The Joy of Business

On the spraying side of an application business, work is often driven by an almost unforeseeable combination of rain, sunshine, humidity, wind speed and direction, soil moisture, weed growth, fungus spores, or the growth or reproduction rate of insects and the balance between predator insects (beneficials) and others (pests).

Agricultural chemicals go through strict assessment against human health, environmental and trade impact standards by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and can only be used in accordance with the legally binding label that may include strict instructions on spray quality, buffers, and weather limits including wind speed, humidity and temperature.

Any breach is an offence.

Different products do vastly different jobs from killing weeds, fungus or insects to slowing or speeding up crop growth, desiccating crops or defoliating them to make harvest easier.

Only when the job order fromthe farmer or agronomist comes in can the actual mission planning commence. What susceptible crops are downwind? Are there foraging bees nearby? Are there hazards in the treatment area such as powerlines, waterways or native vegetation? And of course quality is important.

What standard of application do we need? Has the aircraft been pattern tested? What spray droplet size will do the job, with what water rate, from which nozzle, pressure, angle of orientation or orifice with what flow rate? All of which decisions are taken with an eye on protecting the environment through sound chemical drift management.

For solids or granular applications the task might be fertiliser onto pastures, or pre-germinated (soaked) rice seed into a flooded rice paddy, or high analysis urea over the top of a crop to boost growth, or even herbicides. Each has their own equipment and specialised techniques. Each depends on a special alignment of the stars to go ahead.

In all scenarios, the weather adds the imperative for flexibility.

For spraying, if the wind is too low it is a useful indicator of a surface temperature inversion and operations cannot proceed because of the potential for drift and offtarget damage. High wind speed will also stop the job. If the wind is from the wrong direction the job will also not proceed. The only option – wait for the wind to change to safe

In all scenarios, the weather adds the imperative for flexibility.

parameters or perhaps go to another job with different requirements.

If rain is imminent, the job may not proceed because the chemical will be washed off and wasted. If it is too hot the plant will shut down and not absorb the chemical (hence night spraying). If the humidity/temperature relationship is outside parameters the spray may be ineffective and therefore the ‘Delta T’ becomes an important indicator.

To call it a juggling act does not convey the level of complexity involved.

In firefighting, the weather plays an equally important role in dictating the mission. Wind changes pose a significant threat, as does topography to fire behaviour. Asset protection requires different tactics and establishing a break or extinguishing flames will requiredifferent products and techniques.

Across all of this sits a complex web of regulation, due diligence and accountability including CASA, state/territory environmental agencies, licensing for chemicals, dangerous goods management and workplace health and safety.

It’s easy to forget why we come into this swamp.

Being able to help farmers produce a great crop that helps feed or clothe Australians and millions of others, or to save a house and its cherished possessions from a bushfire are both great motivators.

The flying is exhilarating and the view from the office is great. Working side by side with people that make up an awesome team in one of the most challenging of aviation environments is also a great motivator.

But to the director of the companysiebenthere is a key reward in addition to a positive return on investment. This is the joy of creating something from nothing – perhaps other than a very understanding bank manager, a lot of hard work and sleepless nights.

Jobs in the economy don’t come out of thin air. They are created by entrepreneurs, company directors and business owners who decide to commit themselves to building a business up through the good years and bad and who take great pride in actively contributing to society.

When you get the chance to thank a business owner for stepping up – despite all the easier ways out that are available – you should offer them nothing but encouragement.