The front-boom mounted Miller Nitro self-propelled sprayers are set to offer optional Pommier aluminium booms to suit larger operators.
Miller’s Australian distributor, McIntosh Distribution, said adding the Pommier option to the latest Nitro 6000 Series sprayers would help satisfy demand from larger growers and contractors.
The Pommier 48.5-metre B3 Mega aluminium boom is used with a specific Miller centre frame and comes with standard hydraulic anti-yaw.
McIntosh Distribution’s Jon Bent said the Pommier option would broaden the Nitro’s appeal.
“In addition to Miller factory option booms, the Pommier boom means we can now support all farmers’ requirements.’’
The Pommier B3 Mega boom is proven in field performance and reliability, according to McIntosh, and offers significant durability and maintenance benefits in terms of corrosion resistance, with surface oxidisation protecting the aluminium.
Mr Bent said limited stocks of the Pommier option would be available for delivery from May 2017 for orders placed now.
Meanwhile, new and existing owners of the Miller Spray-Air booms are in line for updates to add to spray efficacy.
The company has been meeting with Miller staff to improve customer support and update operators on the best operation of the technology.
The Miller Nitro fitted Spray-Air booms have been used in a variety of crops, including cereals, canola, pulses, corn, cotton and sorghum.
The Spray-Air system allows for more targeted chemical applications through air-assist and air-atomisation technology, forming one powerful spray nozzle system.
Growers have fingertip control of the droplet size and speed of the air delivery for any application.
Mr Bent said the first 12 months of operation in Australia had provided clear understanding of the optimum operation of the technology.
The key message was that lower water volumes with Spray-Air were providing the best spraying results.
“For best coverage and application results – whether on small ryegrass or larger broadleaf weeds, for example – lower water volumes are giving the best control,’’ Mr Bent said.
“The optimum water carrier range is 20 – 60 litres a hectare, depending on spraying speed.
“If we get the coverage, the lower water rate will achieve a better result.
“Most chemicals work better when in a stronger concentration – in fact, many labels also indicate this,” he said.
“We have customers spraying glyphosate with 30L/ha of water and they are getting burn-down in three days.
“By reducing the water carrier volume, growers are also spending more time in the paddock and less time filling, so they are achieving good operational efficiencies.’’
The Miller Spray-Air system can consistently atomise spray droplets in a range from 200 – 500 millimetres per minute per nozzle – spaced 25 centimetres apart.
“If we stay within the optimum range of the nozzle, Spray-Air delivers the best coverage of any system on the market,’’ Mr Bent said.