WEEDING IT TO NEW HEIGHTS

Australia’s WEED-IT specialists, Croplands Equipment, is set to make a strong impact this field day season, showcasing new technology, expanded capability and continued innovation across its precision spraying range.

Leading the line-up is the Series 2 Robot Ready Pinto, a machine that brings together SwarmFarm Robotics´ autonomous SwarmBot, WEED-IT Optical Spot Spraying Technology and Croplands’ proven Pinto platform. The integration enables growers to automate spraying operations while maximising accuracy and efficiency, while also supporting significant chemical savings and greater flexibility in chemistry application – helping return one of the most valuable on-farm resources: time.

Enhancements across the Series 2 model include an upgraded tank design to improve centre of gravity, along with a range of refinements to further enhance performance in the paddock.

Croplands WEED-IT Product Lead Lachlan Coom said the evolution of the Pinto reflected growing demand for robot-ready machinery that did not compromise on durability or usability.

“The Series 2 Robot Ready Pinto builds on a platform that growers already trust with dedicated design enhancements perfectly adapted to autonomy that will really stand out in the field,” Coom said.

Croplands are releasing another sprayer platform with a new purpose-built WEED-IT ready 36-metre truss boom mounted to its renowned Pegasus 7000L sprayer, delivering a more compact, large scale broadacre sprayer with twin tank and twin spray line capabilities.

The combination provides farmers with a highly capable sprayer than can do spot spraying or blanket spraying or both at the same time and has been extensively field tested over the past two years.

“We are excited about the launch,” Coom said.

“It’s about delivering practical solutions that fit into real farming systems, while giving operators more flexibility in how and when they spray.”

Croplands is also seeing strong momentum in its WEED-IT Retrofit Kits, with its engineering and field service teams successfully installing optical spot spraying sensors across a wide range of sprayer brands.

Self-propelled, linkage and trailed units from brands including Case Patriot, John Deere, Goldacres, Fendt Rogator, Hayes and Hardi have all been retrofitted, reinforcing the adaptability of the WEED-IT system.

“We’ve worked on a broad mix of machines and so far, we haven’t come across a sprayer we couldn’t retrofit,” Coom said.

“That’s a big win for growers — they can upgrade existing equipment with WEED-IT technology and start seeing savings without needing to invest in a completely new unit.”

Those savings are driven by WEED-IT’s proven ability to significantly reduce chemical use, improve spraying efficiency and help combat herbicide resistance in hard-to-control weeds.

Over the past 15 years, Croplands has installed more than 25,000 WEED-IT sensors, primarily in broadacre applications, where the technology has redefined spraying practices and supported more sustainable farming outcomes.

Now, that same capability is expanding into horticulture with the introduction of the WEED-IT Orchard 4000, the company’s first full-row optical spot spraying solution specifically designed for orchard weed control.

The Croplands WEED-IT Orchard 4000 delivers targeted herbicide application across entire rows, bringing the benefits of precision spraying to the tree crop market.

Supporting adoption of the technology is the WEED-IT DASH 10” touchscreen, designed to give growers greater confidence and insight into their spraying performance and offering remote upgrades and support.

Croplands will have WEED-IT equipment and technology on display across several upcoming field days, including:

• FarmFest, Toowoomba, QLD — 3–5 June
• Ag-Grow, Emerald, QLD — 25–27 June
• Australian Cotton Conference, QLD — 4–6 August
• Eyre Peninsula Field Days, SA — 11–13 August
• AgQuip, Gunnedah, NSW — 18–20 August
• WeedSmart Week, Griffith, NSW — 18–20 August
• Dowerin Field Days, WA — 26–27 August
• Henty Field Days, Henty, NSW — 22–24 September

With a strong presence across the season, Croplands is focused on helping growers adopt practical, cost-effective technology that improves efficiency, sustainability and long-term farm performance through our WEED-IT offerings.