GREATER levels of spray accuracy and control are being achieved by Gibson farmer Paddy Barber, using his new HARDI SARITOR 62 Active self-propelled boomsprayer.
Mr Barber farms 4700 hectares with his wife Sharon and their sons Nick, Samuel and Jake.
Having owned two other self-propelled sprayers over the years, they invested in a HARDI SARITOR 62 Active in September last year – and the differences have been notable.
“I wanted more boom stability,” Mr Barber said.
“That was the main thing that got me interested in the SARITOR, along with the fact it was very competitively priced.
“Plus the technical support from HARDI Australia and my local dealer has been excellent – I’ve been extremely happy.”
Mr Barber selected a 36.5 metre HARDI PARAGON aluminium TR5 boom and hasn’t been disappointed with the SARITOR 62 Active’s boom ride.
“I wouldn’t be without HARDI AutoHeight boom control now,” he said.
“I’m finding everything very good, the boom height is accurate and that’s a standout feature for me.”
Mr Barber also found his SARITOR 62 Active’s OnRate technology delivers equally precise rate control.
OnRate uses an infinitely variable proportional hydraulic valve to manage changes in pressure, pump speed and flow input, which the SARITOR’s ActiveAir system delivers via instant, drip-less nozzle switching with continuous fluid recirculation.
Mr Barber compares the new fluid system to his two previous self-propelled sprayers with their 3TS set-ups and finds it much better.
“They were pretty good,” he said.
“But you had to turn the line on to re-circulate so that was always stirring things up.
“The accuracy of this spraying system is excellent with constant pressure meaning spraying is instant.”
They have used their SARITOR 62 Active for about 130 hours over the between-seasons period, and Mr Barber is sure it will enable them to cover 600 hectares a day when they need to.
Boom set-up includes HARDI Pentajet five-head nozzle bodies at 250mm spacings.
This provides a flexible choice of nozzle heads that works perfectly with the accurate rate and AutoHeight controls.
“Our ability to change nozzles and the fact we can keep the boom very low and it’s very accurate means we can spray safely in higher winds,” Mr Barber said.
“I think that nozzle selection and boom height control on the SARITOR 62 Active has given us a lot more spraying power.”
