10 STEPS TO MORE ACCURATE SPRAYING
1 Safety 6Headlands
first: ensure the spreader has an intact PTO shaft cover in place.
spreader settings are machine specific and are based on the type of fertiliser being spread and the bout width chosen. Basic information is given in your spreader’s instruction manual. If you don’t have these, spreader manufacturer websites and phone apps are also a great source for up-todate settings.
discs should be slightly higher on the back than on the front in order to give the granules the required trajectory when they leave the spreading vanes. Lift controls should be set to allow correct disc height (as determined by the manufacturer and fertiliser type) from the crop or ground.
the lift arm stabilisers to prevent the spreader jolting on rough ground and giving unpredictable spread patterns. Make sure both lift arms are level to minimise bias.
you set your forward speed is set it is essential to maintain the same forward speed all the time, e.g. 7km/ hr. The same applies for PTO speed; this should not be altered once spreading begins.
can be awkward and potential areas of over application, so shut off the spreader once the back wheels of the tractor meet the inside track of the headland run. This prevents covering an area already spread. GPS based switching can automate this process and improve accuracy on wide spreading machines.
with water courses and field boundaries also pose a challenge. Manufacturers offer a range of mechanisms to help. These include tilting the spreader down at the boundary side; changing disc speed; adding a deflector; reversing disc direction or changing the graunule drop point to use a different disc vane.
buy quality fertiliser that has good spreading characteristics with at least 80pc of the granules in the
2 - 4 mm size range and preferably granules of smooth round shapes. This will ensure a good even spread pattern.
and lubricate the spreader after every working day.
the spreading vanes for wear, pitting or indentations. Vanes on a 12m spreader typically last 3-4 seasons, an 18m spreader 2-3 seasons and a 24m spreader 2 seasons. A new set of vanes cost from €350-€450.