Tag Archive for: Improves

John Deere technology improves accuracy and efficiency

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John Deere technology improves accuracy and efficiency: The 2022 Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year says the technology packed into his John Deere R962i has simplified applications without compromising on the size of the tank.  

Steve May, arable foreman at Fromant and Sanders in Kislingbury, Northamptonshire, has a 6,200-litre tank and 36m boom on his trailed machine, pulled by a 6215R AutoPowr.

John Deere technology improves accuracy and efficiency

John Deere technology improves accuracy and efficiency

The biggest trailed John Deere sprayer available at the time of purchase in 2019, Steve opted to stay loyal to the brand after being impressed with his previous model, the M740.

“The R-series sprayers are already high spec, so a lot of the features I needed came as standard,” he says. “This is our third John Deere sprayer, but this one was a big step up in terms of technology, size and width.”

Twin Select nozzles, one fixed and one quad rotating, means that Steve can alternate between them from the cab, cutting down on the manual changes.

He has been particularly impressed with the PowrSpray system, which boasts separate pumps for filling and spraying. “The filling system on this sprayer is just fantastic,” he says.

“The filling pump has a 1,200-litre/min capacity, so I can fill the tank in around five minutes,” he explains.

Setting how much water he wants on the screen, Steve can depend on the system to fill the sprayer on its own, and he has the option to use the ‘active pause’ function to slow the speed of filling while the chemicals are added.

Altogether Steve sprays 810ha, which is split between the home farm and contracted work and crops grown include wheat, barley, oats, oilseed rape and beans.

“The tractor and sprayer both being John Deere means everything is integrated really nicely, which makes my life easier,” he says.

“I use the tractor’s Greenstar RTK guidance to put the tramlines in, which means I can spray everything with autosteer,” Steve says.

Previously, Steve worked on SF1, meaning he had to correct the guidance lines as he worked. “Now they are perfect throughout the season,” he says.

The 6215R is fitted with 710/70 R42 tyres for the winter and 480/80 R46 rubber in the summer. The sprayer has 710/70 R38 spec for the winter and runs on 420/80 R46s in the summer.

Overall, Steve has been impressed with the R962i’s performance.

“The technology is very clever but on a simpler level it’s easily manoeuvrable for such a large implement, and the axle suspension smooths out the ride.”

Steve has been so impressed that the farm has already placed an order for John Deere’s new R975i which has a 7,500-litre tank and is expected to arrive on farm in time for 2023 spring spraying.

“It’s pretty much the same machine, it just has a bigger tank which will give us a bit more capacity, particularly in the autumn when we’re doing pre-emergence,” Steve says.

“We’re putting 200l per hectare on when we’re spraying pre-emergence herbicides so obviously the more liquid I can get in the tank, the further I can get around in a day.

“I think the new sprayer comes in somewhere around 90 acres per tank load, whereas our current model does 75 acres per tank load.”

Tank size is key because he needs the capacity to avoid having to make journeys back to base to refill.

Although there are a couple of satellite water tanks at his disposal, not having to rely on them so much will provide a significant time saving.

Steve fought off stiff competition to be named Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year, securing his win after impressing the judges in all three rounds.

“It’s not really about driving a tractor or sprayer – it’s about having the knowledge and ability to do the best job you can with what you’ve got,” he explains.

“The judges focus on how you set up your equipment, processes and paperwork to be as precise as possible, because this leads to efficiency, which in turn leads to environmental gains.

“Finding out I had won was fantastic.”

Steve is BASIS and FACTS qualified, and made the final six of the Syngenta-organised competition in 2018 but 2022 was the first time he has taken the top prize which includes a trophy and a trip to Agritechnica 2023.

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Pro-Cast & Wiedenmann double improves efficiency

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Pro-Cast & Wiedenmann double improves efficiency: Greentech Sportsturf, based in Stirling, combines a construction company with a separate sales operation for specialist turf products, including quality seed and sand.

In May, their construction team pre-empted a busy summer of renovations with a timely purchase of a Pro-Cast PC 4 bulk top dresser and a Wiedenmann Terra Spike XD 8 deep aerator from dealer, Fairways GM’s Glasgow depot.

Pro-Cast & Wiedenmann double improves efficiency

Pro-Cast & Wiedenmann double improves efficiency

Contract Foremen Ryan Melling, left, and Gary Leonard, right, received the machines from Wiedenmann UK’s Scottish Sales Manager, Mike James, centre.

“The machines landed in the yard just as renovation season took off,” said Gary Leonard, “Pretty much, that’s the only time, they’ve been idle as they are now either on site or in transit.”

Greentech’s clients include professional and amateur clubs as well as a host of schools’ projects from full grow-in and establishment works to maintenance visits.

“When we chose the top dresser, we considered both the PC 3 and PC 4 versions. The PC 4 won because its 3,500-litre capacity brought more efficiency. We took the optional PTO pump and tank system so everything was self-contained. The twin spinners have a reach of about 16 m and spin sand consistently and evenly. It’s doing a great job,” said Gary.

“The XD 8 is our first Wiedenmann aerator and its strong and dependable. Reliability is important because when you are in the thick of a job you don’t want any breakdowns.

“In a typical renovation project, the Terra Spike comes into its own at the end of the sequence with a good deep spike and gives everything a final iron. Changing tines is a lot easier than before and they can get down 275 mm. Getting spare tines is easy and there’s plenty guidance available from the Fairways GM team.”

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Top-Brush improves Woolley Park GC

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Top-Brush improves Woolley Park GC: When a Redexim Top-Brush was unloaded from the trailer for a working demonstration at Woolley Park Golf Club in September 2021, Head Greenkeeper John Rowbottom was so impressed that it never went back on! 20 minutes spent on the 18th fairway of the West Yorkshire club were enough to convince John and his team of the improvements the Top-Brush could make to course presentation, and the role it would play in the non-chemical control of worm casts.

The complex, now consisting of 27-holes, was built by John’s father and grandfather and opened to the public in 1995. John has been involved since its inception and has witnessed many changes when it comes to maintenance tools and techniques in that time – particularly recently with the restrictions on chemical controls for worms. He explains, “We’ve been looking for new ways to manage, what is, a problem not just for us as greenkeepers but for our customers too. We’d read about the Redexim Top-Brush and so organised for Andy O’Neill, together with our local dealer Cheshire Turf, to bring in a demo unit which seriously impressed!”

Top-Brush improves Woolley Park GC

Top-Brush improves Woolley Park GC

“The day of the demonstration came at the end of a particularly warm spell so, despite not struggling with worms at the time, it’s potential was evident. We ran it over one of our fairways and it gave us an instant improvement in definition and overall presentation.” Since September, the Top-Brush has been used up to three times a week, going out ahead of the fairway mowers to stand the plant up, dry the plant out and improve the quality of cut. When worm activity then increased significantly during October & November, the 6m working width of the Top-Brush meant casts were quickly and effectively dispersed.

“Using the Top-Brush to disperse the worm casts has also helped to prevent damage, wear and tear to our equipment than can otherwise occur when casts are fed into them – we noticed that we weren’t having to constantly re-sharpen the mower blades for example.” John adds, “Redexim have come up with a fantastic solution to what is now a major problem for Greenkeepers, with a piece of equipment that doesn’t just come into play during the autumn but brings benefit to plant health and course condition year-round.”

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BLECavator improves speed and accuracy

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BLECavator improves speed and accuracy: Dales Sports Surfaces are the world’s leading suppliers of indoor and outdoor bowling surfaces.

With an increasing number of clubs looking to convert over to artificial greens, recent investment in the required equipment has seen them take delivery of a BLECavator from Charterhouse Turf Machinery. Their new BV145 works hand-in-hand with other equipment from the BLEC stable to speed up and improve the accuracy of installing the foundation layers.

BLECavator improves speed and accuracy

BLECavator improves speed and accuracy

“We’re getting an ever-growing number of enquiries from clubs who are wanting to install artificial turf because of the costs involved with maintaining natural turf, and a lack of skilled greenkeepers to look after them” explains Managing Director of Dales Sports Surfaces, Richard Steadman. “Knowing we needed to invest in a couple of pieces of machinery to make this work easier and more efficient, I spoke with Charterhouse Turf Machinery who suggested we look at the BLECavator.”

The BLECavator is a one-pass ground preparator – levelling, raking and rolling simultaneously. The BV145 model has a 1.5m working width and cultivates the ground to depths of up to 18cm, using adjustable tines to lift and screen stones and debris. Burying the undesirable material and raking the ground level, the soil is then compacted by the rear-mounted roller ready for the next stage of preparations.

Richard purchased the BLECavator, together with a Redexim Turf Stripper, in June 2019 through their local dealer, FG Adamson & Son. The pair of new machines were recently put to use on a conversion project at Malmesbury Bowls Club in Wiltshire. “The first thing we did was remove the existing surface with the Turf Stripper before we installed the new drainage system. We then used a BLEC Laser Grader to grade the base level and followed up with the BLECavator to apply a stone/cement layer. Finally, we re-graded the base to a level tolerance ready for installation of the green.”

“The BLECavator is a well-built multifunctional tool that is nice and easy to set up and does a fantastic job of stabilising the soil and stone.” Richard concludes, “With the increase in conversion projects we’re seeing, we now have a fleet of machines that work really well together to speed up the process and improve the accuracy and quality of the finish.”

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INFINICUT® Improves Presentation In Sweeden

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INFINICUT® Improves Presentation In Sweeden: Home to Ik Oddevold and Rössö IF, the Rimnersvallen Stadium in Sweeden have recently purchased a Cub Cadet INFINICUT® 34” mower from local dealer Grasvardsmaskiner. Used on the main stadium pitch, including before matches, Rimnersvallen Grounds Manager Robert Adamsson has been particularly impressed with the improvement in the quality of cut and appearance produced.

The multi-use stadium, which played host to Pele’s first World Cup match in 1958, is currently under redevelopment with the changes including taking delivery of their INFINICUT® in spring last year. “Ivan came over and did a demonstration and we liked the mower straight away” explains Robert, who is supported by a team of 3 groundstaff. “The first, and perhaps the most important thing for us, is that it runs on battery power making the mower very quiet which means we can get out and mow early in the morning.” Featuring an athletics track in addition to the main pitch, the quiet operation of the INFINICUT® means that mowing can take place at any time, including when the facilities are in use by children from the local school.

INFINICUT® Improves Presentation In Sweeden

“The whole team use the INFINICUT® and have been impressed with how easy it is to use, and how simple it is to adjust the cutting position. The quality of the cut it produces has dramatically improved the appearance of the pitch, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the players and the fans.”

The Cub Cadet INFINICUT® has been specifically designed to offer the operator the ability to alter geometry and working parameters to ensure sward consistency is retained regardless of the time of year or conditions encountered. Plant health can only be augmented by choosing the correct equipment set-up for the circumstances that prevail at any given time. Setting the mower with an attitude angle that is too aggressive can weaken the plant during times of plant stress allowing pathogens to more easily ‘take hold’. Frequency of clip (FOC) is important in ensuring the correct quality is achieved for the specific height of cut as an incorrect FOC can mulch the plant leading to an unclean cut and an increase risk of disease.

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