A Farmers Guide to Spring Spraying March 2020

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Based on 106 farm comparisons, 2016, 2017 & 2018. Ascra 1.2-1.5 L/ha vs on-farm standard.

Ascra Xpro contains prothioconazole, bixafen and fluopyram. Ascra is a registered Trade Mark of Bayer. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. Pay attention to the risk indications and follow the safety precautions on the label. For further information, including contact details, visit www.cropscience.bayer.co.uk or call 0808 1969522. © Bayer CropScience Limited 2020

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This year’s growing season may not have got off to the best start thanks to the extreme weather conditions affecting harvests and drilling, which has also led to more severe weed and disease challenges being faced this spring.

But, I hope that the advice over the next 30 pages will help you to plan the most effective and efficient spray programme for your 2020 crop.

2020 was never going to be the most straightforward year, with the loss of a number of previously relied-upon actives as well as increased resistance to others, but there’s also some exciting new ag-chem joining this season’s tool kit – as well as huge leaps in mechanical and digital technology.

From user reports on the latest self-propelled and trailed sprayers and on-farm trial results of new agrochemicals, to nozzle tests and spray boom tips, there should be something relevant to you whether you’re a farm manager or contractor.

 �

24 10 19

Technology news .................................................................................................................... 4 New season, new approach to disease control in wheat crops ............................. 6 Wins all round from water volume trials ........................................................................ 8 Make the most of agrochemicals with new boom guidance ................................10 Increase the precision of your spring spraying ..........................................................10 Growers prepped for heightened blight pressure ....................................................11 Reduced wheelings and improved efficiency .............................................................13 New ag-chem for spring 2020 season ...........................................................................16 Sprayer choice proves successful for Norfolk family farm ......................................19 Water conditioners key to effective ag-chem programmes ..................................23 Performance upgrades impress on large Notts arable farm ..................................24 Demand for sprayer and boom options .......................................................................26 Check machinery condition ..............................................................................................26 Consider hooded spraying for ‘ultimate’ crop protection .......................................27 Black-grass control in spring crops .................................................................................28 New trailed sprayer hits UK market ................................................................................29 Finance scheme for affordable precision tech .............................................................29 Contractors ...............................................................................................................................30

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A publication by Farmers Guide. Parkside, London Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 0SS. Tel: 01473 691888.

Full contact information can be found at www.farmersguide.co.uk. Original articles and advertisements created

by Farmers Guide are copyright and are not to be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the Editor. No responsibility can be accepted by Farmers Guide for the opinions expressed by its contributors.

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the company’s seed and crop protection products. Farmers and advisers can select the crop protection product they want to apply and the app will list the label rate for applications, tank mix compatibility and usage periods.

Users will be also be able to read up on the varieties and traits of maize and oilseed rape seeds available from Corteva’s Pioneer brand to enable the best possible management of the crop.

The company’s Kerb Weather Data service has been integrated into the app allowing farmers to check whether the soil conditions and weather forecast make for suitable spraying conditions for Kerb Flo 500 and AstroKerb products. FG

According to Corteva technical specialist, Nicola Perry (pictured), the aim of Corteva’s Arable app, which was launched at end of 2019, is to give farmers the right crop protection information at the right time. Nicola says: “Digital agriculture has an important role to play. We’re incredibly excited to launch this new innovation making it easier for producers to take control.�

Free to download for Corteva customers, the Arable app contains information for users of

Farmplan offers a range of crop management solutions, which are designed to help growers and agronomists managing farms of all sizes to record, review, share and analyse their data, as well as offering a flexible approach to integrate with machines, agronomy advice and data sources.

From field mapping, soil sampling and conductivity scanning, to soil types, importing data from

in-cab devices and the creation of variable rate plans, Farmplan’s Gatekeeper software allows users to maximise the value of their farm data and make well-informed choices, the company says.

Add-on modules are available, such as Sentinel Active, which is a decision support tool providing detailed crop approval information and verification for all UK pesticides, helping you to find the right product for the job. The extensive list of UK pesticides includes groups, units and active ingredients – making planning jobs and receiving recommendations quick and easy. Farmplan is available on subscription, visit www.farmplan.co.uk to view an online demo. FG

Omnia Precision is a new precision farming, cloud-based application.

It enables agronomists and growers to make precision crop management decisions, based upon all of the factors that, as a matter of routine, they would normally consider when managing their crops. The system allows the user to overlay data on soil type, nutrient levels, slug levels, seed bed conditions and weed populations to derive, for example, the optimum variable seed rate that relates specifically to the time of drilling. This principle applies not only to seed rates, but also to the application of fertilisers and crop protection products.

This ensures that every part of every field accurately receives the appropriate inputs to maximise productivity, whilst minimising environmental impact.

Omnia Precision claims to demonstrate innovation within the UK arable sector by delivering long-term and sustainable benefits to the industry, such as black-grass management, sustainable soil management and increased profitability. FG

Launched at Lamma ’20, Skippy Scout – the mobile phone app developed by Drone Ag – uses artificial intelligence to offer guidance on crop health, pests and weed control.

According to founder Jack Wrangham, farmers do not need to have prior understanding of drones. Skippy users will use maps on their phone to simply touch the points in a field they want to see images of. The drone flies to these points and sends the images to the phone. Once delivered, the artificial intelligence in the app analyses the images and provides data on green area index, pests and weeds. “A Mavic Mini is a perfectly suitable drone for crop scouting

and can be bought for just ÂŁ450.

This would make the annual use of Skippy £810,â€? says Mr Wrangham.  Drone Ag has also considered the likelihood that the drones may be damaged. A partnership with drone specialists Heliguy means that Skippy Scout users will be offered replacement drones, and repairs to damaged drones. “It is important that farmers don’t experience significant downtime with any piece of farm machinery and drones should be no exception,â€? concludes Mr Wrangham. FG

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This year sees a double whammy of hurdles for wheat growers – the loss of previously relied-upon ag-chem, combined with delayed drilling due to the weather means that strategies need to change this year.

The wet autumn has left a legacy of extremely challenging conditions LG Sundance at 7.9, to 4.8 for Leeds, Viscount and RGT Gravity and 4.3 for as we head into the spring and the start of the new growing season. varieties such as Barrel and Elation.

Drilling opportunities have been limited – some Those varieties with the lower ratings than say a 5, wheat crops were drilled in good time, but many have are all particularly prone to septoria infection and will gone in much later – and these two scenarios hold need to be prioritised during the season. However, their own distinct set of challenges for disease control. varieties with a rating above 7 – such as KWS Extase In addition, the revocation of established and LG Sundance – are at significantly lower risk and Septoria tritici is still fungicide active ingredients and registration of a fungicide programmes can be tailored accordingly. the biggest yield robber, new exciting fungicide means that disease control All of these factors are important to take into will be very different in 2020. account when planning disease control programmes and cost-effective control Hutchinsons technical development director, – not just to ensure that the most cost-effective remains at the forefront Dr David Ellerton (pictured), shares his views on programme is chosen, but also to reduce selection of any disease control wheat fungicide strategies designed to maintain pressure on fungicide active ingredients. yield potential, whilst practising good stewardship This season will see growers lose some of programme. to protect valuable new chemistry. the most established fungicide actives such as �Septoria tritici is still the biggest yield robber, chlorothalonil (CTL) and fenpropimorph, along and cost-effective control remains at the forefront with the triazole propiconazole. Many others, such of any disease control programme. Alongside this as epoxiconazole, are under threat – not just from there are two distinct cropping scenarios; wheat drilled at the later sowing the risk of revocation, but also from increasing risk of fungicide resistance date that will initially be at a lower risk from septoria, and those drilled in which is having a serious impact on triazole and SDHI efficacy. the normal slot.

To this end, it is vital that we do all that we can as an industry to We are already seeing infection in the lower leaves of some crops. ensure that stewardship programmes are in place, to protect the However, we know things can change rapidly through the season – septoria remaining ingredients in our armoury. This includes using appropriate infections are generally governed by rainfall in April and May, so it’s not doses of fungicides and using combinations of active ingredients with possible at this stage to say that crops are at a low or high risk either way. different modes of action.

Whilst at lower risk of septoria, remember that later drilled crops are at higher risk of yellow rust. In later drilled crops, less time to develop along The season ahead with the plants’ physiology, means less tillers and leaves. These fewer leaves Any available stocks of CTL on-farm need to be used up by 20th May this year, and tillers need protecting in order to optimise yield potential – and there so where growers do have supplies of CTL they have this option. For those is more potential in a season like this to lose tillers. without CTL, and looking ahead, folpet would be the next best multi-site Weather effects and drilling date are not the only factors to take into fungicide option used at a rate of 1–1.5-litres/ha – any higher than that and account when deciding fungicide strategies. Varietal disease susceptibility it becomes a much less cost-effective option. Mancozeb comes in as a third is a vital component and will dictate much of how to approach disease option if needed, but there are some doubts over its long-term future. strategies for the season.

Looking more specifically at particular timings, despite the current low We now have in our toolbox much improved genetic resistance against levels of disease in many crops, there will still be some benefit for a T0 spray septoria. On the latest AHDB Recommended List, the range of resistance on more susceptible varieties. Whilst the risk of septoria is low now, if the ratings to septoria range from the highest rating of 8.1 for KWS Extase and T0 is dropped and the weather delays T1 applications, it’s a catch up game

“

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“

Multi-site fungicides continue to play a very important protectant role in disease control and in slowing down the development of resistance. from then on – so it’s well worth the effort as an insurance policy. It is also important to check crops for yellow rust infection and treat accordingly.

We may well see T1 coming a bit earlier this season; usually leaf 3 comes out at around GS32 but, with the mild conditions, we would anticipate crops racing through the growth stages and leaf 3 could be out at GS31 – so it will be worth dissecting the plant to see when leaf 3 is out to ensure that sprays go on at the right time.

What is important is to ensure that the timing for folpet is the same as for CTL – it needs to be applied once the third leaf is out, to ensure it is protected from the start.

Septoria tritici is still the biggest yield robber.

Multi-site fungicides continue to play a very important protectant role in disease control and What is exciting for this season is the in slowing down the development of resistance, availability of Revysol (mefentrifluconazole) – a and to this end it’s important that they are not new fungicide from the Demethylation Inhibitor used alone, but in combination. group of fungicides, that has shown excellent Resistance to triazoles seems to have control of a range of diseases in wheat and barley, levelled out and, although they are certainly less including septoria tritici. In our own and other effective than they once were, we can still expect independent trials, at T1 the product offers a to get levels of 20–40 per cent septoria control. major step forward in septoria control but would Resistance to SDHIs however is still shifting, and LH Agro Half Page Landscape 132x188 Final.qxp_Layout 1 11/04/2019 16:00 Page 1 still benefit from a mix with a multi-site product. control can be unreliable.

It is vital that strategies are put in place to limit the risk of resistance developing to the new active ingredient Revysol, to ensure it remains effective for many seasons to come.” FG For more information on new active Revysol, which is now being sold in a co-formulation with Xemium under the brand name Revystar XE, turn to page 16.

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Optimum fungicide performance can be achieved at lower water volumes, providing you make the right choices when it comes to nozzle type and sprayer set up.

A two-year project between Bayer and application specialist Tom Robinson has shown what’s possible when it comes to using decreased water volumes. Mr Robinson evaluated nozzle and fungicide performance at lower water volumes and measured effective fungicide performance through reducing disease and increasing yield.

Many operators have a tendency to opt for higher water volume in the belief that it improves target coverage, especially where canopies are lush. But that isn’t the case providing good practice is adhered to.

Another reason for the trial is Mr Robinson’s belief that field trials with farm equipment are the best way of evaluating fungicide performance. “Development trials and label recommendations are based on small plots, handheld applicators and a speed of 3.6km/h. It just isn’t reflective of what we do in the field,� he notes.

Mr Robinson conducted application trials at GS39 (T2), using October-drilled KWS Kerrin feed wheat and fungicides AscraXpro (prothioconazole + bixafen + fluopyram), Elatus Era (prothioconazole + benzovindiflupyr) and Librax (metconazole +

fluxapyroxad). The sprays were applied by Green Bank Agriculture with a Bateman self-propelled sprayer. Interestingly, septoria tritici wasn’t the principal disease in both seasons. In 2018, brown rust was the greater threat.

The trials highlighted the importance of nozzle choice and sprayer set up at lower water volumes.

In this trial, all fungicides performed best when applied using Guardian Air AI nozzles – the pick of the plots being Ascra at the 1.2-litre/ha rate. “The highest mean yield from two seasons of data was the combination of Guardian Air AI nozzle and Ascra, which was over 10.5t/ha. That’s 0.5t/ ha better than some SDHI fungicide options, and more than 1.0t/ha over untreated,� he explains.

The trials confirmed what Mr Robinson already suspected – a yield improvement with AI nozzles. “In these trials we’ve seen an average yield difference of 0.5t/ha between the Guardian Air AI nozzle and flat fan alternatives at 100-litre/ ha. The best spray operators are already getting the required disease control needed at the lower recommended water volume rates, but the reality is everyone can.�

For him it’s a win-win situation. “Not only are you getting effective disease control and yield response, but also at least a 50 per cent reduction in drift and treating up to a third more area from a single tank.�

Mr Robinson says the ability to cover a greater area is an important one. He points out that for every day you delay T2 applications beyond GS39 you can lose 0.1t/ha. “Treating your entire wheat area accurately is the goal. But catchy weather can arrive any time of the year so the more field efficient you are the greater the chance of adhering to timing accuracy.�

Two reasons for the better performance of the Guardian Air AI nozzle are its improved spray protection and penetration of the lower canopy, he adds. “The T2 is about flag leaf protection, but protection for leaves two and three is welcome, too. These are also contributing to yield, so keeping them clean is useful. At GS39 the majority of spray deposit will be directed at the flag leaf, but 25 per cent is likely to hit leaf two and 12.5 per cent leaf three. Previous trials have shown that reducing the water volume from 200-litre/ha

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to 100-litre/ha increases the amount of product deposited on the crop.”

Care with nozzle selection also has to be matched with sprayer set up. Mr Robinson stresses the importance of boom height and nozzle uniformity. “If you’ve imbalance in boom height, then disease control is bound to be compromised.

Boom height shouldn’t be above 50cm from the crop and needs to be maintained across boom width. Nozzles need to be adjusted so that each is giving an equal spray volume and pattern. The extra time in setting up the sprayer correctly will pay off in better disease control and yield,” he says.

Furthermore, he only recommends nozzles with tolerances of plus or minus 2 per cent. Nozzles with higher tolerances only give a less defined pattern, especially when they wear, he warns. He would also reduce boom height if enhanced disease control is needed on leaves two and three at the T2 timing. His suggestion to get more fungicide on these leaves is to reduce boom height to 40cm.

Bayer’s Jennie Watson feels one reason Ascra performed so well in the trial is down to its Leafshield formulation. “Even with flat fan nozzles,

Ascra still performed extremely well, and there was greater consistency with Ascra regardless of nozzle choice compared to other SDHI fungicides.”

Bayer has always claimed that its Leafshield formulation provides excellent leaf adhesion and spread, and work with Silsoe Spray Applications Unit has confirmed this. They conducted droplet spread tests with a range of SDHI fungicides, and after just two minutes Ascra had covered far greater leaf surface than the others. By five minutes those differences remained.

The benefit is improved disease control, yield response and consistency, says Mrs Watson.

“Clearly to nullify disease threats and maintain green leaf area then it’s about optimum coverage

of the target leaf.

The better a fungicide can travel over and into leaves, the better control you will achieve.

But Xpro fungicides have proven to be rainfast remarkably quickly, and again this is down to leaf adhesion and spread. Reliable fungicide performance is a great added value extra when catchy conditions exist,” she concludes. FG

Amazone UX 01 Super sprayers are engineered to help you maintain yields, save costs and conserve the environment.

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Amazone is introducing its new boom guidance system, which offers a way of maintaining boom stability, across any topography or speed.

To ensure maximum efficacy of agrochemicals, any sprayer must have the ability to run both the right nozzle type and size, and at the right height above crop, so as to generate as little drift as possible and produce the ideal droplet size to hit the desired target. Amazone’s new boom guidance system, ContourControl, coupled with its AmaSelect individual nozzle control available on the UX Super and Pantera 03 series sprayers, does just that, the company says.

The active boom guidance system is speedrelated and uses two ultrasound sensors – mounted on the central pendulum – alongside four more sensors out on each boom half. These four sensors maintain the correct height above the crop, using both negative and positive geometry. Electronically-controlled, hydraulic accumulators fire oil in and out of the boom pivot rams to give an instantaneous response to any change in slope or crop growth, keeping

that optimum height. Optimum boom height is selected automatically depending on whether the boom is set to spray at either 25 or 50cm nozzle spacing.

Forward and backward swing at the boom tip generates over- and under-spray, which can lead to resistance in the crop or place it under excessive stress – thus affecting yield.

To prevent this, acceleration sensors within the SwingStop system monitor any boom tip movement and damp out the swing to optimise nozzle placement.

The acceleration sensors are also used to tell the AmaSelect CurveControl how quickly the boom is moving at any point along its length, so each nozzle body can switch between three different nozzles, or combinations of nozzles, to ensure even application along the boom width, even when spraying around long sweeping curves on the headland.

Another new feature for AmaSelect is its ability to select the right nozzle to spray directly above row crops sown on 50 or 75cm spacings. Using the SpotFan nozzle, which concentrates its spray pattern over a tight ground area, crops such as potatoes or sugar beet can be sprayed along the row without any wasteful overspray into the bare soil areas between the crop. This can save up to 65 per cent in agrochemicals, Amazone says. The UX Super or Pantera can also be used to follow a pre-prepared weed map which enables the sprayer to target affected areas. FG

Some simple rules to maximise product performance this season. crop leaves and stems and onto weeds of different shapes and sizes. All flat fan nozzles produce a range of different droplet sizes, and the trick is to choose the best balance.

A flat fan spray has at least 15 per cent of its volume in tiny droplets that are liable to drift The Guardian Air nozzle, designed to away and be wasted. spray backwards, is ideal for getting spray into a maturing cereal canopy.

The Guardian Air nozzle, on the other hand, has a driftable portion typically Current research into spray application is below five per cent of the spray pursuing the holy grail of placing exactly the volume, so up to 10 per cent more right chemical on the right plant at the right spray is available to land on target. time; but in the fields you will being spraying this At the other end of the spectrum, it spring, this level of precision is still quite a long avoids too many larger droplets that way from reality. However, there are some simple tend to crash through onto the soil to rules you can follow to maximise the performance also be wasted. of the sprays you are planning to apply, according The coverage of Guardian Air has been to Pentair Hypro. fine-tuned with a slight rear incline, to even First, get the droplet spectrum right. In a up front and back target coverage, Hypro says. growing cereal crop, a typical tank mix of PGR, However, as you move into summer, the more herbicide and fungicide must distribute on the

Used in alternating directio ns, suitable for small grass wee the 3D nozzle is ds and oilseed rape fungicides. The nozzle is pictured here in Hypro’s new easy-fit Snaplock cap .

steeply inclined 3D and GAT nozzles have a similar droplet spectrum to Guardian Air, but direct the spray more steeply. This is useful for driving fungicide spray into an oilseed rape canopy or onto the vertical target of a cereal ear. If in doubt about the spray incline to use, Hypro recommends simply looking straight down from the nozzle position – if you can see the target, then Guardian Air is the best bet, but if you have to raise your head and look into the crop, then 3D or GAT are the better option. FG

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With many hectares of 2019’s potato crop still in the ground, the risk of late blight from unharvested volunteers is one of the industry’s big challenges for 2020.

There is no doubt that UK potato growers have endured a tough couple of years. The dry, hot summer of 2018 affected crop size and quality, and 2019 followed with wet, humid conditions during the summer combined with an incredibly difficult harvest for most.

At the time of writing, harvesters were still waiting for saturated fields to drain sufficiently to get to what remains in the ground.

In February, the AHDB estimated some six per cent of the total planted area had either been abandoned or still to lift – with regional differences, this was a significantly greater challenge in some areas.

Unharvested crops and blight Corteva Agriscience national field technical manager for potatoes, Craig Chisholm (right), says the level of unharvested crop is likely to lead to an increase in volunteers again in 2020, though this time having encountered the blight challenge from 2019. “With the right weather conditions these volunteers will act as a reservoir for blight and could infect, and re-infect, crops throughout the season,� Craig said. “This leaves growers in a potentially more challenging situation at the start of the season than they were last year.�

He expects growers to plan robust blight protection programmes in 2020, with a particular focus on the early phase of the programme to ensure the crop gets off to a clean start.

“Growers will be particularly looking at protecting crops at the rapid canopy stage where new growth is susceptible to disease pressure,� he said. “Last year we saw Zorvec play a vital role in that situation because of its length of protection and its curative properties.�

Most blight sprays burn out after seven days, while Zorvec will provide a robust 10 days’ protection should weather conditions conspire to prevent timely applications to keep blight protection topped up. The product has also proven its ability to move into new growth.

Where sprayers are postponed, a product with curative activity such as this helps tackle any blight infection already developing in the crop.

The varying regional impacts of the rain have affected some sectors more than others, with the processing crop the worst affected. “With no stock to buffer the 2019 harvest and a finite area of suitable land available for potato production, maintaining crop health is key to meeting demand,�

Craig observed.

late blight for up to 10 days after application.

The company claims the co-formulation means the active can continue to push the boundaries of traditional spray programmes by delivering persistence, providing an impressive duration of protection, tackling any late blight present in the plant while also moving in the plant to protect new growth.

Alister McRobbie, Corteva’s UK category manager for potatoes (pictured above), said: “Potato growers and agronomists have been left in no doubt over the qualities of Zorvec, following a season of incredibly high pressure last summer. “The strengths of the active ingredient create a protectant and curative product with demonstrable movement into new growth, plus unrivalled stem blight control.

New co-formulation for 2020 season

“Trials of the co-formulated product have demonstrated fantastic performance in the control of late blight and, once approved, we expect it to be a hugely valuable tool for potato growers in managing the ever-more aggressive strains of late blight now present across the UK.�

Being co-formulated with benthiavalicarb enables users to target the rapid growth phase of the programme, where the

Last year, Zorvec was only available in a co-pack, but Corteva says the next stage of its evolution is now here, with the UK and Ireland approval of Zorvec Endavia now confirmed in time for the 2020 growing season.

Zorvec Endavia will be in a liquid combining oxathiapiprolin with benthiavalicarb in a single five-litre bottle, providing protection from

“

Potato crop in the rapid growth phase.

properties of Zorvec will be most effective – which Corteva claims will give growers the cleanest possible start to their programme. “The co-formulation provides the same market-leading protection in a single bottle for those looking for an alternative to co-packs,�

Alister explained. “The inclusion of a second active ingredient provides important protection against the risk from development of resistant strains of late blight.�

Craig added: “There is clear concern about the aggressive nature of blight that we now face, and there’s no doubt the challenges around resistance are increasing.

We need new chemistry, and the properties provided by Zorvec with its effectiveness against all strains of late blight – including 37_A2 – make it an invaluable tool.�

Trials of the co-formulated product have demonstrated fantastic performance in the control of late blight.

Farmers will be able to apply Zorvec Endavia at 0.4-litres/ha up to four times during a season but are limited to three sprays in a block.

As well as controlling late blight in potatoes, the label also includes downy mildew in onions, shallots and garlic. Application rates in these crops will differ; the product can be applied to onions and shallots at 0.5-litres/ha three times during the growing season, with a maximum of two sprays in a block. FG

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LEMKEN agricultural machinery is distinctive, not only because of its blue colour, but above all because of its quality, versatility and robust designs. We are continuously working towards developing solutions that optimally meet the specific needs of the UK and global markets.

lemken.com 12 www.farmersguide.co.uk Guide to Spring Spraying

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N A Lemken Sirius 10 mounted 30m sprayer has replaced a 24m model on an Essex farm to reduce wheelings and increase work rates.

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Investing in a wider mounted sprayer has improved spraying efficiency and reduced crop loss due to wheelings for an Essex family farm.

Trading as AW Bacon, the Bacon family farms at Weeley, near Colchester, producing arable crops including wheat, winter barley, spring barley and beans. The land is mainly heavy clay, although there are lighter areas with a high gravel content in a separate block a few miles from the main base. In total approximately 360ha is farmed between brothers Andrew and John Bacon and, although the farm is run as two separate enterprises, all the spraying is carried out by one mounted sprayer.

brand as our previous machine but the company doesn’t offer one, so we looked elsewhere.�

Trailed sprayers were considered, but Ben explained that this would have meant using a heavier tractor which the family wanted to avoid.

A new self-propelled model couldn’t be justified for the farmed area but investing in a higher capacity rear-mounted sprayer to operate with the farm’s existing 1,500-litre front tank would achieve similar capacity at lower cost.

Wider boom benefits

Lemken is one of only a few manufacturers offering a 30m mounted sprayer, and local dealer Ernest Doe & Sons already supplied much of the farm’s machinery. “The Doe family’s own farm used a Lemken 24m sprayer with the same type of aluminium boom that we were considering,�

Previously a 24m, 1,800-litre mounted sprayer was used, but after 10 years’ service it was becoming unreliable and a replacement was needed. “We could see advantages in moving to wider 30m tramlines, mainly to reduce the land

Proven and reliable

“

We also wanted a higher work rate to make the most of available weather windows and apply chemicals at the optimum time.

area under wheelings,� explained main sprayer operator Ben Bacon. “Another factor was that we sell straw, including a large amount bought in from farms locally. We prioritise baling straw from other farms first, so ours remains in the field for some time, and with our 7.4m combine, one headland swath was always left directly over a tramline and driven on, making it slow to dry out and difficult to pick up and bale later.

Moving to 30m tramlines would solve the issue. “We also wanted a higher work rate to make the most of available weather windows and apply chemicals at the optimum time. We use a 6m drill and our fertiliser spreader was capable of accurate spreading to 30m, so compatibility with other equipment wasn’t an issue. We enquired about a 30m sprayer of the same

Ben Bacon is pleased with the decision to purchase the Lemken sprayer.

in between the sprayer tank and the rear tractor wheels I don’t get covered in mud, or bang my elbows while releasing the hydraulic valves. It’s a really good design, keeping the weight of the tank in close to the tractor, without sacrificing operator access.�

Standard nine-section manual boom control was specified. “Most of our fields are large and regular shaped so independent nozzle control wouldn’t give us much benefit,� said Ben. “However, if we ever decide we need it, it’s reasonably priced and easily retro-fitted.�

The operator station is easy to use, with large clearly labelled valves to select various functions.

The 45-litre induction bowl has powerful jets which quickly deal with powder mixes.

Achieving objectives

explained Ben. “We try to avoid new products, preferring machinery which is well proven, so we looked at the Doe farm’s sprayer which remained in excellent condition after considerable use.

Our Ernest Doe sales representative also uses a Lemken sprayer on his family farm and, at seven years old, the boom showed little sign of wear.�

A new Lemken Sirius 10 1,900-litre sprayer with a 30m RA boom was ordered, and started work on the farm in July 2019.

User-friendly design Ben said the new sprayer performs well and is easy to use. “I particularly like the QuickConnect hitch. It allows the top link, PTO shaft and hydraulic hoses to be connected while the tractor is well forward of the sprayer. With space to get

One of the sprayer’s first tasks was spraying stale seedbeds, used to reduce black-grass plant populations. Ben said the Lemken sprayer achieved significantly higher daily work rates than the farm’s previous machine. “Our average field size is 8–20ha, and with 3,400 litres capacity between the front and rear tanks and the 30m boom, we get over the ground quickly. We prefer high water volumes to optimise chemical efficacy and, even at 150-litres/ha for fungicides and 200-litres/ha for pre-emergence sprays, we have plenty of capacity. The front and rear tank combination distributes weight evenly between the front and rear wheels, and in wet conditions we can part-fill both tanks which still gives enough capacity for quite a large area.�

Tank contents are monitored by a sight gauge, but the operator can also enter the amount in litres into the control box and the flow meter

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then indicates remaining capacity. “That’s a handy feature for us, as it means we can allow for the front tank contents too,” said Ben. “Our main spray tractor is currently a Case IH Maxxum 140, and the 1,900-litre rear tank requires either a front weight or the front tank to maintain stability. We are in the process of upgrading to a slightly larger Puma 175 CVX, which will handle it better.”

A

The operator station is well designed with simple

manual valves to set operating and cleaning modes.

The induction bowl has powerful jets which easily disperse thick powders.

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We had peas to spray last year which were set on 24m tramlines, and the Lemken design allows the outer sections to be folded in to achieve any spray width in 6m stages.

The QuickConnect hitch provides space for the user to connect and disconnect the PTO shaft, top link and hydraulics, while allowing the sprayer’s weight to be kept close to the tractor.

Excellent boom performance Ben said the boom suspension is very effective and the rubber ‘hockey stick’ skids prevent the boom striking the ground. For standing crops the skids are easily removed.

BoomCommand automatic height control and independent left- and right-hand boom adjustment maintains constant nozzle height on undulating ground.

One feature which Ben feels is especially useful is automatic height adjustment providing

The 30m aluminium boom has automatic height control with each side able to adjust independently.

Boom stability is excellent, and user Ben Bacon said it requires no more monitoring than the farm’s previous 24m sprayer.

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extra clearance for headland turns. “At the end of the field I switch the boom off, and it raises automatically,” he explained. “As soon as I switch the spray on again, the boom lowers to its memorised position.”

The boom comprises 10 folding, and one central fixed section. “We had peas to spray last year which were set on 24m tramlines, and the Lemken design allows the outer sections to be folded in to achieve any spray width in 6m stages,” said Ben. “It does mean that the boom isn’t protected by an end break-back section, but it’s very flexible.”

Ben says that an additional feature he finds useful is being able to fold the boom asymmetrically to pass obstructions. “To fold the boom in normally, just one button is pressed and held and both sides fold in stages. But the operator can also fold the outer sections of just one side which saves having to manoeuvre the tractor around the obstruction and run down extra crop,” he explained.

The rear folding booms fold tight against the back of the sprayer for road transport and ride well. “We changed to rear folding booms when our last sprayer was purchased 10 years ago,” said Ben. “The sprayer it replaced had side folding booms and when the spray tractor was updated, the booms hit the newer, wider cab during transport. Rear folding is definitely our preference now, although the Lemken’s large tank and 30m folded boom make it difficult to see anything directly behind. I will be fitting a small camera to improve safety when reversing.”

Pleased with decision The Bacons’ new Lemken sprayer will cover more than 2,000ha per year and, so far, Ben is delighted with the machine. “It’s well made, easy

to use and has the features we need. We’ve seen a big increase in the area we can comfortably spray in a day and although the 30m boom is big, it rides well and takes no more watching than our previous 24m sprayer.

“The in-cab controls are clear and easy to set-up and use, and the sprayer is easy to fill and clean. It’s a big tank but the QuickConnect hitching system allows use with smaller tractors, while still being easy to attach and remove.

Lemken’s back-up was very good when the sprayer first arrived, and we are confident of on-going support from the manufacturer and our local dealer.” FG

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THE BACONS’ LEMKEN SIRIUS 10 SPRAYER TANK CAPACITY

1,900 litres (operates with a 1,500-litre front tank)

BOOMS

RA type, aluminium 11 sections, 30m

PUMP

260 litres/min

SPRAY CONTROL

Lemken EcoSpray control

A

14 www.farmersguide.co.uk Guide to Spring Spraying

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With a significant loss of key actives in 2019, Farmers Guide took a look at the results of a new powerful triazole which could boost your spring spraying armoury.

Revystar XE gained authorisation for use in the UK in December 2019. The new cereal fungicide from BASF, which contains the unique new azole Revysol (mefentrifluconazole) and the SDHI Xemium, was evaluated by BASF’s 50 Real Results growers in on-farm tramline trials across the UK last season.

Two of these 50 growers, Alex Borthwick and Edward Vipond, have been involved with Real Results since its inception in 2017.

Trial 1 Hoehill Farm, Lincolnshire Alex Borthwick is the agronomist at Hoehill Farm, and his father is the farm manager. Operating across 800ha, cropping involves winter wheat, winter barley, winter oilseed rape, spring barley, sugar beet and potatoes. In terms of rotation, the farm tends to include oilseed rape every four to five years. It grows first and second wheats, and spring malting barley.

During the Real Results Revystar XE trial, the wheat variety KWS Siskin was used (septoria rating 6.6). The soil type was calcareous loam, and the previous crop was winter OSR. Establishment was conventional and Revystar XE was applied at T2.

Mr Borthwick said: “We were comparing our farm standard to BASF’s programme of Adexar at T1 and Revystar XE at T2. The T0 and the T3 were the same for both spray programmes. No CTL was used in the trial as I was keen to see what future programmes will look like. We sprayed three full tramlines of 24m – every other tramline in a 20ha field with the BASF programme – which amounted to 3.6ha. “There was low disease pressure through spring and into the start of summer – and then it rained. June was the wettest month of the entire year for us. We got 194mm of rain – 167mm of that coming the week after our T3 application.

The septoria just jumped up onto the flag leaf after that, even though there hadn’t been much evident in the lower leaves.�

Mr Borthwick noticed that there was a lot less septoria on the flag leaf in the BASF programme, where the Revystar XE had been applied, when compared to the farm standard programme. “Revystar XE certainly did a good job on the septoria in the trial and also increased the yield, with the Revystar XE-treated plot yielding 0.22t/ha above the farm standard, which was a statistically significant difference when tested under the ADAS Agronomics system.�

He added: “Although in this trial we applied Revystar XE at the T2 timing, going forward, for us, I think it would be a better fit at the T1 timing. There it can act as an eradicant, potentially with some kickback – this is after CTL has gone, which will keep the plant healthier and lower the disease pressure going into the T2 timing. It will certainly be useful for the weaker-scored septoria varieties.�

Commenting on the Real Results trials, he said: “It has been great to get information that is wholly relevant to our situation and it is good to look past the tried and tested and look for new approaches to try to progress, building on what we are doing already. We find it helps to tailor the spend. It makes sure we are spending efficiently on the right products.�

Trial 2 Troston Farm, Suffolk Further south, in Suffolk, Edward Vipond of Troston Farm agreed, saying: “We can’t continue to do the same things – whatever currently works will change, how drastically we don’t know. That’s very true of plant protection products, I am trying to evaluate new actives and ideas on-farm as soon

as possible. I don’t want to see them at Cereals, I want to see them at Troston Farms. That’s why the Real Results trials are so worthwhile.�

Mr Vipond is the agronomist for the farm, which covers 1,500ha of land cropping winter wheat, oilseed rape, sugar beet, winter rye, forage maize, forage rye, forage triticale and spring beans for human consumption.

For the trial, wheat variety LG Skyscraper was used (septoria rating 5) in a clay loam soil. The previous crop was winter OSR, with non-inversion tillage establishment. Revystar XE was applied at T1 and T2.

Edward Vipond said: “We had a very low rainfall season – not as dry as some, but only 96mm from January to April. We had decent rain in June to keep crops growing well. “We were comparing our farm standard to BASF’s programme of Revystar XE at T1 and T2. The T0 and the T3 were the same for both spray programmes. We didn’t use CTL in the trial, to give us an insight into how we might future-proof the farm fungicide programme.�

Mr Vipond’s said that his Revystar XE-treated tramlines were cleaner than the farm standard, even though he didn’t use a full, robust programme. “Our farm standard programme was Proline (prothioconazole) and Tucana (pyraclostrobin) at T1 followed by AscraXpro (bixafen + fluopyram + prothioconazole) at T2. The Revystar XE-treated tramlines looked very good – there was certainly more green leaf area and a little bit of extra yield, but we are only looking at one year’s data.�

His assessment is that Revystar XE “does what it says on the tin.“ “It will play a part in our fungicide programme going forward, but it will be price dependent,“ Mr Vipond commented. “I think we will use it at T2; however it will depend on the season and yield potential of the crop. In a more normal year we would have more confidence, but this current season is anything but normal. “We are going into a new season with a lot less wheat, and the crops that are in the ground look very different to last year.� FG

TRIAL PROGRAMME HOEHILL FARM T0: Pencozeb (mancozeb) 1.7kg/ha BASF PROGRAMME:

T1: Adexar (Xemium) 1-litre/ha T2: Revystar XE (mefentrifluconazole + Xemium) 1.25-litre/ha

FARM STANDARD PROGRAMME:

T1: Elatus Era (benzovindiflupyr + prothioconazole) 0.8-litre/ha T2: AscraXpro (bixafen + fluopyram + prothioconazole) 1-litre/ha T3: Amistar (azoxystrobin) 0.35-litre/ha and Toledo (tebuconazole) 0.4-litre/ha

TRIAL PROGRAMME TROSTON FARM T0: Manitoba (epoxiconazole + folpet) 1-litre/ha BASF PROGRAMME:

T1: Revystar XE (mefentrifluconazole + Xemium) 1-litre/ha T2: Revystar XE (mefentrifluconazole + Xemium) 1.25-litre/ha

FARM STANDARD PROGRAMME:

T1: Proline (prothioconazole) 0.55-litre/ha and Tucana (pyraclostrobin) 0.35-litre/ha T2: AscraXpro (bixafen + fluopyram + prothioconazole) 1.25-litre/ha T3: Folicur (tebuconazole) 0.75-litre/ha

16 www.farmersguide.co.uk Guide to Spring Spraying

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Leeb sprayers

Stay close to the crop

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Leeb TD - 12,000 litres, 24m-42m working widths Leeb PT - 6-8,000 litres, 24m-42m working widths Leeb GS - 6-8,000 litres, 18m-42m working widths Leeb LT - 4-6,000 litres, 18m-42m working widths Leeb AX - 3,800 litres, 18m-30m working widths

Visit our website, your local HORSCH dealer or call 01733 667895.

Guide to Spring Spraying www.farmersguide.co.uk 17

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18 www.farmersguide.co.uk Guide to Spring Spraying

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When his ageing trailed sprayer started suffering reliability issues, farmer Ed Lankfer started his search for a replacement and considered many brands. In May last year he took delivery of the latest Vicon – the first of its type supplied in the UK. Almost a year on, David Williams called in to find out if it lives up to the manufacturer’s promises.

Ed and his father Roger farm approximately 240ha between them, trading as two separate businesses with adjoining land. Field work is shared, with each carrying out particular tasks using their own machinery, and the arrangement works well. Winter wheat, winter barley, winter oats, spring barley, spring beans, sugar beet and fodder beet are being grown this year, with oilseed rape missing from the rotation due to flea beetle attacks. There are approximately 30ha of grassland too, most for grazing the family’s herd of pedigree Simmental cattle and the rest producing hay and haylage. A 2,000-head indoor pig unit also adds to the workload. “Our previous sprayer was bought secondhand from a dealer approximately 11 years ago,� explained Ed. “At only five years old at the time, it appeared to the dealer and to me to be in good condition, but maintenance had been neglected resulting in a long line of breakdowns just when it was needed. After many new parts had been fitted it became more reliable and was used until last year.�

was the boom quality. It’s made from a special high-grade steel which is strong, light and resists corrosion. That’s important to us, as all our fertiliser is applied as liquid. We agreed a deal and it arrived in May,� he added.

iXtrack T3 sprayers Vicon’s new T3 trailed sprayers are available in 2,600- or 3,200-litre versions and with booms from 24–30m. New chassis and tank profiles keep the machine short and compact, with a low centre of gravity for excellent stability. The tank and plumbing design minimises residual fluid and the high standard specification is complemented by a range of upgrade options.

A rear steering axle is standard and available in any track width from 1.5–2.25m.

The boom is on a suspended parallelogram linkage for a smooth ride in the field and with the booms folded for transport. Transport width is just 2.55m.

“

T3 TRAILED SPRAYER TANK CAPACITY

3,200 litres

BOOMS

24m HSS Steel

SECTION CONTROL

Standard, 7 sections

CLEAN WATER TANK

340 litres

PUMP

250-litres/min, self-priming piston diaphragm

TRACKING SYSTEM

Autotrac rear steering 80-inch axle. 32-degree steering angle

TYRES AND WHEELS

420/85R38

CONTROLS

Tellus GO terminal.

Isomatch joystick.

(Isobus 11783 compatible)

FLOW MASTER

Application rate control relative to forward speed.

Well designed

Apart from minor teething issues, the new sprayer was totally reliable and impressed from the start. Whereas the previous sprayer Ed is surrounded by excellent machinery had manual controls, the T3’s are all electronic. dealers offering most major sprayer brands, so Settings are made on the in-cab touchscreen there were plenty of options to consider. After and operation is through the the problems experienced Isomatch joystick. having bought a pre-owned “It’s well designed,� explained sprayer before, he decided its What really Ed. “The Tellus GO touchscreen replacement would have to convinced me was works well, with logical menus be new. Ed’s wife Angela is an which get you quickly to the agricultural consultant visiting the boom quality. It’s required functions. Having many farms, and a client with made from a special spray stop and start, and section experience of Vicon sprayers high-grade steel control on the joystick is very strongly recommended the convenient, and the whole brand. An open day by local which is strong, light system needs just one Isobus dealer BW Mack included the and resists corrosion. cable for connection.� recently launched iXtrack T3 A second screen by the filling 3,200-litre model, which Ed station sets the tank filling strategy. “Our previous had already decided could be suitable. “It was sprayer had a sight gauge and manual valves well thought-out with a practical design and whereas now I just enter the required volume on appeared easy to use. What really convinced me

Many options considered

THE LANKFERS' VICON

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“

The sprayer’s rear steering axle precisely follows the tractor wheels during headland turns, with repeated accuracy minimising crop damage.

We are very pleased with the T3’s ease of use, performance and reliability and would definitely choose the same model again. We have full confidence in the back-up from BW Mack, and the Vicon team, and expect to keep the sprayer for at least 10 years.

the display and filling pauses at that point. It prevents over-filling and allows time to prepare complex mixes.”

Faster spraying The boom suspension works well and Ed said that although the tank size and spray width are identical to the previous sprayer, faster travel speed and tank filling increases daily output. Efficiency and accuracy are also boosted by ErgoDrive headland management which allows automatic function sequences to be programmed. “It’s flexible, but I have it set so that when I switch off the spray at the headlands there is a short delay before the spray stops, the boom Ed’s previous ly more automation than lifts and the rear axle steering activates. After the turn, I press the The T3 boasts considerab filling, rate control, atic om aut s ude incl This spray button; the boom lowers, the steering centralises and locks, and 15-year-old trailed sprayer. k and spray line ement and automatic tan headland sequence manag it extremely user-friendly. spraying starts. It saves time and is less tiring for the user.” cleaning, making Another feature which has impressed Ed is ENFO spray-line purging and priming, which ensures the spray lines are filled from the main tank before spraying starts. “In the past, v-shaped crop patches were common where I had started spraying before the chemical mix reached Ed has found that as long as the correct field size is selected when filling, the tank contents match the spray area almost exactly. Rate adjustment is all the nozzles. With ENFO I know the required treatment is being applied from described as ‘impressively quick’ during travel speed changes. The T3’s tank the moment spraying starts, so ‘missed’ patches are no longer an issue.”

During application, liquid flow and pressure shape and plumbing minimise residual fluid and iXclean automation ensures thorough tank and boom rinsing before leaving the field. “I just touch the are constantly monitored by the Flow screen when the tank is almost empty and the automatic rinsing process Master spray management system to starts,” said Ed. “Using clean water, the programme washes out the tank, the maintain the required application rate. pressure control, spray lines and nozzles progressively, and a count-down timer tells me how long is needed for completion.”

The T3 sprayer tows well on the road, and in the field the steering axle Ed Lankfer said he has chosen the minimises crop damage. Ed explained that the previous sprayer’s steering ideal sprayer for his farm. drawbar allowed a slightly different route to be taken by the wheels during each headland turn running down additional crop at each spray pass, whereas the Vicon’s steering axle maintains a constant wheel position every time. Ed’s only criticism is that manoeuvring in tight field corners with rear axle steering can be tricky, so he now locks the sprayer wheels central before reversing.

“

With ENFO I know the required treatment is being applied from the moment spraying starts, so ‘missed’ patches are no longer an issue.

The right choice “Multiple passes applying fertiliser and pesticides means our sprayer covers approximately 2,000ha each year, and making best use of available weather windows is essential,” concluded Ed. “We are very pleased with the T3’s ease of use, performance and reliability and would definitely choose the same model again. We have full confidence in the back-up from BW Mack, and the Vicon team, and expect to keep the sprayer for at least 10 years.” FG 20 www.farmersguide.co.uk Guide to Spring Spraying

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Guide to Spring Spraying www.farmersguide.co.uk 21

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NORAC Boom Height Control Systems available for select manufacturers The Benefits of Boom Height Control

Reduce Operator Stress • Operators no longer have to continuously look at the boom • Allows operator to focus on drive path • Operator can go faster Cover More Acres • Work day and night – sensors do not need light to “see” • Take advantage of low wind conditions at night • Spray faster – no manual boom adjustments Other Benefits/Features • Boom height control systems may offer other features such as Headlands Assist so that the boom can be automatically lifted and lowered at the end of the field • Satisfaction guaranteed Derek Johnston +44 (0) 1228 580372 sales@precise-solutions.co.uk

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Maintain Proper Spray Tip Height • Increase application efficiency – get the most from your spray • Too low = Streaking • Too High = Drift Issues • Ensures chemical application is not wasted due to improper boom height Protect Sprayer From Damage • Accurate control • Avoid ground strikes • Prevents downtime from repairing bent booms and broken spray nozzels Hybrid Mode™ • An advanced crop sensing feature for in-crop spraying that eliminates the need for the operator to take manual Patented control of the boom in a row crops or adverse situations such as lodged, thin and uneven crop

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22 www.farmersguide.co.uk Guide to Spring Spraying

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Frontier Agriculture’s senior agronomist Stuart Maltby advocates the use of water conditioners in agrochemical programmes for altering water hardness and pH level, but maintains they must be used correctly to realise the full potential of the active ingredients in the tank mix. “Putting soft water in the sprayer rather than across to the Midlands being predominantly “Water conditioners can be a great asset to treating hard water once it’s in the sprayer to make a hard water area and it becomes softer the growers looking to enhance the control of it soft, could save operators an further west you go. Around 60 troublesome weeds such as black-grass and, estimated 25 per cent at each per cent of the UK is classed as as the armoury of available products continues We have fill-up,� says Mr Maltby. “This is having hard or very hard water, to be eroded, they will become increasingly trial data that a significant amount of time, with many areas containing over important,� explains Mr Maltby. “However, in which most growers can ill afford 200mg of calcium carbonate our own operator survey it was found that the supports the use at busy times of the year.� per litre. correct filling procedure is often not properly of treating water However, Mr Maltby adds “In untreated hard water adhered to, which has inevitably compromised that some growers still choose situations it is estimated that control standards and raised questions about with Aquascope. to treat their water as it enters the an agrochemical’s efficacy can water conditioner effectiveness.� sprayer tank. In these situations, it is critical that be significantly reduced,“ Mr Maltby explains.

Frontier’s replicated trials have shown that this is always carried out prior to adding the agro“It is the high proportion of dissolved minerals water conditioners help to make agrochemicals chemical, because there is an immediate negative (charged cations) such as calcium, magnesium work to their full potential. Mr Maltby stresses, reaction when a chemical comes into contact with and iron, which can bind to and ‘lock-up’ many however, that they do not improve the chemical hard water. This approach is time consuming too, common active ingredients. Some active performance to the point where it’s greater and leaves the process open to operator error. ingredients are also susceptible to alkaline than 100 per cent. “Operators who fill a sprayer with untreated hydrolysis in sprayer water “Water conditioners water must follow the label recommendations with pH greater than seven. such as Aquascope should The primary exactly,� he says. “They must fill the sprayer with Alkaline hydrolysis leads to be recognised as a vital 90 per cent of the water and the water conditioner; irreversible degradation of the component of all ag-chem function of water then add in the pesticide and put the sprayer on active ingredient, leading to programmes,� he says. “They conditioners is to to recirculation mode; then add the final 10 per reduced performance.“ must not be confused with improve the quality cent of the water. If this is not done correctly, it will But, for water conditioners wetters or adjuvants, and compromise the potential of the active ingredients. to work eff ectively, they must under no circumstances should of the water that is “We have trial data that supports the use of be added to water prior to filling they replace either of them. being used to mix with treating water with Aquascope,� continues Mr the sprayer tank. This is achieved The primary function of water Maltby. “In a field of oilseed rape that was treated simply by fitting a dosing conditioners is to improve the the chemicals. with Centurion Max for black-grass control, the applicator called a Dosatron quality of the water that is level of control in the plots sprayed with water next to the water inlet valve on the farm’s water being used to mix with the chemicals.� treated with a conditioner far exceeded those tank, so that water entering the sprayer will Water quality can vary significantly that were sprayed with unconditioned water.� FG always be soft and with a pH of around 5. depending on geography, with East Anglia

“

“

Guide to Spring Spraying www.farmersguide.co.uk 23

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A pre-production version of the new Horsch Leeb 8.300 PT self-propelled sprayer has worked on a Nottinghamshire farm since May last year.

Performance upgrades impress on large Notts arable farm The first of a new range of Horsch self-propelled sprayers to arrive in the UK started work at Flawborough Farms in May last year. David Williams visited the users to find out how it performs.

Horsch Leeb launched two new self-propelled sprayers at Agritechnica last November, with 6,000or 8,000-litre tank capacities replacing the previous single 8,000-litre PT280 model. Full production has recently started, but since May 2019 a pre-series Leeb 8.300 PT 8,000-litre machine has worked at the family-owned Nottinghamshire farm undergoing final tests.

“We have a great relationship with Horsch UK. It’s a family-owned business like ours, and the team is always keen to listen and talk,” explained Flawborough Farms partner and farm manager Tom Hawthorn. “We bought the UK’s first Horsch Leeb 8 GS trailed sprayer in 2012, having visited the factory and seen the incredible boom stability demonstrated. For us it’s about keeping £2.50 nozzles in exactly the right place to apply hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of chemicals, so having the confidence to operate booms low enough to maintain an ideal nozzle height above the target, even at high speeds, is essential.”

Extra capacity In 2013, the UK’s first Horsch Leeb PT270 self-propelled model was purchased, replacing a self-propelled model of another brand, and carrying out most of the farm’s spraying alongside the trailed machine. Both sprayers operated until last year when the PT270 was traded in for the new Leeb 8.300 PT while the trailed sprayer was kept, ensuring capacity during busy periods.

Working efficiency is optimised by transporting pre-mixed chemical and liquid fertilisers to both sprayers using a Unimog-based bowser. In recent years the trailed sprayer’s workload has reduced due to the addition of maize and other spring crops as part of a range of cultural measures adopted to supplement herbicides for control of chemical-resistant grass weeds.

Unbeatable boom performance “Our experience of Boom Control ProPlus active height control on the trailed sprayer meant we specified it for the PT270 and the latest 8 PT,” added Tom. “It’s so good that the boom rarely touches anything, and the original boom on our trailed sprayer performs as well as it did when new, even after spraying well over 5,000ha per year. We specified 25cm nozzle spacing after discussing its advantages with Horsch Leeb application systems managing director Theo Leeb. It’s not used all the time as finer 02 nozzles are more sensitive to blockages, and in some situations such as when it’s windy, low-drift nozzles at wider 50cm spacing are more effective. But where maximising leaf contact is important, such as when applying pre-emergence herbicides and ear washes, doubling the number of nozzles gives us better results. And, although we spray far less against black-grass now than we used to, when we do the finer nozzles improve results.”

Farms’ machine has optional HighPowerGear wheel motors delivering 18 per cent more torque at the wheels than the PT280, and Tom said its performance is very impressive, improving climbing ability on slopes while higher travel speeds save time.

The chassis is new with hydro-pneumatic self-levelling suspension. This allows height adjustment on the move with up to 1.35m clearance available. The boom is parallelogram linkage mounted, replacing the previous mastmounting and improving performance on bumpy ground, while keeping it closer to the rear axle.

The Claas-derived cab is quieter than the PT280’s, with an improved ride largely due to the new suspension. A new ErgoControl armrest houses the main operating controls including a redesigned multi-function joystick.

Higher work rates Tom said excellent boom performance improves work rates. “For black-grass treatment we spray low and slow, up to about 12kph, but for most pesticides we average 14–16kph, and for fertiliser up to 20kph. The superb boom stability allows the ideal height to be maintained whatever the speed.”

Leeb 8.300 PT updates The new sprayer has a 310hp FPT power unit and hydrostatic transmission with hydraulic wheel motors replacing the previous mechanical system, while also improving fuel efficiency. Flawborough

Control upgrades include

tick.

a new multi-function joys

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The new Claas cab is quieter and more comfortable than that of the previous PT280 model.

Cruise control provides speed selection at the touch of a button and a headland management function allows control sequences to be stored for automatic operation, including selecting pre-set speeds, switching spray sections and lifting the . rne tho ured (left) with Tom Haw boom for each turn. Horsch Main operator Lorne is pict suggests this maintains accuracy across the farm with precisely the same action repeated each time.

The new sprayer is compatible with a HORSCH LEEB 8.300 PT wide range of precision farming brands and Flawborough Farms’ machine has a TopCon X35 ENGINE FPT 310hp 6-cyl, 6.7-litre terminal for auto-steer and section control.

TRANSMISSION

Hydrostatic with independent wheel motors

TRAVEL SPEED

Max 50kph (where permitted)

CHASSIS SUSPENSION

Double control arm and portal

AXLE SUSPENSION

Hydro pneumatic with auto-levelling and automatic adjustment for field and road

STANDARD TYRES

520/85R46

SPRAY TANK

Stainless steel powder coated. 8,450 litres total capacity

CLEAN WATER TANK

550 litres

BOOM WIDTHS

Up to 42m

SPRAY PUMP CAPACITY

Up to 1,000 litres/min

Increased efficiency Liquid handling is improved, and a new CCS Pro operator station is standard with a touch-pad terminal offering automatic filling and cleaning functions, similar to the PT280 but an upgrade from Flawborough Farms’ earlier PT270. The 57-litre induction bowl ensures rapid chemical mixing, and automatic filling programmes include pump speed adjustment between 10–100 per cent, and a pause when the liquid reaches any pre-set tank level allowing time to add complex mixes. “That’s a big advantage,” said main operator Lorne Boulton. “Slowing down the fill rate allows time to check the mix is correct and helps avoid errors.” Other functions include various wash-out programmes and Lorne said he is still getting used to them. “I use fully automatic tank and system cleaning most of the time which completes each section in a logical sequence,” he explained. “Our previous sprayer had a continuous rinsing mode rather

than sequential cleaning and I could leave it running as long as I felt necessary. The new automatic system is quicker and finishes with the spray lines and nozzles being purged by a high-pressure air blast leaving them clear of fluid. It’s excellent, but I am still building up confidence to trust it completely.”

Exceptional back-up Lorne said improved suspension gives a better ride and the sprayer feels more stable. “The tank holds enough for 80ha so care is always needed with that amount of liquid being carried, but the Leeb 8 PT handles it better and feels more stable than the PT270, and the extra power from the engine and transmission means performance doesn’t vary much whether it’s empty or full.

The difference between this and the previous model is unbelievable, and it’s a better working environment too.”

Lorne added that apart from minor software issues the pre-series machine has suffered no major problems. “I’m especially impressed by the back-up from Horsch and the company’s interest in our feedback. When issues occur I select a reporting function on the screen and the previous 15 minutes’ operating data is sent to the company. Usually, within six hours a software update arrives to cure the problem.”

Tom is also pleased with the back-up.

“Because our Horsch sprayers have all been early production and pre-series machines, there has been a lot of involvement of the factory and UK teams,” he said. “Support is also available from Claas Eastern, our local main dealer, and we know the team there well and receive excellent service. We expect the new sprayer to be just as reliable as its predecessor and will run it for a minimum of five years.” FG

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The Hardi Alpha self-propelled sprayer features a balance between front and rear and, with its low total weight, has the optimal weight/ capacity ratio as well as offering high performance – even in wet terrain conditions. This is according to Agrifac, which took over the Hardi business in March last year.

With high ground clearance from 120–165cm, the sprayer can offer flexible usage from low to tall crops.

The three-pillar design in the cab also provides a new standard of visibility for the operator, with more than 320-degree visibility from the seat.

Hardi’s Delta Force boom is both wide in field yet compact in transport, at just 255cm wide. Five pendulum settings make it possible to adjust the

boom to follow either the terrain or the movements of the sprayer.

Agrifac says the Delta Force boom series fulfils future farming demands for flexibility in boom widths, high speed performance, narrow transport width and superior robustness, Agrifac says. Its unique design allows Hardi to offer larger booms, while still enabling the operator to drive at high speed and maintain optimum performance.

High quality Swedish steel optimises weight and strength, producing a boom with a perfect setup, low maintenance and great performance, the company explains.

Now, several versions from 24–39m are available for order with different centre sections. FG

Carrying out routine daily inspections of your farm vehicles and machinery is good practice, reducing expensive downtime and increasing reliability. With limited ‘perfect spray days’ last season and the continued pressure of losing valuable pesticides, critical spray timings are an essential part of crop husbandry.

Whether on your own farm or for a contracting spraying business, a big part of running a sprayer is spending considerable time on public roads, travelling to and from various fields or farms – so it is essential the machine is roadworthy. A wellmaintained sprayer with

2,821 ÂŁ H T WOR E D A R UPG FREE Valid

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routine checks will also improve efficiency, and a recorded log will benefit the owner, operator and customer. Marc Skivington, farm manager of a 1,800ha farm for John I Forbes, Slainspark, Aberdeenshire, developed Smart Farmer – a cloud-based software system and app for recording farm equipment checks, utilising an easy-to-use traffic light system. The app allows users to log photos of issues, reducing paperwork and time constraints.

According to Mr Skivington: “With so many farm audits and the HSE focusing on machinery maintenance, this is a practical solution designed for farmers as a useful tool for recording machinery checks, logging maintenance and service records and enhancing communication over the farm.� Smart Farmer is available on www.smart-farmer. co.uk and a free sevenday trial is available. FG

To minimize environmental impact by minimizing your spray fluid consumption by up to 10%, we have developed HARDI AutoNozzleControl for opening and closing individual nozzles.

B a d t

Field

The Intelligent choice

AutoSectionControl

NAVIGATOR

AutoNozzleControl

3000 / 4000 / 5000 / 6000

Double sprayed area

Headland

Upgrade and benefit from intelligent features: ĂŒ AutoFill - makes filling easier and prevents overfilling ĂŒ AutoWash - easier, safer and more efficient washing process

Normal RRP: ÂŁ2,821

18-39 m

3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 l

HC 8600, HC 9600, ISOBUS

TurboFiller

464 pump 294-322 l/min

IntelliTrack (Option)

AutoFill

AutoWash

AutoNozzleControl (Option)

HARDI UK 4 Thorby Avenue, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 0AZ Peter Wiles: 07901 856734 ¡ Steve Dunning: 07785 707746

26 www.farmersguide.co.uk Guide to Spring Spraying

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Two jobs can be done at once when using the hood sprayer and band sprayer as one unit with twin line systems being fed from two tanks, one on the front of the tractor and one on the back. This offers ultimate spraying efficiency, according to Garford, owing to the ability to provide total weed control between the rows and foliar coverage over the row. Work can therefore be completed in a more economic manner for the farmer, whilst reducing environmental risks.

Complementing the sprayer products is the Robocrop guidance to enable accurate and highspeed operations. The Robocrop imaging system can view multiple crop rows over a large area. Utilising the grid matching technique, accurate row following is possible, even on narrow row cereals and multiline rows. In combination with the large-diameter pneumatic tyres, accuracy and speed can be maintained within the operation. This 8m Garford Hood Spraye r and total weed kill between the feature promises greater Section Control. rows without soil disturbance. efficiency with chemical Garford’s band and hooded application as the high sprayers have been developed to enable precise levels of accuracy allow for greater inter-row coverage using less expensive, and accurate application of plant protection non-selective herbicides, and reducing the row products and fertiliser to growing crops, in coverage of expensive selective herbicides. When order to maximise crop potential and reduce applying liquid fertiliser, it can be placed exactly overall chemical costs, while using a more where it is required. FG environmentally friendly process.

Hooded sprayers can offer precise application of plant protection products and fertiliser, maximising crop potential whilst reducing overall chemical costs, according to Garford Farm Machinery.

For farmers wanting to work in a manner that causes low soil disturbance, Garford recommends hooded spraying to keep weeds at bay using an economical, chemical application machine.

The Garford Hooded Sprayer works with hoods and crop protection shields to allow for ultimate crop protection against the chemical being applied, the company says. An alternative to inter-row cultivators, this sprayer can provide

The Sprayer Experts Built on a foundation of expertise and experience, your CLAAS dealer sells more NEW sprayers than any other dealer.

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26-29 v2.indd 27

MANNS

Speak to your CLAAS dealer about the HORSCH Leeb sprayer range.

05/03/2020 16:34

As storms Ciara and Dennis brought an end to many growers’ plans to carry on drilling winter wheat varieties through February, spring cropping options are now in full swing and black-grass germination in spring wheat and barley is still a point for discussion.

Spring wheat and barley have several options for flufenacet pre-emergence applications, but at 120g this is half the normal dose applied for blackgrass control in the autumn.

When it comes to the Avadex brands, Avadex Excel 15G – the granular formulation – can be applied to both spring wheat and spring barley at the full 2,250g/ha rate and the liquid Avadex Factor can be applied to spring barley at the full label rate of 1,620g/ha.

Both products are covered by an EAMU approval for spring linseed as well. With up to 15,000ha of linseed expected to be drilled this spring, Premium Crops company agronomist Hannah Foxall (pictured above), is keen to remind growers that Avadex offers a great start to weed control in the crop. Hannah also expects up to 7,000ha of canary seed

to be planted this spring and Avadex granules offer the only real option for grass-weed control in this crop, again under an EAMU. Avadex contractor Dave Shucksmith (pictured top), who is based near Louth in Lincolnshire, expects to be very busy applying Avadex granules this spring as he operates in an area that was very badly hit by the poor drilling conditions last autumn, as well as this January and February.

Dave comments that the wide window of application for Avadex in spring barley is very useful in a rushed spring season, and he can apply Avadex granules to a field before planting the spring barley, which allows the

HYPROÂŽ

drill to lightly incorporate the granules into the soil. Alternatively, the traditional post-planting, pre-emergence timing can be used in spring wheat and barley.

With the increasing popularity of Avadex over the last several years and demand from his customers, Dave commissioned two custom-built 24m applicators based on Bateman kit and expects both of them to be put to very good use this spring.

Gowan’s UK and Ireland technical manager Barrie Hunt (pictured left) is keen to point out that, with a lot of focus on black-grass it’s easy to forget that Avadex was originally introduced as a wild-oat herbicide, specifically in spring barley, and excellent control is still being delivered over 50 years later – an important tool for the early removal of this problem weed. FG

01954 260097 info@hypro-eu.com www.hypro.pentair.com

RIGHT CHEMICAL RIGHT TIME RIGHT NOZZLE

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Merse Agriculture has introduced the new Bargam Spraymax trailed sprayer to the UK. The machine has been in development for some time and is designed to be market-leading, with tank sizes of 2,500–6,500-litres and 18–36m booms.

According to Merse, the Spraymax is fitted with the latest technology, boasting a huge spec list as standard including in-cab controls of filling valves, spraying system and cleaning system. A more conventional spec with basic controls is also available.

The machine has a new agitation system which electronically preselects nozzles inside the main tank, depending on tank volume, to get the best agitation possible without foaming the product. The pump is a 380-litre AR pump as standard with hydraulic drive to eliminate PTO shaft fouling when turning. This also supports 3in plumbing for fast filling and boom

re-circulation to ensure even distribution throughout the boom.

Individual nozzle control comes as standard with the Arag Seletron system, which can be upgraded for independent nozzle selection in the cab. This allows additional output in the field without having to leave the tractor seat.

The Spraymax is Isobus compatible as standard, but Merse can supply a range of controllers and GPS systems to control the sprayer functions, hydraulics, steering axles and auto height functions as necessary. FG

UK distributor LH Agro has extended its 0% finance scheme for a range of precision farming kit. The two-year deal is available on Topcon Agriculture’s X35 and X25 consoles, AES-35 automatic steering wheel and AGI-4 GNSS receiver, and CropSpec crop canopy sensors. The deal was first introduced 12 months ago and has now been extended for another year.

Topcon’s X35 and X25 consoles both use a full-colour touchscreen to operate multiple implement functions. This includes crop sensing, section control, variable rate applications, auto-steering and auto-headland turning.

The AES-35 electric steering wheel and AGI-4 receiver deliver high-accuracy automatic guidance in a retrofittable package which is compatible with almost any non-steer ready tractor or selfpropelled sprayer. CropSpec canopy sensors provide an accurate, real-time assessment of the crop’s current condition and nutrient requirements.

The Isobus-compatible X35 consolidates the functions of several separate screens and controllers into a single console.

Alongside the finance deal, the company is running a console trade-in scheme to allow existing users of Topcon’s previous generation X30 console to upgrade to an X35 for a reduced price. The scheme also includes Topcon’s new CL-10 modem which offers faster connection times and improved signal reliability for better positioning accuracy when working across large areas. Its builtin Wi-Fi connectivity also enables service engineers to resolve issues more quickly via remote access to the X35. FG

Main dealer for BARGAM Agriculture Machinery Main Dealer for BARGAM Agriculture Machinery

Merse Agriculture can supply new and used equipment, servicing and spare parts for all types of sprayers

Why choose MERSE Agriculture?

W UP DATE D GRIM P E UR JR WeN Eprovide sprayers, servicing and spares Check out the website for more information and the rest of the range

www.bargam.co.uk

Quality • Performance • Precision

01361 408532 www.bargam.co.uk 26-29 v2.indd 29

Quality • Performance • Precision

01361 408532 www.bargam.co.uk Guide to Spring Spraying www.farmersguide.co.uk 29

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GALLOWAY FARMS

70502

70502

• 35 years’ experience • RTK precision & accuracy • Fully certified & tested operators & machines • Based in West Essex

Office: 01992 522227 • Mob: 07964 669493 • www.gallowayfarms.org

C J SMITH Agri-Spray & Spreading Contractors

24m Avadex spreading using a Bateman sprayer

LGP Crop Spraying Avadex granule application LGP Fertiliser Spreading

call with details of your requirements

70682

07966 339643

Washbrook Farm, Nash, Milton Keynes 01908 502386 / 07831 479966 email: cjsmithagrispray@btconnect.com

other contract work undertaken includes... spraying | small seed broadcasting | lime spreading | long reach hedge cutting fertiliser spreading |drilling | stubble to stubble farming | ploughing | baling 70015

MATT REDMAN

Crop spraying with two Bateman RB35’s, 24/32/36m Crop establishment with John Deere 750A and Dale Eco-L Avadex application at 24 to 36m Cultivations Harvesting Sawblade and flail hedgecutting Game cover and environmental mix drilling Specialist flail mowing with ROBOCUT 125-250hp Tractor and driver hire FBT, contract and share farming Please visit our web site for more information and a comprehensive list of the services we offer in and around the Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, S. Norfolk and W. Suffolk area

07845 667331 / 01223 440327 www.mattredmanag.co.uk

Gloucestershire and surrounding areas 70966

A family run business based in North Nottinghamshire, with over 20 years experience in agriculture, spraying and use of machinery, offering a range of arable services throughout the East Midlands, Yorkshire and further afield

We offer a comprehensive selection of agricultural services, with a dedicated team of skilled operators, which also includes • stubble to stubble contracts

ING

CROP SPRAY

• root crop seedbed preparation, including de-stoning and precision drilling • grass and straw baling in 120x90 and 120x130 bales and chasing, inc control traffic farming (CTF) • subsoil and Sumo Trio OSR establishment • straw laying for the over wintering of carrots and parsnips • hedge cutting and general contracting

For any enquiries please contact us and we would be more than happy to assist you

Office - 01427 848933 George - 07919 406862 email - office@groworthagriculturalcontracting.co.uk

www.groworthagriculturalcontracting.co.uk

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16617

A leading agronomy company Providing the highest standards of independent agronomic advice to British growers, with the efficient supply of a complete range of agronomic inputs.

Hutchinsons remains a family business, with traditional values, working with growers for over 80 years.

Offering specialist agronomy advice including soil health, practical precision farming and the unique Helix Farm technology research programme.

It’s our people that make the difference

Hutchinsons can provide you with all your crop-growing requirements including:

Speak to us and see the difference for yourself

• • • •

H L Hutchinson Ltd Weasenham Lane • Wisbech • Cambridgeshire • PE13 2RN t: 01945 461177 • e: information@hlhltd.co.uk @Hutchinsons_Ag HLHutchinsons

Crop-protection inputs Seed Fertiliser Crop nutrition guidance

• Precision agronomy advice • A comprehensive range of packaging for the fresh food industry.

Our professionalism is matched by our total commitment to customer service.

www.hlhltd.co.uk Guide to Spring Spraying www.farmersguide.co.uk 31

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[ GOWAN CONTACTS ] Dominic Lamb UK and Ireland Business Manager 07584 052323

Helping to control grass-weeds since 1961!

Full effective grass-weed dose for all cereal drilling dates – spring and autumn Cornerstone of any black-grass control programme

Kuldip Mudhar UK and Ireland Development Manager 07532 807138

Programmed approach for control of wild oats, bromes, rye-grass and a range of broad-leaved weeds Flexible application timing in spring barley – pre or post drilling

Barrie Hunt UK and Ireland Technical Manager 07308 166356

Need a contractor?

To find a contractor in your area check the website: www.Avadex.co.uk or scan the QR code with your phone to view the contractor list

USE PESTICIDES SAFELY. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND PRODUCT INFORMATION BEFORE USE. Avadex® contains tri-allate. Avadex is a registered trademark used under licence by Gowan Crop Protection Ltd.

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