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This year’s Fertiliser Clinic, headed up by our FarmSight team focused on data, how to record it and what to do with it.
We kicked off our 2019 clinics this morning (15th January) with a session at our Exebridge depot followed by an afternoon session at our Chudleigh depot.
A group of farming customers attended to learn about the technology currently available from John Deere and Amazone as well as taking a walk round the best mounted fertiliser spreaders on the market.
We were also joined by specialists in fertiliser; Nigel & Tom from Amazone and Tim from J.Pickards. James Wotton from Greenslades Taylor Hunt was also with us to discuss grants available.
The majority of the customers who attended have been spreading for years, some have been dipping their toe into data recording but most are yet to experience how the technology available can get the right field data to make the right decisions to benefit your business.
The clinic began with an introduction from Dan Wood, our new FarmSight Specialist who joined us in January. He introduced his team and then began by explaining the services Masons Kings FarmSight team offers and how they can benefit Fertiliser Spreader users:
My Operations Centre
– This hub for data, stores information about users tractors and fields and what’s even better is it’s free to use
– It’s ideal for fleet management as you send jobs to your drivers
– It allows field analysis
– The centre allows you to manage all your data
My Jobs Connect
– Record jobs and operations easily
– Allows you to get data back into your computer from your tractor to review and analyse findings
JD Link
– Is a diagnostics hub
– Tracks and monitors fuel consumption
– Allows you to optimise machine performance including reviewing uptime and idle time
– Set up geo-fences to create alerts when your machinery moves out of your boundaries
– Get support from your dealer wherever you are with remote diagnostics
Farm Mapping
– Map the boundaries of your farm using our Gator with StarFire 6000
– Upload this data into My Operations Centre ready for application work
Clayton our AMS Specilaist from our FarmSight team with support from Nigel from Amazone then discussed the newly updated Amazone App. The App should be used for all fertiliser work to tell users what settings you should be using when in the field.
First you select your machine and then the country of origin of the fertiliser your using. It’s important to select the origin and not the country you purchased this from, it may not be the UK! Once you add a few more details including spreading width in metres, driving speed (km/h) and spreading flow (kg/ha), you’ll be half way there to getting your settings.
An essential setting discussed is calibration factor, also known as flow rate. This tells you the starting point setting for application rate when working. It checks the calibration every 25kg so will change during spreading and shouldn’t be re-set when re-filling the hopper. Amazone spreaders are designed to calculate this and re-calibrate themselves.
The app has images of the fertiliser you have selected and tells you the granule diameter. Take a look at the fertiliser product you have to see if this matches. You can then set the type of spreading – side, by hedges, boundary by roads or water course – it is vital to select the correct one.
Nigel shared the telephone support which is available from Amazone and can be called for spreader settings a few days before you plan to work.
A member of our Parts team then took to the floor, we had Mike at Exebridge and Andrew at Chudleigh. They explained we have a large amount of parts in stock, all the regular parts which may need replacing and if it isn’t in stock we work with Amazone to get next day delivery when ordered by 3pm.
Our parts availability for other manufacturers fertiliser spreaders is also good, with some in stock and more available to order and it is worth enquiring with our team with your requirements.
Last to speak was Tim from J.Pickards who offer full tray testing services on farm. Their services include:
- Fertiliser spreader MOT – checking the veins and spray pattern to ensure it is as consistent as possible
- Fertiliser analysis – looking at the quality of your fertiliser and providing advice where required. Quality checks include bulk density, strength and size of granules.
- Checking manufacture settings and help calibrate the machine properly including looking at the height and levels of the spreader.
- Full tray testing across the width of the spreader, presenting results and making changes before re-testing to make improvements.
Tim shared, the best time to have a tray test is pre-spreading season, when you have your fertiliser for the year but before you start spreading. This allows you the best start and for that to continue throughout the season. Much better that than starting poorly and having to wait for an appointment to become available during the season.
The second half of the clinics was a walk round of some of the best mounted fertiliser spreaders on the market from our FarmSight specialists Clayton & Simon as well as Tom from Amazone.
The spreaders on show at the event included Amazone’s ZA-M, ZA-V and ZA-TS models. Our team discussed the technology and services available so you can get optimum performance from your spreader.
They also shared a scenario set up of the spreader using the Amazone App, setting it up for work. There was also the opportunity to get hands on with full section and GPS control.
We wrapped up our successful clinics with an in depth Q&A session so our customers left certain they would be taking full advantage of the technology on offer!
We’d like to say thank you to everyone who attended this years Fertiliser Clinics, and remember if you need us we’re always here to help!
A massive thank you to Nigel & Tom from Amazone, Tim from J.Pickards and James from Greenslade Taylor Hunts who supported us during the event and were on hand to share their experiences and knowledge with our customers.
If you would like more information about our FarmSight packages and Amazone machinery or missed our Crop Tech Day and would like to know more, please contact your sales rep or call our FarmSight team on 01626 852 140.
