THE call is going out again to farmers and farm contractors to be part of this year's national SPRAY Awards and in the running for a $15,000 prize pack - including a study tour of Britain.
Crop protection and seed giant, Syngenta, has launched another search for Australia's most Sustainable, Productive, Responsible Applicator of the Year (SPRAY).
The SPRAY Awards, now in their fourth year, are run jointly by Syngenta and Rural Press to recognise agriculture's outstanding spray equipment operators and good application strategies embraced by the industry.
Last year's national winner, Central West NSW spray rig operator, Stuart Jackson, heads off on his $15,000 study tour of UK farms, research facilities and the big Cereals arable cropping field days in Lincolnshire in June.
Mr Jackson and his wife Ros will also travel to the US on their return leg, visiting the Miller spray rig manufacturing plant in Wisconsin and cotton farms in Memphis.
Other State winners in the high profile SPRAY contest collect secondary prizes recognising their achievements and all competition entrants score a 12-month subscription to Syngenta's weather and spray window forecast service, Agricast.
The 2011 runners up were Tasmanian Oliver Ward from Bushy Park hop farm and South Australia vineyard manager Hans Loder from Katnook Estates, Penola.
"Regardless of whether your farm is big or small, you work for yourself or someone else or whether you're a ground rig operator or aerial sprayer, these awards are open to you," said chief judge and Syngenta technical specialist, Garth Wickson.
He said the awards highlighted how best practice application strategies could help growers lift productivity and grow more from less.
"Small improvements in spray application for each pass over a season can deliver major improvements in weed, insect and disease control, which ultimately translates into yield and quality improvements at harvest," he said.
The SPRAY Awards had also helped Syngenta better understand challenges facing farmers, encouraging the chemical company and others in the industry to think like spray operators in developing innovative solutions to lift performance on Australian farms.
Mr Wickson said the past three years of competition showed how better applicators were getting "very good at what they do".
But there was still room for improvement, and the chance to recognise those making real efforts to refine their spraying activities.
"Clearly more people are working to do the job better," he said.
"People are very conscious of issues such as drift management and are embracing new technology and better occupational health and safety procedures."
A second successive season of widespread rainfall across the grain belt and plenty of focus on weed control is likely to prompt renewed attention on spray operators' activities for nominations in 2012.
Last year a big return to demand for aerial weed, rust and insects (including locusts) control measures saw aerial spray operators feature in the finals for the first time.
As in previous years, SPRAY Awards judges will examine the best practice strategies and methods used, including planning and record keeping.
Also important will be good knowledge of integrated pest management principles, risk management, OH and S requirements and application technology.
"We encourage previous entrants to enter again. We're keen to see how they've improved since the last judging," Mr Wickson said.
In fact last year's national winner Mr Jackson was one such return nomination who used the feedback from the 2010 judging to modify his spraying operation and try again the next year.
"It's been a fantastic experience - I've learnt so much and all the attention I received has been very good for the business," he said.
"We've had so many calls from people who'd I never had contact with before. Unfortunately I've been too busy to accept too much extra work."
To get involved in the SPRAY Awards entrants must fill out the official entry form on page of this week's issue, or download an entry from www.syngenta.com.a u . Entries for the 2012 awards close on March 14.
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