Farmers in control at Sprayer Demo Day

With some self-propelled sprayers now costing the same as your average three-bed detached house in the Lake District, it’s no wonder farmers are keener than ever to get time in the seat before parting with their hard-earned cash.  

Now in its third year, the National Sprayer Demo Day took place at Warter Priory Estate in North Dalton, Driffield, this week, with a large selection of sprayer manufacturers keen to let operators have go in the seat.

The damp wheat stubble field offered some rolling slopes for drivers to test everything from cab suspension to boom levelling, along with how the sprayers coped when the conditions turned unfavourable.

See also: Video: How to properly set up a crop sprayer

It was the first chance for many farmers to see some new machines in action, including the rebranded Agribuggy, now sporting McConnel yellow. Unfortunately, punters keen to get their paws on the new Fendt Rogator were out of luck as this remained on the static display with the outgoing Challenger coloured machine putting in the hard graft.

The event is increasing in popularity as farmers see this as an ideal way to compare machines on an even keel, from the lightweight pond skaters such as the Agribuggy to monster, high output machines such as the Agrifac Condor.

American giant John Deere was showing a carbon fibre boom attached to its R4050i sprayer, while it was the debut for Househam’s Predator at the Demo Day, after its launch at Cereals last year.

We pick through the runners and riders below.

John Deere R4050i with carbon fibre boom

John Deere r4050i

© Tim Scrivener

One of the the tallest sprayers on show was the Amazone Pantera 4502

Amazone Panterra 4502

© Tim Scrivener

The rebranded and lightweight McConnel Agribuggy A280

McConnel Agribuggy

© Tim Scrivener

The Vicon iXdrive appeals to the larger grower

Vicon iXdrive

© Tim Scrivener

The Chafer Interceptor was launched last year

Chafer Interceptor

© Tim Scrivener

One of the last Challenger Rogator sprayers

Challenger Rogator

© Tim Scrivener

British-built Knight K2050 IV

Knight 2050

© Tim Scrivener

A brightly coloured Dammann Profi-Class DT 2800H stood out on the dull day

Dammann profi class

© Tim Scrivener

Small but nimble Househam Spirit S3-24

Househam Spirit

© Tim Scrivener

The acre-eating Agrifac Condor

Agrifac condor

© Tim Scrivener

Italian-made Bargam Grimac-J 4000

Bargam Grimac

© Tim Scrivener

The Sands Horizon 4000 uses the mast boom arrangement

Sands Horizon

© Tim Scrivener

A demount Landquip 2524 with Landquip Vision 1500 front tank mounted sat on a JCB Fastrac 4220

Demount Landquip on JCB

© Tim Scrivener

The recently launched Househam Predator

Househam Predator

© Tim Scrivener

Need a contractor?

Find one now