Arable Focus: Front and rear sprayer combo makes sense in Norfolk

Unusually for Norfolk, Easton Estates near Norwich, features some steep banks, which along with field sizes of 6ha (15 acres) or less in places, was making life difficult with the farm’s 3,200-litre trailed sprayer. Replacing it with a self-propelled unit was ruled out due a reluctance to tie up so much capital in one machine.

So last year, the decision was taken to switch to a mounted sprayer, but with 500ha (1,250 acres) of arable crops to cover, it was clear that a high-capacity solution was needed.

“The Amazone UF-FT system was the only mounted sprayer that fitted the bill, with 1,850 litres on the UF’s main tank and a 1,000-litre FT front tank,” explains manager Michael Eales, “plus we had heard good reports of Amazone’s sprayers.”

Well balanced

The Amatron+ controller with the sprayer integrates filling, agitation, application and cleaning for both tanks in to one circuit, effectively making the two tanks in to one unit. Flow-control fill level management constantly monitors tank levels to balance the amount of liquid in both, displayed on the display in the cab, so it is a well balanced outfit, says operator Neil Dagless.

“Liquid from the front tank is pumped to the rear as it is needed, so you never end up with one full and one empty. The controller is very easy to use, and there are various shortcuts via the joystick such as knocking rates down to meet recommendations.”

With a diverse range of crops, changes of chemicals are frequent, so Mr Dagless appreciates the straightforward rinse out procedure, automatically controlled from the cab via the Amatron+ control unit. The main tank has a 100-litre clean water tank, located between the link arms, which gives a complete rinse out of the main and front tank - an issue on other types of front and rear combinations. “Where possible we change chemicals at lunchtime, to allow the sprayer to be cleaned out fully without leaving any residue,” he says.

Easton Estates uses a front-mounted press, so a front linkage was already in place on the spraying tractor, making it a simple operation to mount the front tank, attach the sprayer and connect up the pipework. Mr Eales says fitting and setting up the sprayer takes about 15 minutes, admitting it always seems more daunting than it is in practice. “You get used to just hitching up a trailed sprayer and driving away, but this is really very straightforward.”

Compact outline

But it is in the field when the UF-FT’s compact outline comes in to its own. “We have so many small fields and it is much easier to back in to an awkward corner, as the trailed machine always seemed to crab off to one side,” he says. “There are height sensors on the booms, and they lift up when spray is switched off and drop down again as it comes back on, which minimises the risk of dropping them on the ground during a headland turn. Boom folding is also very tidy, which helps on our narrow lanes.”

Mr Dagless reckons output compares well with the previous trailed sprayer, given the time savings in manoeuvring the outfit, although filling is slightly slower.

The sprayer is mounted on a 150hp John Deere 6920. “I would not like to use anything smaller as it is a heavy unit when full. We also ensure that the tyre pressures are kept up, particularly on the row crops in the spring and summer,” Mr Dagless adds.

While offering the necessary capacity, the large front tank represents the only downside, says Mr Eales. “It does limit visibility, particularly when pulling out at junctions. Some of our land is five miles away, so we do have to go on the road quite a lot, including the busy A47.”

To minimise roadwork, downtime and to get the best from the 2,850-litre capacity combination, he plans to make more use of bowsers to take water to the field, and is also looking at reducing water volumes where possible. “That way we can double the area covered on one fill, which will certainly cut downtime,” he says.

While many farmers like the reassurance of a home grown sprayer manufacturer being on their doorstep, Mr Eales says the support from Amazone and its dealer Ben Burgess has been very good. “Mark from Ben Burgess has looked after us very well, and the company was quick to respond to a few teething problems we had.”

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