Know How / Spraying and spreading Advice and tips How to fit Avadex applicators to drills and Cambridge rollsGrowers planning to fit a granular applicator to their drill or Cambridge rolls need to make sure they are set up with a high-volume fan and wide-bore pipework to ensure… SPRAYERSHow to retrofit old sprayers with automatic section controlFew people who have had a sprayer with auto-section control would consider going back to manual boom switching. Not only do these systems improve spraying accuracy and reduce overspray, but… SLURRY TANKERSAdvice on setting up the perfect umbilical slurry systemSpreading slurry through an umbilical system can be vastly more efficient than running tankers, but it’s not always a practical proposition for every farm, particularly those with outlying ground a… SPRAYERSNozzle expert gives tips on more accurate spray applicationArable production across the prairies of western Canada might appear to have little in common with that of the UK, but they share one problem: how to increase sprayer productivity… See all Case studies SPRAYERSForward-control Fastrac offers plenty of versatilityLandquip is the latest manufacturer to have a crack at exploiting the potential versatility of JCB’s Fastrac by converting it into a front-cabbed implement carrier. The newly minted Trac-Con tractor… FERTILISER SPREADERSVersatile boom spreader does four jobs for Norfolk farmFinding himself perilously short of sprayer capacity in the spring, Lee Oakes took the decision to bolster his machinery arsenal with a granular boom spreader. Up to this point, liquid… SPRAYING AND SPREADINGContractor customises UK's first Borger slurry separatorSeveral contractors are running trailer-mounted Borger RC150 separators these days, but Lockerbie-based Andy Rae was the first to do so in the UK. Having pumped, hauled and spread millions of… UMBILICALCo Down farm offers free slurry separating – with a catchThe typical business model for a large, mobile slurry separator is as follows: a contractor stumps up the cash to buy it and charges customers an hourly rate for the… See all Community WORKSHOP SKILLSInventions Comp 2023: Mick Thompson's custom pumping trailerMick Thompson takes third place in the complex category of the 2023 Farmers Weekly Inventions Competition with his slurry-pumping trailer. Mr Thompson of Lancashire outfit Thompson Brothers built a remote-controlled… WORKSHOP SKILLSInventions Comp 2023: Self-propelled pump and tankThe runner-up of the complex category of the 2023 Farmers Weekly Inventions Competition is Alistair Craig with his lorry slurry pumping trailer. Remote umbilical slurry pumping trailers and nurse tanks… WORKSHOP SKILLSFW Inventions Comp 2022: DJ's starter fert applicatorDJ's starter fert applicator is the winner of the intermediate category in our Farmers Weekly Inventions Competition 2022. Derek Howard, known as DJ, of Alton-based contractor Scribeland, built a starter… WORKSHOP SKILLSInventions Comp 2020: Fertiliser bogie slashes power useOwen Wilks’ Fertable fertiliser bogie placed third in the intermediate category of the Farmers Weekly inventions competition. One of this year’s most experienced entrants is 80-year-old Owen Wilks, who has… See all Insights MUCKSPREADERSMuck and slurry field equipment: Where is it made?In the face of intense competition, not only among themselves but from EU-based manufacturers, UK companies building muckspreaders and slurry handling equipment continue to hold their own with a decent… MACHINERYSprayer and bowser setup benefits from engine remapA specialist spraying contractor has added an Avon Tuning HD professional engine remap to his frontline sprayer to provide consistent power delivery when working on slopes, and tow a 4,000-litre… SPRAYERSSoilEssentials' Skai spot-sprayer cuts chemical useAware of the dearth of options for tackling pernicious grassland weeds without clobbering clover, Charlie Murray went in search of a solution. The core of his Clyde Agriculture business, which… SPRAYERSAussies offer spot-spraying system for autonomous tractorsA new AutoFill docking system for SwarmFarm Robotics’ autonomous pivot-steer tractor units means they can top up their spray tanks without human intervention. Once the liquid level falls below a… See all News SLURRY TANKERSSlurryKat goes high-end with feature-packed Elete tankerSlurryKat has launched its most sophisticated tanker series to date, packing a redesigned chassis, integrated drawbar and anti-surge baffle system. By reworking the bones of the machine, engineers have managed… SPRAYERSStihl SGA 60 knapsack sprayer gets battery-powered pumpStihl has ditched the hand pump on its latest knapsack sprayer, opting for the convenience of battery power instead. This setup gives the SGA 60 a working pressure of up… SPRAYERSSands self-propelled sprayers get better boom levellingSands has replaced almost all the components used in its previous boom control system with a single Smart Ram. The new setup, which has been in development for more than… SLURRY TANKERSHi-Spec tankers get hydraulic suspension and electric steerHydraulic suspension with self-levelling capability is a new option for Hi-Spec trailers and slurry tankers running on two or three axles. The Sidra system, produced by Italian running gear specialist… See all Test and reviews MUCKSPREADERSOn test: RS Agri targets muckspreader market with new AtlasFeeding and bedding specialist RS Agri has broadened its offering with a range of complementary machines to dispose of soiled livestock litter. Like its ration mixers, the six new vertical… SPRAYERSFirst impressions: John Deere's front-cab 550R sprayerAfter years of peddling its US-style self-propelled sprayers in Europe, John Deere has finally ditched the comfortable but cramped mid-cab format for its new 500R series. The last of those… SPRAYERSFirst impressions: McConnel's bigger and heavier AgribuggyAt what point is a small, lightweight self-propelled sprayer no longer small or lightweight? The McConnel Agribuggy has defined this relatively niche segment since its inception in the early 1980s… SPRAYERSChampion operator rates Chafer and Bateman self-propelledsBuyers of the biggest self-propelled sprayers are being seduced by a seemingly ever-growing list of optional extras that promise to improve accuracy, spray efficacy and ease of use. The pinnacle… See all Video CULTIVATION AND DRILLINGVideo: Horsch reveal drilling innovations and tillage tweaksGerman implement maker Horsch is experiencing strong UK sales from its tillage and crop protection machines. However, with the uncertainty surrounding glyphosate regulation and Brexit, the company thinks that exploring… CROP MANAGEMENTVideo: How nozzle choice affects spray quality and efficacySelecting the appropriate sprayer nozzle for pre-emergence weed control is an important step in cutting spray drift and maximising the efficacy of the chemicals being applied. There are four key… Video: Cereals sprayers in actionManufacturers flocked from far and wide to demonstrate their latest machines in the Sprays and Sprayers arena at this year’s Cereals event. From the smallest mounted units to the largest… MACHINERY3 Cereals videos: Top tractors, cultivation kit and sprayersMachinery makers from across the globe flocked to Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire this week (10-15 June) for the annual Cereals 2015 event. We captured a few highlights from the tractor manufacturers, cultivation… See all
