RCNZ Study Tour Opens New Doors for Harri Moss
Harri Moss recently had the incredible opportunity to participate in a study tour to Nufarm and Croplands in Melbourne and Adelaide Australia, thanks to winning the Nufarm/RCNZ SprayApplicator Award for 2024.
Harri Moss with David Ryan - ANZ Customer Marketing Lead.
It was a fascinating experience, one he thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot from.
The study tour, which Nufarm helped organise, was divided into two parts. The first focused on crop protection products and the technology behind their manufacture, while the second covered practical application technologies with Croplands in Adelaide.
There was so much to see and absorb throughout the week, but Harri captured a few of the key highlights from those few days.
After arriving on the first day, he was given an introduction to the Australian crop protection market and how Nufarm engages with its customers from a marketing perspective. This was particularly useful, as SprayLink is exploring new ways to interact with and support its own customers.
Dave shared some valuable insights, especially the idea that “keeping it simple wins every time, bullet points, clear benefits and links if people want to dig deeper.”
It prompted Harri to think about how they could simplify and strengthen their communication strategy.
One surprise was discovering the full extent of Nufarm’s seed business, formerly known as Nuseed. The innovation in new varieties was impressive, particularly their work with Omega-3 production and using grain as a base for aviation biofuel. It was eye-opening to see these kinds of technologies being integrated into agriculture.
As one of the team explained, “It’s not just about protecting crops anymore, it’s about adding value at every step.”
A real highlight was the tour of the manufacturing plant and laboratory. Seeing the differences in production between various products like glyphosate and phenoxies was incredibly interesting. With so much complex chemistry involved, it was a lot to take in. One of the plants even looked like “an oversized whiskey distillery,” which made for a good laugh.
What stood out most was the sheer attention to detail in testing formulations. James walked Harri through some practical mixing and compatibility tests and explained how these can vary widely between industry products. His comment - “A good mix on paper can still be a bad mix in the tank” - stuck with him.
The visit to Croplands in Adelaide really stood out, especially given the work Harri and his team do day-to-day. Seeing some of the large self-propelled rigs in action, along with the latest ‘Brown-on-Brown’ and ‘Green-on-Green’ optical spot spraying technology, was incredible.
Watching it operate up close, he could immediately see the potential for adapting some of this tech back home.
One of the team members joked about their workshop nickname, ‘Big Fridge’, written on a sign above one of the bays. That kind of camaraderie was great to see and added to the atmosphere of innovation and passion. It’s exciting to think about how they might one day integrate Green-on-Green tech into their trucks in New Zealand.
Overall, the study tour was an unforgettable experience that gave Harri valuable insights and knowledge. He remains incredibly grateful to RCNZ, Nufarm and Croplands for the opportunity.