Sprayer

[Digester Man]

Farming 180 acres cereals, currently in a share farming arrangement which is coming to an end. Going forward have to decide whether to buy a sprayer or use a contractor. In this area most contractors are silage and slurry focused, so spraying is secondary...

What would you do? Is a second hand sprayer worth considering? There is also a 40% grant available at the moment if we were to consider buying new.

Or do we just try to work with a contractor?

@cowboysupper

 

[Foxcover]

Buy new with the grant and write the rest off over a long time, say 10 years though hopefully you’d get many more years from it.
Contractors charge of £5 per acre even 3-4 times per year over 180 acres will soon pay for a sprayer.

 

[Daniel]

Farming 180 acres cereals, currently in a share farming arrangement which is coming to an end. Going forward have to decide whether to buy a sprayer or use a contractor. In this area most contractors are silage and slurry focused, so spraying is secondary...

What would you do? Is a second hand sprayer worth considering? There is also a 40% grant available at the moment if we were to consider buying new.

Or do we just try to work with a contractor?

@cowboysupper

What grant is this, is it nationwide or specific to your area?

 

[ploughman1963]

we picked up a nice 24m sprayer for not a lot - paid for itself in 12 months but more important than the savings, our sprying gets done on the day we want it done not when we can be fitted in - invaluable!

 

[Boysground]

Definitely buy a sprayer timing is critical with the job. Can’t be easy waiting for a sprayer to arrive when you know the job should already be done.

There are good secondhand sprayers out there. It’s just not always easy to find them, I’d focus on spec and condition rather than the make. I have just bought a really nice knight my repair guy found for me.

If you have the money there must be a few deals on a well set up new one. 12-15000l mounted would be perfect I expect

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[tr250]

Knight got a nice 20m mounted knight on their website

 

[James]

Definitely buy your own that way timing is under your control

 

[Phil P]

Definitely buy a sprayer timing is critical with the job. Can’t be easy waiting for a sprayer to arrive when you know the job should already be done.

There are good secondhand sprayers out there. It’s just not always easy to find them, I’d focus on spec and condition rather than the make. I have just bought a really nice knight my repair guy found for me.

If you have the money there must be a few deals on a well set up new one. 12-15000l mounted would be perfect I expect

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15000l mounted, that’s some setup

 

[Boysground]

15000l mounted, that’s some setup

You do have to buy a decent weight block

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[Boysground]

Knight got a nice 20m mounted knight on their website

Just bought a second hand Knight, really pleased with it

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[tr250]

Just bought a second hand Knight, really pleased with it

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From Knight themselves?

 

[Boysground]

No my sprayer repair guy found it, another farm he deals with were changing it for a new machine.

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[Gav]

Would say buy your own especially at the size of your farm, as with previous comments timing is everything with spraying and unfortunately being a smaller grower you may find that you come down a contractors priority list over bigger customers. You should be able to find a decent second hand one but for 180 acres with the 40% grant buying new would make a lot of sense as it will last for years with you.

 

[SilliamWhale]

You can get a decent sprayer for £3k and it won't be crap.

Its still just a pump and a boom really. Bells and whistles are nice but it won't make the crop yield better

 

[Gav]

If you allowed in the region of £3000-5000 for a good clean secondhand sprayer that has been tested, a new known brand 12m 1200ltr machine is in the region of £10000-13000 so allowing for the 40% grant then the new machine starts to look more attractive (in my eyes at least)

 

[ewald]

You will find a decent trailed sprayer for 3-7k or so, depending on spec. I have an old Gem (1980s) that cost about £1500 ten years ago, goes as well now as when I bought it. Parts are cheap for any UK built sprayer from this era.
I would go for 24m - bit more expensive to buy, but it is easy to get a neighbour or contractor in if necessary - I am on 18m which is used less.
When I change I will be looking at Knight or Chafer

 

[Daniel]

Would say buy your own especially at the size of your farm, as with previous comments timing is everything with spraying and unfortunately being a smaller grower you may find that you come down a contractors priority list over bigger customers. You should be able to find a decent second hand one but for 180 acres with the 40% grant buying new would make a lot of sense as it will last for years with you.

40% grant on crop sprayers? Google isn't enlightening me.

 

[Gav]

40% grant on crop sprayers? Google isn't enlightening me.

OP's comment not mine so can't enlighten you either I'm afraid. Would presume it's an area specific grant and not available countrywide

 

[Phil P]

180ac of winter cereals will be at least 4 passes a year with the sprayer, a contractor will want at least £4.50 an acre.
So that’s £18 x 180 is £3240 a year over 5 years that’s a new base spec sprayer, even without a grant it make sense to buy new.

 

[neilo]

Timeliness is great, but does the OP have time to do it? Does he have a spare tractor sat there, or the help to change wheels over, etc? Does he have the necessary tickets (or a man that does) to do it himself?

But yes, it must surely be cost effective on that acreage.