Joel Thompson, said the optimum weed size was about four to five millimetres.
“The lasers work by targeting the marrow in the stem of the weed,” Joel said.
“Which then breaks down the cells in the wall of the weed.
“The key is to get the weeds when they’re small.”
The machine covers about half a hectare an hour, depending on the weed pressure and is like a light show, with 42 cameras and 30 lasers constantly at work.
One of its operators is Jamieson Stewart, who is 17, which the Coxs say is handy as he has picked up the technology quickly.
Under Jamieson’s guidance that morning, the machine had zapped a million weeds in an hour and a half, with all its statistics recorded and available on the iPad in the tractor.
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The Coxs, who grow all their own seedlings on a property closer to Bairnsdale, will use the LaserWeeder over all their crops including lettuce, baby broccoli, spinach, rocket, sweet corn and carrots, some 600 hectares in total.
Riviera Farms crop care manager, Mick Cox, also has the app on his phone and can see all the stats, as can the support team in the USA who can monitor everything remotely.
He said prior to the machine arriving, six to 10 people on the weeding crew would hand weed every crop.
“Since COVID we’ve really struggled to find enough labour, there’s also been a massive push to find alternatives,” Mick said.
“This will cut our chemical bill substantially.
“The availability of chemical into the future – and our reluctance to use them – means this is the best way to combat weeds.
“The initial investment is huge, but it will pay off long term.
“We’re also reducing the weed burden in the paddocks over time.”
He said in a 40-hour week the machine could currently cover all Riviera Farms’ crops, and in the March-April peak season, they would run it over two shifts.
The machine works just as well at night so if you’re driving by in the dark, prepare for a light show.
