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.

Scott Samwell from Eastbrook Farms in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills has built one of the nation’s most significant Brussel sprout operations, growing over 2.5 million plants across 100 hectares. The Samwell family supplies major retailers including Costco, Aldi, Woolworths, and Coles, with produce reaching markets from Darwin to Tasmania and into Asia.

The operation spans multiple locations across Langhorne Creek, Mount Barker, and Hay Valley, providing seasonal spread for near year-round production. This continuous growing presents unique challenges – Brussel sprouts require 10 months from planting to harvest, demanding constant protection from pests and diseases.

“Coverage is key,” Scott emphasises. With standard application rates of 1000L/Ha and crop protection products applied weekly year-round, the Samwells needed productivity gains without sacrificing outcomes.

Scott discovered MagrowTec through an industry article, intrigued by its scientific backing. “MagrowTec was saying, ‘Right, if you do this and this, this is the results to be expected,'” he notes. European test results gave him confidence in the technology’s legitimacy.

The practical retrofit capability sealed the deal. “There were no moving parts and you could bolt it onto your pre-existing spray rig,” Scott explains. He strategically installed MagrowTec on their Langhorne Creek sprayer, which operates without air assistance in challenging windy conditions with tight spray windows.

Working with MagrowTec’s Crop Science team, Eastbrook Farms achieved:

25% water saving

25% productivity increase

Extended spray windows in windier conditions

Improved penetration through dense canopy