QUEENSLAND RETROFIT KIT IMPROVES EFFICIENCY
10 JULY 2025
Ian Ladner shared his experience with the WEED-IT Retrofit Kit, highlighting its benefits in conserving moisture and reducing chemical usage.
At Croplands, we are committed to providing innovative solutions that enhance farming efficiency and sustainability. Recently, we worked with Ian Ladner from Wolonga Farming Co. Their land is in Branchview, located on the Darling Downs, 87km west of Toowoomba in Queensland. Ian and his family have been farming this land for more than 95 years, and they recently adopted our WEED-IT Retrofit Kit to improve their operations.
Wolonga Farming Co, operated by Ian, David and Harry Ladner, spans 1700 hectares. The farm grows a variety of crops, including cotton, wheat, sorghum, chickpea, mung bean, and soybean. The Ladners have integrated the Hayes 3-point Linkage sprayer with a 24m WEED-IT Retrofit Kit sensor spray system, supplied by Croplands and the Toowoomba Spray Shop.
Ian Ladner shared his experience with the WEED-IT Retrofit Kit, highlighting its benefits in conserving moisture and reducing chemical usage. The sensor technology in the sprayer has significantly improved weed control by accurately identifying and targeting weeds, resulting in substantial savings on chemicals.
The WEED-IT Retrofit Kit is incredibly easy to attach and couple to our tractor. The technology is user-friendly, and the results have been excellent. It’s made our operations much more efficient.
Ian and David Ladner, Wolonga Farming Co, QLD
Key Benefits:
Sustainability: By reducing the need for cultivation, the Ladners are preserving soil moisture and improving the overall health of their soil.
Efficiency: The WEED-IT Retrofit Kit is easy to attach and couple to the tractor, making it user-friendly.
Precision: The advanced sensor technology ensures precise weed identification and control.
Cost Savings: The Ladners have seen a significant reduction in chemical usage, estimating savings of around two thirds compared to previous methods. Ian says there’s greater potential going forward as they “tune it to a fine art”.
Ian praised the support from Croplands Queensland Territory Manager Lachlan Coom and Scott Simpson from the Toowoomba Spray Shop, noting the excellent service and the seamless integration of the sprayer with their existing equipment. He emphasised the ease of use and the positive impact on their farming operations.
Croplands is proud to support farmers in their journey towards more sustainable and productive farming practices.
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