Photo caption: Kent Hansen, Belle-Vue Trading Swan Hill, and Yaapeet grower Gene Fuller with the family’s new Miller Nitro 7380 sprayer. Gene says it has been a big step-up in efficiency from their previous John Deere sprayers and has probably resulted in one less fill per day.
Cropping 3000 hectares of wheat, barley, canola, lentils and lupins.
Has it been a big year for spraying this season with the conditions?
“This year was our biggest year ever with fungicides (spraying). We had a lot of rust in the wheat and lentils. Some paddocks had up to three applications, whereas we usually get away with none in the wheat and one in the lentils. We were on to the disease early in the barley, but it still had two applications. It was also the first time in 10 years that we did not have fungicide with the wheat due to a logistical issue with fertiliser. Unless you had flutriafol on fertiliser this season, it was difficult.’’
From summer spraying all the way through, did you have a high number of spray passes in paddocks?
“In lentils, we were into double figures with the spraying before harvest.’’
After previously using John Deere 4710 and 4730 sprayers, how did you come to the decision to upgrade to the Miller Nitro 7380 sprayer through Belle-Vue Trading at Swan Hill?
“I’ve always liked the Miller machines, but I was just tyre kicking and it was funny how it worked out this year. I spoke to Kent Hansen at Belle-Vue and they happened to have one coming in. Kent and the Belle-Vue Trading team were really good – I cannot fault their support.’’
How have you found the increase in boom width from 27 metres (90-foot) out to 40m (135ft), the tank size from 4000 litres up to 6100L and suitability for your controlled traffic farming (CTF) system?
“We’re now going straight into our tracks, instead of on every second run, and it’s been a big step-up in efficiency. It doesn’t sound like much, but it means a bit at the end of the day. It probably cuts a fill out a day.’’
Has the jump in engine power with the new IVECO Tier 2 turbo diesel engine in the Miller 7380 also been a benefit?
“It is really noticeable. The paddocks were definitely heavier this year and the Miller did it easily up some decent hills and with a full or empty tank. It’s a fantastic motor. I think it’s the best motor on the market and it’s also good on the fuel. It is obviously a heavier machine with a bigger motor and it would be using a bit more fuel, but we didn’t notice it. I checked the fuel rate in heavy, wet soil and it showed 500 millilitres/ha – I think that is good.’’
The machine is close to 50:50 weight balance, so was the stability while spraying also good, as well as the operation and comfort in the cab?
“The stability was excellent and once you get a hang of the front-mounted boom, it is definitely user-friendly. With the great visibility, you can pretty well see every nozzle, and the cabin is comfortable and quiet – it’s too noisy with engines at the front of other machines. It’s got everything you need – and the ability to attach a swather is definitely an option.’’
Did you also like the one-touch auto-fold feature and Raven XRT high resolution height control system?
“The boom just hovers and follows the ground with the XRT – it’s light years ahead.’’