Thanks to Falcon Agricultural Equipment (Pty) Ltd, who are the importers of the Amazone range of precision sprayers and spreaders, farmers now have access to GPS-compatible cutting-edge technology in the field of crop protection and fertilisation, and now, with the aid of GPS-Switch, can also do automatic section control.

Crop Protection
Amazone has recently launched a new integrated Front Tank system for the UF mounted field sprayer to compete directly with the smaller self-propelled machines. Farmers will now be able to experience a fully mounted 2 800-litre unit (UF1801 + FT1001).

The specific feature of the front tank is the 100% integration with the back-mounted sprayer via the electronic flow-control, fill-level management system using the proven Amatron+. The complete circulation to the front tank is realised utilising only an extra 115 l/min pump which is in tandem with the main spray pump of 250 l/min on the rear-mounted sprayer. Flow control also ensures that the fill level of the front tank remains high at first, loading the front axle and thus, especially on slopes, helping to maintain stable travelling for the tractor.

Fertilisation
The current cost of fertiliser makes it imperative that it is spread accurately in a manner that will result in optimum utilisation of what is now one of the most expensive inputs in crop farming, or indeed any form of agriculture. A fully equipped Amazone ZA-M profiS Hydro spreader, with a payload of 3 100 kg, is the ultimate weapon in the fight against rising input costs.

This spreader has precise control over spreading at all times. Through its onboard weighing system and hydraulic spreading disc drive, it offers full independence from engine speed and forward speed and obviates the need for calibration. Amazone spreaders can broadcast fertiliser, seeds and slug pellets.

GPS-Switch
In the operation of crop protection implements and fertiliser spreaders, dosing errors cannot be completely avoided, when switching the implement on and off, at the headlands or when driving along the field edges or into wedge-shaped areas.  This new, on-board computer system (GPS-Switch), combined with a GPS receiver, now allows for accurate positioning when switching on and off, or part-width switching, at the headlands, on the field’s edge, or when driving around obstacles to avoid unnecessary overlapping on already treated fields. This feature is now available on certain Amazone spreaders and sprayers.

For more information, please call Falcon Agricultural Equipment (Pty) Ltd on 033-3304764.

Prepared for the Landbouweekblad Nampo supplement.