The Gregg WeedSeeker – equipped with dual spray lines and a second, 1000L (220 gallon), chemical tank – is just one part of the extensive machinery list on the Dysart district grain growing property Korora.

“We have more equipment than we really need, but we (Brian himself, wife Val, son Nigel and daughter-in-law Sue-Ann) can do that because we operate a successful farm,” Brian says.

“We have spent a lot of money on chemicals over the years, particularly when Roundup was $15/L, so we have never had to justify the cost of the WeedSeeker,”

The Greggs crop 2000ha (4942 acres) on their home property Korora and another 1000ha (2471 acres) on a share-farm basis.

They are firmly committed to maintaining a cropping balance of 60 percent summer and 40 percent winter – sorghum and maize in summer, with mungbeans tried and dropped – and chickpeas and “wheat if we have to” in winter.

“We can’t grow a decent wheat crop here but with chickpeas we can plant down eight to nine inches (200/225mm) and get a crop without another drop of rain,” Brian says.

Brian says their WeedSeeker, with the second herbicide line and tank, is particularly effective against their most serious weed problem, Feathertop Rhodes grass, which growers did not take seriously enough when it started to become a problem.

“Feathertop Rhodes grass is extremely hard to kill with anything less than two litres of Roundup to the hectare through a normal spray boom,” he said.

“Our WeedSeeker set-up allows us to apply a basic rate of 500 millilitres of Roundup, in a mix with 24D, through the second line right across the paddock, and to hit the patches of Feathertop Rhodes grass identified by the unit’s eyes with a spot spray at the equivalent of two litres of Roundup per hectare.”