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Claimed to be some of the most revolutionary spray technology to enter the Australasian market, the BA Smart Sprayer powered by Smart-Appl, provides viticulturists and horticulturists with reduced chemical use, economical spray application and advanced crop mapping.
The density-based spray system utilises LIDAR sensor technology to detect the specific architecture of the canopy, which in turn creates a digital representation of the crop characteristics, including height, width, spacing and the density of each plant it passes. This digital information is then converted into a signal to each independently controlled spray nozzle for instant application and adjustment of spray where required, thereby reducing chemical use and achieving considerable cost savings.
Researched, developed and field-tested at the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture over the past decade, the BA Smart Sprayer has been proven to reduce spray inputs and spray loss beyond canopies, says John Dixon, Operations Manager at BA Pumps and Sprayers. “The system is proving effective in reducing up to 87 percent of airborne drift, delivering both environmental and economic sustainability.” The level of precision that the system can achieve has significant long-term benefits for vineyards by way of seasonal growth data, healthier plants, greater overall yields and cleaner, safer groundwater, he says.
The system also lends itself to retrofitting to existing air blast spray equipment, using an Android tablet for display to enable easy application. The sensor technology works in tandem with GPS to determine ground speed and field position, allowing growers to gauge spray coverage and gather valuable data about their vines. There is also the flexibility to revert to manual spraying applications if conditions require this approach.
BA Pumps and Sprayers, formerly known as Bertolini Australasia, will be conducting a series of demonstration events throughout New Zealand to introduce the technology to Kiwi growers.
Global tyre manufacturer Michelin has extended its agricultural trailer tyre range, with the introduction of its new WorkxBib series, designed for tipping trailers, slurry tankers and manure spreaders.
Following the record-breaking success of its hydrogen-powered Hydromax, JCB is ramping up its investment in the business, key to the first major change at the executive level of the business, with George Bamford stepping up to the post of joint chairman, alongside his father Lord Bamford.
During calf rearing, logistics can play an important role in getting the job done quickly and efficiently.
Massey Ferguson has announced a strategic supply partnership with International Tractors Limited (ITL), a manufacturer of low-horsepower and compact tractors, with recognised brands such as Sonalika and Sollis, to expand its portfolio with a new tractor range.
With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.
The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.
In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.
Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.
Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”
Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.
www.caseih.com
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