ALL farmers are being urged to help prevent off-target spray drift damage to crops this season by mapping their paddocks.
The cotton and grains industries have invested in SataCrop - an all-of-agriculture online mapping platform for growers to use.
Farmers can simply log-on to SataCrop, map their fields over satellite imagery and colour code their crops. This helps inform other growers about where sensitive crops are planted when planning their spraying activities.
SataCrop can be used to map all crop types, and farmers can change the colour coding of crop types within paddocks and fields to reflect the different planting seasons.
Cotton Australia chief executive offer Adam Kay said SataCrop was a game-changer for all of agriculture.
"Off-target spray drift can cost any farmer large amounts of money in lost crop," Mr Kay said.
"SataCrop has been designed with ease of access and straightforward navigation in mind, and I'm confident it will provide real benefit to farmers and their communities."
Other spray drift mitigation advice for farmers includes:
- Reading and following spray label instructions, and being up to date with APVMA label changes to 2,4-D products.
- Checking the current and forecast conditions before spraying, and not spraying when there is a surface temperature inversion.
National Farmers' Federation chief executive officer Tony Mahar said it was great the cotton and grain industries were taking the lead on the all-of-agriculture issue.
"By working together and using the various tools and resources we have available, we can collectively solve this all-of-ag issue," Mr Mahar said.