FARMERS in Kooloonong and Ouyen were recently in the front row to see the future of weed control in action, as WEED-IT Australia showcased – in conjunction with AGG Tech Mildura – the latest in autonomous spraying innovation with ‘Benny,’ a SwarmFarm SwarmBot equipped with cutting-edge WEED-IT technology.
The demonstrations highlighted Benny’s ability to navigate challenging terrain, including sandy soils and undulating rises, thanks to the integration of flotation tyres on a 24m Hayes trailing sprayer.
This setup, combined with WEED-IT’s advanced spraying system, offers a powerful solution for reducing chemical usage while maintaining effective weed control.
At the heart of the system is WEED-IT’s chlorophyll fluorescence detection technology, which enables precision spraying day or night.
With 25cm nozzle spacing and 50Hz pulse width modulation (PWM), the system ensures the smallest possible spray footprint, cutting chemical costs by as much as 90 per cent while also minimising environmental impact.
WEED-IT offers four distinct spray modes to suit a variety of farming needs:
Spot spray: Targets individual weeds with pinpoint accuracy, minimising chemical use and preserving soil health.
Dual mode: Applies a lower blanket rate while simultaneously spot spraying larger weeds – ideal for mixed weed pressure.
Blanket spray: Delivers uniform coverage across the entire boom, with PWM ensuring consistent droplet size and application rate even during turns.
Spot in crop: Currently in testing since 2024, this mode is showing promising results in row crops and selected cereal crop applications, allowing targeted spraying within growing crops without damaging them.
The SwarmBot, operated via the SwarmView iOS app and managed through SwarmFarm’s FarmManager software, brings full autonomy to the paddock.
It supports both linkage and tow-behind implements and is capable of handling sprayer widths up to 27m.
With more than 180 robots already in operation across Australia (as of May), the technology is rapidly gaining traction in broadacre farming operations.
WEED-IT Australia territory manager Mark Sloan is encouraging farmers to experience the benefits firsthand.
“We’re inviting growers across the region to host on-farm demonstrations with either a Hayes or Calibre sprayer,” he said.
Also released recently by WEED-IT Australia this year is the WEED-IT DASH interface – a powerful digital companion which provides real-time field and machine data to optimise crop protection.
At its core is a custom built 10” touchscreen, a high-definition display powered by an ultrafast processor. This intuitive interface allows farmers to track activities and view data in real time with vibrant clarity.
DASH also streamlines daily operations with job cards which manage tasks such as mapping layers (‘As Detected’, ‘As Covered’) and crop density data.
This gives farmers full control over their spraying strategies and enables smarter decision-making in the field.
With 25x25cm grid resolution and individual nozzle control, DASH supports advanced features such as variable rate application and crop scouting, ensuring every drop of chemical is used efficiently.
Data is transferred seamlessly via a fast 4G connection, and instantly accessible through the DASH Portal, guaranteeing maximum uptime and remote support when needed.
Farmers interested in the new DASH, either by attending or hosting an on-farm demonstration, can contact Mark Sloan on 0417 590 086 or mark.sloan@weedit.com.au
