Amazone sprayers

Why would anyone who had a serious amount of spraying to do contemplate buying a machine without a rate controller?

In my opinion it is essential, not just “worth it”.
Because I don’t have a ‘serious’ amount of spraying to do that’s why I asked the question
 
Best get a contractor then. Time you MOT the sprayer and do your NRoSO it won’t be worth it.
Sorry I didn’t explain my question enough for you. I have been doing some contract spraying I have my NRoSO. my current sprayer hasn’t got rate control on it that’s why I asked the question I’m buying a new sprayer so doesn’t need Mot.
 

Hereward

Member
Location
Peterborough
I have a rate controller on my sprayer, but I don't use it.

I spray at set speed using GPS on autosteer tractor for an accurate speed and a pressure gauge.
Using the GPS coverage monitor I can manually do the section control with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

It always works out spot on, much better than with a rate controller that ramps up the pressure up and down with the inherent lag and over and under compensation till it settles.
And the rare controller introduces flow and pressure sensors that can play up, give false reading etc.
 
I have a rate controller on my sprayer, but I don't use it.

I spray at set speed using GPS on autosteer tractor for an accurate speed and a pressure gauge.
Using the GPS coverage monitor I can manually do the section control with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

It always works out spot on, much better than with a rate controller that ramps up the pressure up and down with the inherent lag and over and under compensation till it settles.
And the rare controller introduces flow and pressure sensors that can play up, give false reading etc.
Thanks for reply I’ve got gps but not auto steer
 

KB6930

Member
Location
Borders
Definitely would be without rate controller first one I came across on a 1993 knight and it worked well our current sprayer is great for putting the right rate on and your not set at a certain speed so when contracting if it's really rough old grass you don't need to get shaken to bits
 

An Gof

Member
Location
Cornwall
Sorry I didn’t explain my question enough for you. I have been doing some contract spraying I have my NRoSO.my current sprayer hasn’t got rate control on it that’s why I asked the question I’m buying a new sprayer so doesn’t need Mot.

You’re buying a new machine and doing contract work so I would say a rate controller was a no brainer.
You may be more fortunate than me and be on all level ground. It’s a bit hilly where I am and the rate controller is a godsend.
 

Hereward

Member
Location
Peterborough
You’re buying a new machine and doing contract work so I would say a rate controller was a no brainer.
You may be more fortunate than me and be on all level ground. It’s a bit hilly where I am and the rate controller is a godsend.
This is the right answer, its a new sprayer it will all work and its great if you need to go slowly of course within the parameters of your nozzles working pressure range.
 

Chae1

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
I have a rate controller on my sprayer, but I don't use it.

I spray at set speed using GPS on autosteer tractor for an accurate speed and a pressure gauge.
Using the GPS coverage monitor I can manually do the section control with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

It always works out spot on, much better than with a rate controller that ramps up the pressure up and down with the inherent lag and over and under compensation till it settles.
And the rare controller introduces flow and pressure sensors that can play up, give false reading etc.

Me neither. Had it on previous sprayer, when i bought present one planned to fit one, but found i didn't miss it. Like yourself have a gps lightbar and screen for area, speed and on/off.

Sprayer will be 22 years old this year.

If i bought a new one, i don't think I'd see a yield increase. Passes mot every year.
 

e3120

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Northumberland
My old sprayer must be 40, cost £1k 10 years ago. Rate and section control cost me £400 in bits, plus reading and soldering time. Another £400 for the s/h gps it hangs off.

Well worth it, even on small acres, as I can now preserve her life by driving at suitable speeds. It has made spraying rig'n'furrow feasible as speed and width are somewhat forced upon the driver.
 

D14

Member
I spray at set speed using GPS on autosteer tractor for an accurate speed and a pressure gauge.
Using the GPS coverage monitor I can manually do the section control with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

That is not feasible in oddly shaped fields. We had a month without GPS for section control due to trimble messing around and during that month we had to to manual section control. None of the fields worked out right and we ended up carrying 15% extra water to ensure we could complete fields manually. Thats how far out it is. We had one 28ha field with 14 headland changes of direction with most of them not at 90 degrees to the in field tramlines. Then there is 7 infield pylons/trees to contend with. With section control the field sprays at 27.9ha consistently. Without section control it ranged from 29-32ha. To be fair thats the worst example but it showed us how section control has saved us money over the years we've used it.
 

Hereward

Member
Location
Peterborough
That is not feasible in oddly shaped fields. We had a month without GPS for section control due to trimble messing around and during that month we had to to manual section control. None of the fields worked out right and we ended up carrying 15% extra water to ensure we could complete fields manually. Thats how far out it is. We had one 28ha field with 14 headland changes of direction with most of them not at 90 degrees to the in field tramlines. Then there is 7 infield pylons/trees to contend with. With section control the field sprays at 27.9ha consistently. Without section control it ranged from 29-32ha. To be fair thats the worst example but it showed us how section control has saved us money over the years we've used it.
I've mostly odd shaped fields, yes I'm not as accurate as auto-section, but I know the lag between flicking the switch and turning on/off and have all the relevant offsets for the sprayer on the gps screen so with a bit of experience its always very close.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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