Archive Article: 2002/06/14
Will Butler – Hampshire
WILL Butler of Whitewool Farm, East Meon, near Petersfield, does the crop and liquid fertiliser spraying on 1011ha (2500 acres) of combinable spring and winter crops, plus 202ha (500 acres) of forage maize.
That means 10,117ha (25,000 acres) sprayed each year. A newly acquired 4200-litre (924gal) Hardi Commander 36m (118ft) boom trailed sprayer does this, and allows the tractor to be used on other mixed farm enterprises. Most spraying is at 100 litres/ha with 200 litres on OSR and maize, but drops to 70-80 litres for glyphosate.
A large container chemical store beside a gridded filling area over a sump and the close by water supply makes for efficiency and safety at filling. Each batch of chemical is loaded into an old feed trolley to transport it to the induction hopper.
A 600-litre (132gal) clean water tank allows in-field tank cleaning and outside jet washing with a 172bar (2500psi) fitted unit. A front mounted redundant calf box carries suction hoses and clean-up kit.