This project was jointly funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation and the Grains Research and Development Corporation. The training activities delivered within this project resulted in a positive practice change towards improved by more than 80% of the participants.

Over the three year funding period 114 training activities were delivered to growers, advisors and machinery dealers in the Northern GRDC region and Cotton Growing areas This output exceeded the project milestones by 75% ( the milestones required a minimum of 65 workshops to be completed). The training activities alone contributed over $400,000 value to this project through in-kind and cash contributions from the industry and participants.

A total of 8 replicated trials were completed to demonstrate equivalent efficacy and potential limitations with drift reduction technologies. Results were widely reported to industry via field days, industry updates and inclusion in training materials.

Bill Gordon Consulting prepared 15 articles for industry journals, and contributed to a further 12 regional newspaper articles, and gave radio and television interviews related to spray drift management.

The outputs of this project, in combination with other industry initiatives, have seen a significant change in the types of nozzles that applicators are using. In 2005 at the commencement of this project only 43% of the nozzles supplied by the leading distributor in Australia would be considered as drift reducing, in 2008 this figure had increased to 72% of all nozzle sales through this supplier.Project outputs have also seen an increased awareness of the meteorological conditions that contribute increased risk of spray drift occurring. Chemical user accreditations now include to the materials developed in this project by Bill Gordon Consulting.

This project has worked in conjunction with industry to develop the capacity to continually improve the management of spraying operations and to minimise the risk of spray drift events adversely impacting on the industry.