WITH large-scale broadacre cropping operations increasing in size, the desire for efficiency and efficacy is perhaps more important than ever.
Margins are continually being squeezed and possibly more crucial is the need to make the most use of available man-hours.
Spraying crops, for example, needs to be timely if maximum effect is to be secured.
The latest generation of crop spraying rigs from Miller feature self-propelled machines combining removable wide-booms allowing a windrower, dry box spreader or WeedSeeker spot spray system to be attached.
With multiple jobs from the one machine there is maximum asset utilisation.
Norwood Farm Machinery Centre sales representative Tom Mitchell, Wagga Wagga, said there was advantage in using the self-propelled machines, rather than towing a spray rig behind a tractor.
"It's a machine made to spray large areas and with increased spraying speeds there is increased efficiency," Mr Mitchell said.
"So running one piece of equipment is better than running two and with less wheels on the ground there is less compaction of the soil."
With wing-spans reaching 36 metres and capable of carrying 6000 litres of spray mix, a lot of country can be covered within a measured period.
Comfort is not lost in the space-age cabin with all controls at finger tips and within easy reach.
And operator vision is not impaired, especially vital when operating a 36m-wide boom in a paddock with a few obstacles.
"The operator can do longer days without feeling exhausted at the end," Mr Mitchell said.
Spraybarn Yarrawonga director Shane Cummins said the Miller Nitro 5333 with its 36.5m boom and full ISO control was the latest spray rig technology available to broadacre farmers.
"There is one screen, which is fully integrated and co-ordinates auto steer, auto section control, auto rate control and boom height control," Mr Cummins said.
Comfort keeps cabin fever at bay
PRECISION and timeliness of operation are the key reasons behind Cameron Martin's purchase of a Miller Nitro 5333 self-propelled spray rig.
Mr Martin operates the 2023 hectare aggregation based at "Woodlands", Bungeet, Victoria, in partnership with his brothers Ash and Robert and their parents Ian and Norma.
The brothers are fifth-generation operators of the family farm.
As they accumulated land, they had moved away from a trailing spray rig in preference for a self-propelled machine.
The smaller Miller Nitro with its 27.4-metre boom was adequate at the time, but as the family added more land to their combined holdings, a larger spray rig with a wider boom was needed to cover the increased cropping area.
"The smaller machine was limiting the cost-effectiveness of our expanding operation," Mr Martin said.
"With a 36.5m boom, we have been cutting down on the number of 'tram-tracks' through our crops but still covering a larger area quickly."
With a larger capacity tank capable of covering more hectares per fill, Mr Martin said he doesn't travel faster than 25 kilometres an hour when spraying his mostly undulating country.
Yet he is still able to spray 100ha/hr, and that is critical when a large area needs to be sprayed at the right time.
"It is hard on your gear with all the stress and fatigue on critical parts if you go any faster," Mr Martin said.
With about 800 hours of annual use, it is the machine most often on the "Woodland" aggregation.
"We do more hours on our farm with this machine so it needs to be comfortable and capable of doing the job," Mr Martin said.
