Jan Le Frenz of Dongamere, Cecil Plains, on Queensland’s Darling Downs, brings a unique perspective to modern farming. Having immigrated from Germany in 1982 as a young child with his family, Jan has spent over four decades cultivating cotton, corn, wheat, barley, sorghum and chickpeas in this supplementary irrigation region.
“I consider myself a producer rather than a business manager” says Jan, who takes a hands-on approach to his diverse cropping operation. Like many in the district, he focuses water resources on cotton production whilst using rotational crops for soil health and cash flow management.
In an industry increasingly dominated by electronic innovations, Jan was drawn to MagrowTec’s simplicity and reliability. “The thing that attracts me to MagrowTec is that it’s not an electronic gadget. It has inherent reliability and should it fail, we can continue spraying,” he explains.
Having fitted the MagrowTec system approximately two years ago, Jan appreciates the no-moving-parts design . “The day you want to spray is the day you want to spray. Anything that pulls you up is a big problem.”
Working with David McGrath and Dan Corfe from the MagrowTec team, Jan conducted field trials during cotton defoliation to compare droplet deposition with and without the magnetic technology. The results confirmed what European testing had already demonstrated – improved penetration through the crop canopy and better product placement.
"We could see a different droplet deposition with or without the MagrowTec.There was definitely an improved penetration in the canopy."
As a farmer committed to both environmental stewardship and financial sustainability, Jan values the system’s contribution to precision application. “Having the product be more precisely placed where it’s targeted, rather than off-target movement” aligns with his focus on reducing emissions, maintaining soil health, and optimising inputs.
The MagrowTec system has become an integral part of Jan’s diverse cropping programme, which includes organic fertilisers and careful rotation planning to prevent disease build-up and chemical resistance.
Jan sees MagrowTec as a long-term investment in his operation’s efficiency.
"It's not a pivotal decision-making process. It sits in the background and helps us carry out the chores. It hopefully increased the efficiency of that part by a few percentile points."
For a producer who believes “there are lots of decisions and if we can get most of them as right as we can, that’s the best we can do,” MagrowTec represents another step towards sustainable, efficient farming on the Darling Downs.
To learn more, watch Jan’s video testimonial below.
