GRANULAR Products Pty Ltd, has stationed a Bell 206B III Jetranger helicopter in Queensland, to support their network of accredited aerial operators.
The aircraft will be set up solely to apply their own registered products. As a continuing commitment to precision application and accuracy, the rotary wing aircraft has been commissioned to facilitate control programs of invasive weeds like Prickly Acacia, Giant Rats Tail Grass (GRT) and other invasive species.
Patches of woody weeds or invasive grasses can now be economically and efficiently treated with a strategic focus of minimizing seed build up and spread. A medium infestation of Prickly Acacia is between 100 – 150 Plants/ ha (mostly seeding size and above) which is close to 70 per cent to 100pc of the horizon blocked out. Medium infestation areas create two significant issues, it is where large seed numbers can accumulate very quickly and survive in the soil for a very long time. Secondly, these areas are where moisture competition results in significant pasture reduction and productivity losses.
Generally medium infestations of Prickly Acacia are not large enough for fixed wing control, but are very time consuming and difficult to achieve a consistent kill for ground control. Aerial observation by pilots allow the heavier infestations to be quickly controlled, then allowing ground crews to mop up lighter and less time critical fringe areas.
The large network of rural agronomic resellers will now have greater support for the precision application of our weed control products. Granular Products are currently planning aerial campaigns and will be covering a large area of Queensland. Prickly Acacia infestations and fence-line re-growth are also options that this helicopter will be available to control by applying GP Regain. The first western run will be carried out in early September and there are a few timeslots still available for interested graziers.
Areas such as Mackay, Whitsundays and Atherton tablelands are among some of the key GRT areas that recently haven’t had a precision alternative to apply GP Flupropanate.
The advantage of this helicopter is that it is equipped with skid mounted Isolair 4500 Broadcasters that increase application accuracy. The Isolair equipment is the most precise broadcaster on the market, preventing any swinging and twisting motion, also mechanically broadcasting the granular herbicide evenly. This helicopter is pattern tested to ensure an even and repeatable swath, as well as GPS guided and has data logging capacity.
For more information visit www.granularproducts.com
