NIVA 2008

*This article previously appeared in the Ukrainian Farmer – August 2021.

The owner of Niva 2008 LLC, Hryhoriy Suprun is convinced that the sprayer should be only the best – this is the only way to guarantee the effectiveness of significant investments in crop protection. 

Modern spraying technologies have advanced significantly over the last 10 years. However, only a few manufacturers offer truly revolutionary options that can significantly expand the capabilities of the sprayer. The owner of Niva 2008 LLC, Hryhoriy Suprun had to experience for himself what can be obtained from one of the best self-propelled sprayers on the market. Since 2017, they have been using the Agrifac Condor model with the HighTechAir (HTA) system and so far, it has been a very positive ownership experience. 

The first acquaintance with the Agrifac Condor sprayer took place when this machine was rented from the dealer company Concord for urgent fungicide treatment of a sunflower crop. The first impression of the sprayer was brilliant. The rapid change in ground clearance, high quality spraying and low operating costs impressed. The machine worked in the fields of the farm during the season, and this made it possible to compare its productivity with that of trailed sprayers, which were previously used on the farm. As part of planning the future development of the farm, it was decided to purchase its own self-propelled sprayer. 

At the Agritechnica exhibition, it was decided that it they would add an Agrifac machine to the fleet. Self-propelled sprayers of several other manufacturers were considered, but one lacked spraying technology, the other lacked ease of operation. In the end, they agreed with the dealer that they would come to the Agrifac factory and select the ideal complete specification for their operations. They carefully approached this issue, and the sprayer really turned out successful. Additional options include a set of LED lighting for safe operation at night, as well as an additional carbon filter, which guarantees the operator protection from chemicals. 

As a result, when the machine appeared at the plant and the operators saw the conditions under which they would work, the attitude to spraying immediately changed. Before, everyone refused to work on spraying due to health risks and unpleasant odours, but with the introduction of the Agrifac sprayer, it became clear that the operator is completely protected from the negative effects of chemicals. In addition, the work was organized in such a way that the operator did not leave the cabin at all, and a separate team was engaged in refuelling. 

For 5 seasons the sprayer has shown itself as reliable and trouble-free. Of course, there were questions relating to technology, plus the odd breakdown, but nothing critical that could stop the work in the field for long. Service issues were resolved with dealers, and even when difficulties arose, they were still rectified. 

The sprayer was equipped with the HTA system, which allows you to work at any time when the wind speed reaches 10-12 m/s or more. Conventional nozzles cannot be operated under such conditions, whereas the HTA system can be used to increase the droplet size so that the wind does not affect its trajectory and the required coating (covering) quality of the target surfaces is guaranteed. 

When NIVA 2008 began to assess the quality of the machine, they tried to reduce the flow rate to 100 and even to 50 l / ha. As a result, it was concluded that soil herbicides can be applied at the rate of 175 l / ha, and insurance herbicides – at the rate of 125-150 l / ha. The team tried to use the lower rate but reduced the productivity of the machine. For such work the more powerful water pump is required, namely this sprayer is equipped with the standard. Hryhoriy Suprun noted that for the new sprayer, it will consider a more powerful pump. 

To reduce the consumption of the working solution, the sprayer is equipped with individual nozzle control and the liquid circulation system in the boom. This avoids gaps and overlaps, as well as improves the situation with protection on reversible lanes. The circulation of the liquid in the boom ensures the homogeneity of the solution even when using powdered PPT. There are no questions about the concentration of the solution or the uniformity of spraying across the width of the boom. 

According to the owner of the farm, he has not yet seen a better quality of spraying than in Agrifac Condor machines with the HTA system. Doubts about the purchase of this system disappeared after the visit to the Dutch farmer and he saw that the sprayer was operating in fairly windy weather. A large wind generator was actively working near the farm, meaning the wind speed was quite high. However, this did not stop spraying. 

“The LED lighting system allows the operator to see the entire processing lane, which improves safety. The steering is autopilot, the height of the boom is also maintained automatically. We do not have large slopes, but there are still irregularities, so this feature is useful for operating from a given height.” 

When the owner of the farm went to the factory to order a sprayer, he was advised to take a wider boom so that he could drive at a lower speed without losing productivity. However, they decided not to take risks and not to take a 45-meter boom and chose a 36-meter one. The sprayer operates at a speed of 9-12 km / h. For some it is very slow, but according to the owner of the farm –  “to fly” on fields at a speed of 25 km / h is rather risky because of various obstacles. 

In addition, there are cases when the rain washes away the hills or animals dig a hole in the tramlines, and the operator must brake sharply, which in turn can lead to damage of the boom. Also, rapid movement provokes the formation of a dust cloud behind the machine, which greatly impairs the effectiveness of the PPT in the area of the technological track. Therefore, they do not chase the speed here, and have time to spray 500 hectares daily or 250-350 hectares at night. This is enough to meet the demands of the farm. 

Niva 2008 LLC operates in the Chernihiv region and cultivates about 3,500 hectares of land. In addition to crop production, there is a large livestock unit, so about 1,000 hectares are under fodder crop rotation. Other areas are used for commercial crop production. In general, maize is grown here – almost 2,000 hectares, sunflower occupies up to 500 hectares, 250-350 hectares of rapeseed and soybeans. Winter wheat occupies 400-500 hectares, barley – 200-300 hectares, alfalfa – 250 hectares and few hundred hectares of sugar beet too. 

The owner considers the technological sides of the sprayer as an indisputable advantage. The high quality of spraying makes it possible to reduce the number of treatments, as it turns out, you can reduce the concentration of the working solution, and thus save money without losing efficiency. 

Hryhoriy Suprun is convinced that the system of spot spraying of certain types of weeds, which is already being actively tested, significantly distinguishes Condor sprayers from machines from other manufacturers. Now more and more farmers are faced with Syrian silkweed (Asclepias syriaca), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.). These weeds appear much later than the main crops and post-emergence herbicide treatments. When the air temperature rises, which significantly complicates the fight against weeds. Additional continuous treatment with herbicides in any case will cause significant stress on crops and slow down their vegetation, which will inevitably affect yields. If you work locally and more precisely, you can achieve huge savings on PPT and water logistics, as well as avoid the stress of most crops in the field.