Category: News

by Krzysztof Grzeszczyk, Agrotechnika 8/2013

Could you use only 30 liters per hectare and be satisfied with protection results? It seems that you can. A farm in Lubawa (Warmińsko-mazurskie district) started using a new method of crop protection in spring 2013.

The first of its kind in Poland, I had a chance to see the classical Amazone UF1801 (30 meter boom) converted into a CDA sprayer. The conversion was carried out by Eryk Cieślak who has dealt with these English make spinning disc atomisers produced by Micron Sprayers for many years now. Eryk sells hand-held, backpack, stationary, aerial and vehicle-mounted atomisers for agriculture and other purposes.

“The boom is fitted with CDA atomisers rather than conventional hydraulic nozzles. Their spinning discs produce small, evenly sized droplets of liquid. Feeding pump works at 1,5-2 bar pressure, distributing the spraying mixture over the boom to the orifice plates. This gives us the precise amount of liquid for each atomiser; the liquid travels to the spinning disc by gravity”, explains Eryk Cieślak.

Depending on the rotation speed, the atomiser may produce three different droplet sizes: 250-300 microns for herbicide, 150 microns for fungicide, and 70-100 microns for insecticide spraying. We may change the speed by choosing one of the three positions on an atomiser’s simple belt drive (2000 rev./min, 3000 rev./min or 5000 rev./min). The atomisers are mounted on a boom at 1 m spacing and 20 degree angle (which offers much better crop penetration). They are powered by a 12v DC tractor battery.

“The point of CDA spraying is the sufficient coverage of plants with spraying mixture, with as low a volume as possible. To ensure effective protection, we need to get a certain amount of spray droplets per square centimeter of crop. We can achieve this by using spinning disc atomisers and reduce the amount of both water and chemical” – emphasizes Eryk Cieślak.

Not every sprayer’s boom is suitable for CDA atomisers. In this case the Amazone construction was chosen, which proved to be perfect for such use. Its broad bar provides good protection for atomisers when folding and unfolding the boom, also the levelling system works brilliantly. Moreover, the Amazone spraying computer can work with low volume spraying (20-30 l/ha). In this case the boom was divided into 6 sections, operated via radio remote control from the control box, also fitted to the sprayer. All operations (mounting the atomisers, redesigning the fluid system of the sprayer, mounting the electrical installations) took 4 days of work. In some cases, the alternator of the tractor has to be replaced with a bigger one, to fulfill the electrical demand of the system. The total cost of conversion of the sprayer was about 30 000 PLN (the cost of single atomiser is 750 PLN).

Working with CDA equipment is a bit more demanding than with a traditional sprayer. It has to be operated more carefully and needs better aftercare. However, when used on a big farm, it may as much as half the costs of crop protection. Farmers who are planning to acquire a new, self-propelled, highly efficient traditional sprayer, may want to consider converting their existing sprayer into a CDA system instead to achieve the very same economical result at much lower cost.

Experiences with the new method of protection

The first boom sprayer fitted with atomisers has been working in a 1000 hectare seeding producing farm owned by Arkadiusz Karbowski since spring 2013. The crops produced are mainly wheat, triticale and charlock. We have asked Igor Kołodziejczak, supervisor of the farm, about his opinion about the CDA solution:

“Our experiments with CDA atomisers have started almost 10 year ago, with the hand-held sprayers, producing 2.4 m spray pattern. Light, robust sprayers powered with D-cell batteries were used in places hard to access with a tractor. They consumed very low amounts of water and chemical. The positive results had using these sprayers convinced us to try CDA on a boom sprayer”, says Igor.

What were the results of CDA spraying? Are there any restrictions?

“When conducting the spray, the wind force has to be taken into consideration – it definitely affects the spray more than when using a conventional method. However, we usually carry out the work on early mornings and late afternoons when there is no wind. When spraying with only 30 liters per hectare, dew is not a problem, it is even desirable. After first season we are very satisfied with the results of CDA spraying. All chemicals used on our farm worked properly. I’m sure that the CDA sprayer is providing the crops the same protection as the conventional one. What is more, we have reduced the amounts of chemicals used – in some cases by a half. This significantly reduces crop protection cost and increases our crop production profit.”
 

Photo Captions
1. 1800 litre tank is enough to spray 60 hectares of crops. The working speed is between 5-8 km/h.

2. Atomisers produce small even droplets of liquid. The spinning disc is driven by a electric motor via belt transmission.

Formed in April 2011, the James Hutton Institute is a leading, multi-site scientific organisation encompassing a distinctive range of integrated strengths in land, crop, waters, environmental and socio-economic science. It strives to tackle today’s major global issues such as preserving our natural resources, developing next generation crops and delivering sustainable production systems. Based in Dundee and Aberdeen, the Institute has four main farms where most of the laboratory research is put into practice, including pioneering work on a whole range of soft and top fruit.

Hartwood Farm is a 350ha livestock farm in Lanarkshire which undertakes research on soil, land and the environment, with most of the area used for grassland to keep 180 suckler cows and their calves and 460 ewes and lambs.

Glensaugh farm near Fettercairn has just over 1000 hectares and is probably best described as a high lying marginal farm on an upland estate . There is some woodland, around 30 hectares of arable land and over 900 hectares of moorland hinterland supporting 800 ewes, 100 red deer and 50 cows.

The Institute also runs the 100ha Mylnefield and 170ha Balruddery farms near Dundee, which are both managed by Euan Caldwell as one unit. These predominantly arable farms roll over the lower, south facing slopes of the Sidlaw Hills, with heights ranging from 8m above sea level at Mylnefield to 124m above sea level at Balruddery.

With almost 400 separate trials on the go, half of the land area is dedicated to field experiments supporting the study of crops, plants and their interaction with land, soil and the environment. “The plant breeding programmes which we are well renowned for are raspberries, blackcurrants and potatoes, but we also work extensively on blueberries, strawberries, apples, pears and plums amongst other crops,” explains Euan. “The remaining half of the land area is used to grow commercial crops and enables us to return any field that has been used for field trials back to a “blank canvas”. It takes around two years (or more in case of perennial crops) of commercial cropping to remove the footprint of a previous trial before it can be used for experimental purposes again.”

All of the fruit trials and some environmental projects are undertaken at the Mylnefield site at Invergowrie on Dundee’s western fringes, whereas Balruddery Farm is where most of the other crop breeding programmes take place. Balruddery Farm also hosts a long term experimental platform, the 40 hectare Centre for Sustainable Cropping, for research on the sustainability of arable ecosystems.

Euan’s role is to manage the two farms and to co-ordinate the onsite field trials and experiments to enable the scientists to put their “science into practice”. “We are a LEAF farm (Linking Environment And Farming) and are proud to have been the first LEAF innovation centre in the UK. Like most farms part of our work involves undertaking a range of varied spraying activities on diverse crops which include soft and top fruit, potatoes, cereals, beans and oilseed rape. Part of our LEAF strategy to minimise our chemical input is to spray only when we need to and to target only the specific areas where we need control (eg. at the base of the fruit rows). Growing grass pathways between the rows and maintaining these with a grass mower and using a micron sprayer to target the base of the plant is one of our solutions.

“To control weeds in raspberries and blackcurrants, we use a Micron 100l Spray System equipped with either 2 Spraydome 400s or 2 Undavina 600s depending on what is required, mounted on the front linkage of a Fendt 209V vineyard tractor; this frees up the rear of the tractor to enable a further grass cutting operation in the same pass. ”Undavina and Spraydome’s spray atomisers are fully shielded under a circular freely rotating head to virtually eliminate drift. They also incorporate a spring loaded arm which gently deflects around the base of the bushes, allowing spraying right up to the base. 

“We first used this equipment in the summer of 2012 after it was recommended to us by AM Phillips, who have supplied the majority of our spraying equipment for around 20 years,” Euan explains. “With a number of trials underway, the sprayers get used regularly as we pass through each plantation roughly once a month during the summer. We have used Glyphosate at 4l/ha in 80l/ha water, Glufosinate-ammonium and Diquat products at the same rates at various stages through the season, all with excellent results.

“Because of its shielded construction, the Spray System allows us to control the placement of the chemical and reduce drift which are very important in ensuring there is no damage to experimental plots that are assessed for growth characteristics.”

“Before we purchased the Micron equipment, we used Dichlobenil granules to control weeds in the spring. Our need for accuracy is great so this was often followed up later in the season by teams of workers hoeing and strimming weeds during the summer and we were able to hand lance weeds with Diquat if circumstances allowed. Using Micron CDA sprayers saves many man hours per plot compared to hoeing, the ratio being at least one spraying hour to 10 hoeing hours.”

Euan estimates that the equipment will pay for itself within around two years in reduced labour costs alone. As well as his raspberries and blackcurrants, he plans to use the sprayers on top fruit in the future.

Following the introduction of the Varidome S3 – the three section band sprayer – at Lamma 2012 just over a year ago, Micron Group have seen growing interest in its precision inter-row technology. The sprayer received excellent feedback at both Lamma and Cereals from UK and overseas visitors alike. Encouraged by the successful UK launch, Micron presented the Varidome to the French market at Innov-Agri, the country’s main agricultural event in September 2012 and are planning further exposure at Tulare (USA) in February 2013, Yorke Peninsula Field Days (Australia) in September 2013 and further introductions in mainland Europe and Scandinavia. Driven by customer demand, Varidome’s manufacturer Micron has also developed the Varidome S5 – its largest to-date, nine metre band sprayer – which was exhibited at the 2013 Lamma event.

The reasons for the broad appeal of the Varidome are many. Firstly, the industry has seen an increasing withdrawal of active ingredients for crop protection which means farmers are faced with a limited choice of herbicides. Thanks to Varidome’s highly flexible design, the sprayer can be configured to suit most row-grown crops including sugar beet, oil seed rape and vegetables, making it a viable and attractive choice for a wide range of applications.

Secondly, the Varidome features a shielded spray system which allows users to better target weeds growing in the inter-row and a wider choice of herbicides for the job. The benefits of this are twofold: not only can Varidome effectively remove persistent weeds such as blackgrass under the shield, it can do so in a cost-effective way as non-selective herbicides such as Glyphosate can be applied. Used in conjunction with precision guidance systems, Varidome inter-row sprayers can deliver impressive 2 to 3 cms accuracy.

Varidome’s optional Dual Spray System offers further cost-savings and increased productivity. As well as treating the weeds growing inter-row under the shield, the sprayer can be fitted with a second spray line which can deliver selective herbicides, foliar feeds, fungicides or insecticides directly over the row. As a result, the product is only applied where it is needed, making Varidome a better choice all round.

As part of its strategy to enhance the product offering and strengthen its brand perception, Micron Group has recently undergone a complete rebrand. The rebrand involved a change in trading name, standardising on product colourways and revising the individual product names.

As of January 2013 Micron’s three companies – Micron Sprayers Ltd, Micronair and Enviromist Industries Pty – will be trading as Micron Group. The decision was made following the Group’s recent restructuring which enabled the companies to capitalise on their combined strengths and consequently strengthen its key Sales, Marketing, R&D and Finance functions. During the restructuring, eight new positions have been created to enable the company to better serve the market. The common name will help Micron Group to enhance its image as a strong player in the spraying industry and reinforce its global positioning.  

In the effort to further consolidate the brand image, the Group’s product colourways and labelling are being standardised. Micron will use one colour (green) for its vehicle-mounted equipment and hand-held sprayer parts. All atomiser shields including CDA and high flow nozzle models will also be produced in one standard yellow. Micronair atomiser moulded parts will remain red to differentiate between the aerial and ground equipment. 

Additionally, the product family branding is being simplified to make the product offering clearer to the customer. It has been decided that the aerial atomisers and accessories will bear the Micronair family name whereas the remaining product portfolio including hand-held sprayers and applicators, Enviromist vehicle-mounted equipment and former Micronair ground products will be marketed under the Micron brand.

Individual product names have also been revised to reduce the number of brand names for similar type products which will consequently allow Micron Group to better protect its intellectual property.

As a result, Micron’s shielded hand-held sprayers will be branded Herbidome, with Herbi 600S being renamed as Herbidome 600 and Handydome renamed as Herbidome 350.
Equally the Microfit system branding has been simplified to help customers better understand the products. As such it has been decided to use the Microfit name for the handle component of the sprayers which would be used with interchangeable Herbi, Herbiflex or Herbi Twin lances. Equally, Microfit Powerpack Pro name has been changed to Microfit Pro to refer to the handle with electric on/off switch only.

The Turbair name will no longer be used as the parent brand for the Electrafan air-assisted sprayers. Instead, the product will be branded Micron Electrafan.

To help promote Micron’s core CDA (Controlled Droplet Application) technology for vehicle-mounted sprayers, the abbreviation will now form part of the product range name (e.g. UndavinaCDA).

Commenting on the rebrand, Ausra Landey, Group Marketing Manager at Micron said: “Since Micron’s inception in 1954, the company has grown from a small local company to one of the world’s leading manufacturers servicing a wide range of industries and their varying requirements. We believe that by implementing these branding changes and simplifying our branding structure, we will be able to further strengthen our global brand and make our products clearer to the end user.”

Varidome S3, the innovative inter-row sprayer from Micron Group, had its first introduction to the French market at the country’s key agricultural event Innov-Agri earlier this year. Micron, one of UK’s leading specialist sprayer manufacturers, showcased the machine in conjunction with its French distributor Billet Equipement. With strong emphasis on eco-friendly innovation, the event took place from 4th to 6th September in Outarville France and attracted over 90,000 visitors, serving as the perfect platform to showcase the Varidome to the French growers.

Incorporating Micron’s shielded band technology, Varidome S3 received a high level of interest from both local and international growers, particularly sugar beet, OSR and maize. Visitors were impressed with the machine’s ability to reduce chemical usage by only treating the area in between the rows and to minimize drift, allowing users to spray in windier weather conditions. Varidome S3 was kitted with the optional dual spray system which, as well as allowing the operator to treat weeds in between the rows, can simultaneously apply another product such as a selective spray over-row thus virtually halving labour costs.

Varidome S3 is capable of treating three beds at a time (up to 6 metres in total). It can spray variable inter-row widths from 170mm to 700mm and bed widths from 1.3m to 2m wide. The spray width is fully adjustable on each individual head; the toolbar configuration can also be easily changed to suit the type of crop.

As well as the new Varidome, visitors wanted to find out more about the WeedSwiper, Micron’s non-drip weed wiper for treating weeds in sugar beet and grassland, which was also on display at the show. The WeedSwiper design exploits the weed and crop height differential delivering non-drip brush contact with weed foliage via herbicide-moistened pads. It is kitted with intelligent sensor controls that ensure that the pads are continually moistened but never oversaturated to cause dripping.

Speaking of their appearance at Innov-Agri, Mr Billet, the Managing Director at Billet Equipement, commented: “Offering high quality innovative products is at the heart of our strategy and we are pleased to be able to bring the advantages of the Varidome and band spraying to France. Initial customer interest and feedback is very positive and we are very proud to be at the forefront of this development.”

Leading manufacturers of specialised spraying equipment, Micron Group have revealed their plans to exhibit a range of herbicide and pesticide sprayers for nurseries, glasshouses and polytunnels at this year’s Four Oaks show. Specifically, visitors to the company’s stand B85 will be able to find out more about the Micron AU8000 mistblower, the Electrafan – an air-assisted sprayer – and a range of hand-held CDA (Controlled Droplet Application) equipment including the Herbi 600S for Christmas trees.

Firstly, growers will have the opportunity to find out more about Micron AU8000 mistblower for spraying crops in orchards, polytunnels and glasshouses. The highly efficient Micron AU8000 uses rotary atomiser technology to deliver excellent coverage at Low Volume (LV) and Ultra Low Volume (ULV) application rates. The AU8000 mistblower offers adjustable droplet size and good penetration of plant canopy for optimum results. The CDA atomiser produces droplets of a controlled size range which minimises spray drift and reduces the amount of liquid required. As well as ensuring that the maximum amount of spray is deposited where it is needed, the AU8000 eliminates the problem of run-off and greatly assists in the control of chemical residues on fruit and vegetables.

Polytunnel and greenhouse growers will also be able to see the Electrafan – a hand-held, air-assisted sprayer specifically designed for hot spot pest control in enclosed environments. The sprayer incorporates a spinning disc atomiser and a fan, a combination of which produces a directed airflow of small evenly-sized droplets capable of up to a 6 metre reach. Available in battery or mains operated versions to eliminate strenuous pumping, the Electrafan can apply both Low Volume water-based (LV) and Ultra Low Volume (ULV) formulations, making it a highly efficient and economical choice.

In addition, Micron Group will be displaying a number of other hand-held precision weed control solutions for horticultural and general use including the Herbi 600S, a battery-operated CDA sprayer aimed at Christmas tree growers. Featuring a 600mm wide shield to fully protect the valuable tree plantings from spray drift, the Herbi 600S also incorporates a CDA atomiser which awards users all the benefits associated with low volume technology. This includes reduced labour requirements thanks to the sprayer’s minimal water requirement and less frequent refilling operation.   

Micron Group, a leading manufacturer of herbicide sprayers and applicators, has recently launched InjectorDos Pro – a metered-dose injector for the control of Japanese Knotweed aimed at the professional contractors and local authorities.

The new InjectorDos Pro features a stainless steel frame for added comfort and durability and is built to withstand the rigours of repetitive and frequent use. The applicator’s streamlined design enables easy access to the dense growth of Japanese Knotweed whereas the ergonomically shaped handle helps to reduce muscle fatigue despite continuous use, thus offering a faster and more efficient way of treating this invasive weed.

InjectorDos Pro delivers herbicide into the hollow stems of the weed via one of its sharp and robust needles: the regular needle is slightly thicker in diameter and is designed to penetrate tough mature stems of Japanese Knotweed with minimal effort whereas the second finer needle is intended for follow-up treatment of young re-growth.

InjectorDos Pro design also includes a ‘dial-in’ facility which allows operators to dispense a pre-determined metered volume of herbicide formulation between 0.1ml and 2ml per shot. Generally a single 2 ml shot of glyphosate is administered between the second and third stem nodes.

The applicator is supplied with a compact one litre backpack with a built in in-line tap for easy shut off of liquid, a comfortable shoulder strap and a funnel. Easy to use and simple to maintain, InjectorDos Pro also features chemical resistant seals for extended longevity of the injector.

Packed with operator-friendly features, InjectorDos Pro offers the professional contractor a highly efficient yet competitively-priced solution for fast and safe elimination of Japanese Knotweed. Application by injection means there is no product loss to the surrounding area, making InjectorDos Pro an environmentally safer choice.

Micron Group, a leading producer of hand-held and vehicle-mounted sprayers and aerial atomisers, has recently appointed a further four new sales, technical and accountancy staff to support its expansion plans in the UK and Europe.

Toby Whatley, a university graduate with a BSc in agricultural engineering from Harper Adams, joined the company as a Technical Sales Specialist in April 2012. As well as his up-to-date knowledge of the agricultural market and its needs, Toby brings practical understanding of product design and development, aftersales service and technical support. Toby will assist our R&D, Sales and Marketing departments in delivering customers innovative and value-adding products and providing them with technical and sales support.

As part of Micron Group’s strategy to offer market-leading innovative products, the company created two additional R&D positions which have recently been filled by Michael Mills and Martin Botfield. Michael took up the role of a Design Engineer and is responsible for product design, fabrication, technical drawings and documentation. His extensive experience in mechanical design, structural engineering and machining will prove invaluable in his new role.

Martin Botfield was appointed as a Technical Writer/Design Engineer with responsibility for CAD product design, technical illustrations and authoring. Martin is experienced in various aspects of mechanical design and technical documentation to further enhance the varied skill set of Micron’s R&D department.

Last but not least, Charlotte Pash joined the Micron team in April as an Accounts Assistant. Charlotte has an up-to-date MIAB qualification and her role will be to provide assistance in preparing monthly management accounts.

The appointments follow Micron’s recent reorganisation in 2011 in order to enhance the company’s offering and services, during which Graham Thompson, Ausra Landey and Naomi Terry were also employed in the newly created roles of European Sales Manager, Group Marketing Manager and Group Management Accountant respectively.
 

Image: Micron’s New staff (left to right): Michael Mills, Charlotte Pash, Toby Whatley and Martin Botfield. 

From cradle to… long life!

We followed our products from concept and development through to production and quality testing, packed them with care and shipped them to you. But for us, the process doesn’t end here. We’d love to know whether our products are serving you well and that you’re getting value for money. This is why we’re organising a Photo Competition of Micron equipment in use.

Share your experience and win a Canon IXUS

Enter our photo competition to share your user experience with us and you could be the winner of the stylish Canon IXUS 117 HS Digital Camera featuring:

• 28mm Wideangle Zoom with Optical Image Stabiliser
• High Sensitivity 12.1 Megapixel Sensor
• 3.0” LCD Screen
• Full HD Movies with Dynamic Image Stabilisation
• 32-Scene Smart Auto
• High Speed Burst and Super Slow Motion Movie

To enter, simply email your photo(s) showing our products in use to [email protected] by 31st May 2012 with the subject line “Photo Competition” – it’s that simple! (Be sure to read the Terms of Conditions below.) And, to maximise your chances of winning, you can send as many images as you like which will be classed as separate entries.

Picture perfect

To qualify as a competition entry, the image(s) should picture Micron equipment in real life application and should be at least 300KB in size. We’d like to leave the rest up to you to really get your creative juices flowing:

• The photo(s) could be taken in a field, on a road side, plantations, golf course or in the air – in fact, anywhere where you have used our products
• Any current model of our hand-held sprayer, weed wiper or applicator or any vehicle or aircraft mounted equipment could be featured in the photograph

Terms & Conditions

1. To enter the competition for a chance to win a Canon IXUS 117 HS Digital Camera, photo(s) should be emailed to [email protected] by 31st May 2012.
2. The winning entry will be decided upon by Micron Group and notified by 18th June 2012.
3. The winning image will be awarded a Canon IXUS 117 HS Digital Camera (Black).
4. The prize cannot be interchanged for another item or money.
5. Upon entering the competition, the entrant is consenting for the image to be used by Micron in its publicity and marketing materials and to be shared with third parties.
6. Images must feature Micron equipment in use and be at least 300KB in size.
7. Multiple images can be submitted by one person and will be classed as separate entries. 

Eliminating weeds in the crop and weed seed free crop yield are not the only priorities in contemporary arable farming. Farmers are increasingly mindful of obligations to establish and maintain biodiversity along field margins safeguarding them from contamination from herbicides used to treat the crop.

These eco-rich areas typically extend from the crop margin to the field boundary. The latter may be a hedgerow and/or a water course or a grassy bank to encourage and maintain populations of beetles and other useful arthropods.

However, there is a clear farming requirement for establishment and maintenance of a barrier against wild plant encroachment into the crop where ecologically valued species become weeds (a plant growing in the wrong place at the wrong time). In many instances, there is a pressing need to eliminate the opportunity for black grass to re-establish in the cultivated area. By the same token the eco-rich field margin must be delineated and protected against any ingress of herbicide by direct overspray or spray drift from applications to the crop.

The most efficient and cost-effective way of achieving this delineation is through maintaining a completely weed free strip using a non-selective (total) herbicide such as glyphosate. However, there is then absolutely no margin for application error where the crop meets the strip or where the strip interfaces with the field margin.

Ultra-accurate application can be achieved with the Enviromist range of shielded CDA sprayers from Micron Group which satisfies the high degree of accuracy and safety demanded when spraying herbicides in such environmentally sensitive situations. The Enviromist range of sprayers is ideal for crop margin spraying and other applications such as spraying along pathways and fence lines where the same degree of accuracy in targeting and placement is required.

Reduced environmental impact

The Enviromist range of sprayers includes the Spraydome, the Spraymiser and the Undavina, all of which use proven Micron CDA (Controlled Droplet Application) spray technology featuring spinning disc rotary atomisers to produce optimum sized droplets within a narrow size range for maximum spray efficiency. All Enviromist sprayers incorporate a shielded design which virtually eliminates the risk of spray drift whilst benefitting from the spraying accuracy and low volumes achieved by the use of CDA atomisers. This system offers significant increases in spray efficiency and crop and environmental protection and safety which include:

• Excellent targeting of spray droplets and accuracy of spray placement
• Optimum coverage of weed plant surfaces using significantly lower application volumes compared with traditional hydraulic pressure nozzle spraying
• Enhanced spray retention, with discrete spray droplets on weed leaf surfaces drying more quickly to protect against wash off and to allow more rapid entry of herbicide into the plant, and, with systemic products such as glyphosate, translocation to all parts of the weed for faster total kill. 
• Economical spray volumes of down to 20 l/ha which allow users to reduce both water and chemical volume, as well as the overall time taken to spray. 
• With virtually no drift onto non-target areas or run off into the soil, all-round environmental protection is ensured with minimum wastage.
   

Spraying along the crop margin and footpaths

When it comes to crop margin spraying, the Spraydome is a perfect choice for achieving a delineated weed free strip along the margin. It has also been proven to be an effective tool for the demarcation of public footpaths across cultivated areas.

Incorporating CDA technology to optimise spray efficiency and a plastic shield to contain the spray, Spraydome is ideal for herbicide application in situations where it is critical to avoid contamination of soil in the adjacent areas, especially in crop margin treatment with an economically valuable crop on one side and ecologically valuable wildlife on the other.

The Spraydome uses up to 90 per cent less water compared to traditional hydraulic pressure nozzle sprayers and features the Enviromist control system to monitor the flow at each individual spray head. The system includes a light indicator to monitor the operation and working of the CDA atomiser.

Any trees encountered are catered for by Spraydome’s ‘breakaway’ system that gently rolls around the tender stems of young plantings to protect their soft and still green bark from mechanical abrasion and herbicide damage.

The sprayer can be ATV or tractor mounted to suit users’ requirements. With units from 40cm to 120cm in diameter within the range, the Spraydome is capable of spraying varying widths.

Along fence lines and pathways

The sprayer of choice for herbicide application along fence lines is the Undavina which can be mounted on most ATVs and tractors. Undavina’s freely rotating and shielded spray heads ensure precision application and minimal drift because the spray droplets are confined and contained under the soft vinyl spray hood.

The Undavina provides efficient application of spray liquid right up to fence lines. This excellent reach is awarded by the Enviromist ‘breakaway’ system which allows the spray head to swivel around fence posts and apply herbicide right up to the post. Like Spraydome, the Undavina also features the Enviromist flow control system including an indicator light to monitor the correct functioning of the spray head.

Undavina comes in a range of dome diameters – 30cm, 45cm, 60cm and 90cm – to cater for all required applications.

Whist Undavina is ideal for spraying along fence lines, the Spraymiser has been specifically designed for pathway spraying. A lightweight sprayer with universal fittings, the Spraymiser can be easily attached to the rear of an ATV, tractor 3 point linkage or any suitable vehicle with a 12 volt DC supply of at least 3 amps. A wide range of models (nominal working widths of 60, 120, 140, 160, 180 and 200cm) is available to cater for almost all pathway weed control requirements.

Spraymiser provides outstanding weed control at low volumes using its revolutionary vertically mounted CDA spray heads that allow for a low profile shield to fit around them to virtually eliminate spray drift. Optimum performance is ensured by Enviromist’s flow control system, allowing use of spray volumes down to 20 l/ha.

The Spraymiser can be used in conjunction with the circular Undavina or Spraydome units to achieve wider spray widths where required and to simultaneously treat pathways and fence lines, making the Enviromist range a versatile and cost-effective choice.