Mary O'Brien on best practice spray application

Mary O'Brien on best practice spray application

From The Prosperous Farmer by MacKillop Farm Management Group

February 26, 2026 · 24 min · Season 9 · Episode 2

About this episode

Mary O’Brien shares insights on best practices for spray application and chemical use in agriculture.

The Prosperous Farmer catches up with spray drift specialist Mary O’Brien following the Best Practice Spray Application Workshop in Naracoorte. Drawing on her experience as a former regulator and industry advisor, Mary shares practical, no-nonsense insights into responsible chemical use, spray drift prevention, and protecting agriculture’s social licence. From understanding inversion conditions and wind movement to choosing the right nozzle, maintaining accurate records, and managing water quality, Mary outlines the critical decisions that sit firmly in the hands of spray operators. She explains why compliance with chemical labels is non-negotiable, how good record-keeping can protect farmers, and why a few simple tweaks can prevent costly mistakes and industry conflict. TPF previously caught up with Mary O'Brien in Season 3, Episode 2 with 'Are You Bogged Mate?'.

People in this episode

Host: MacKillop Farm Management Group

Guest: Mary O’Brien

Topics covered

  • spray application
  • chemical use
  • spray drift prevention
  • agriculture
  • record-keeping
  • nozzle selection

Keywords

  • spray drift
  • chemical compliance
  • agriculture
  • nozzle selection
  • record-keeping
  • water quality
  • inversion conditions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: MacKillop Farm Management Group

Places: Naracoorte

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