Graduate Agronomists Hit Melbourne for Two Days of Hands On Learning
2026 NRI Graduate Agronomy Program – Adjuvant & Spray Application Training
Thirteen junior agronomists participated in NRI’s Graduate Agronomy Program in Melbourne on 6th to 7th May, for two packed days of practical training generously sponsored by Victorian Chemicals (VicChem). The program covered adjuvants, spray application, tank mixing, and wrapped up with a memorable farm visit.
Adjuvants, Spray Quality and Tank Mixing
The program opened at VicChem’s facility on Melbourne’s northern fringe, where the team hosted the group for a full morning of adjuvant training. Sessions covered adjuvant selection and water quality in real depth, giving the graduates practical guidance on getting the best performance from crop protection products. The group also enjoyed a behind-the-scenes factory tour, seeing firsthand where well-known products like Hasten are actually made. VicChem’s generosity extended into the evening, with the team hosting the group for dinner — a wonderful opportunity to continue the conversations in a relaxed setting.
A big thank you to VicChem for their sponsorship and hospitality throughout the day.
In the afternoon, Mark Slatter National Business Manager NRI delivered a live demonstration of spray quality and drift management, walking the group through how nozzle selection and adjuvant choice work together to deliver better outcomes in the field.
Mark also covered tank mixing, sharing real-world examples of compatibility issues that agronomists are likely to encounter throughout their careers. While these topics can be explored in a classroom setting, seeing them demonstrated in person brings a level of understanding that’s hard to replicate and that’s exactly the philosophy behind NRI’s Graduate Program.
On-Farm at Werribee
The second day took the group out to a property at Werribee, managed by MPH Agriculture, where they were hosted by farm manager Ben Jowett. The farm is located on Melbourne Water’s sewage plant a setting that creates some genuinely unique agronomic challenges. After more than 100 years of wastewater irrigation, the nutrient profile of the country is unlike anything most agronomists will encounter in their careers, and the farm carries the somewhat enviable task of using as much water as possible across its summer crops (corn and lucerne) and winter program of wheat, barley and canola.
Conditions on the day were wet and muddy, though this did nothing to dampen the group’s enthusiasm as they moved through the crops and field trials. Ben’s depth of knowledge across such a broad range of crop types both in Australia and overseas made for an inspiring visit, and his passion for the land was evident throughout.
Why These Experiences Matter
Events like this represent a meaningful investment of time, both for the graduates themselves and for the businesses that support their participation. The knowledge, confidence and professional networks built through hands-on experiences like this are difficult to develop in any other way, and NRI is proud to facilitate them.
Coming Up for the Graduate Group
There’s plenty more to look forward to in the months ahead:
- July — Fertcare Training, Werribee VIC. Nutrient Advantage, with a focus on Agronomy in Practice.
- July — Tamworth NSW. Visit to the supplier Research Farm, covering herbicide mode of action, field trial design and management, plus a visit to AMPS.
- September — Wagga Wagga NSW. Visit to canola field trials and plant breeding training, plus supplier information session on seed care.
