South East Field Days with Haywood Ag

Farm World with Gendore Tractors

Central Districts Field Days

National Field Days

Rural Contractors Conference

WinePro

Ruralco Instore Day

BA Pumps & Sprayers, a leading innovator in spraying equipment, has today (14th February) launched its latest cutting-edge product, the LM Linkage Sprayer with fully hydraulic M-fold Boom.

This all-new spraying solution is a game changer offering unparalleled efficiency, safety, and productivity for kiwi farmers, operating in almost any terrain. 

Mark Harris, General Manager of BA Pumps & Sprayers, is excited about what the new range can offer kiwi farmers and said: “It’s not often you can launch a sprayer which provides such a step change in performance and value, but with our 35 years of researching, developing and manufacturing sprayers we are proud to have done just that with the introduction of the LM Linkage Sprayer and M Boom series. We believe this innovative solution will set a new benchmark for pasture and crop spraying for farmers, providing them with a tool to get the job done quicker, easier, and safely.” 

“The LM Linkage Sprayer with M Boom represents a productivity step change, allowing farmers to halve their spraying time. It’s a world-first design, uniquely crafted in New Zealand for New Zealand’s local conditions, prioritising safety, efficiency, and extreme durability.” 

Harris emphasises the significance of the LM Series

Key Features of the LM Series: 

The LM Series introduces a host of features designed to enhance the spraying experience for farmers, including: 

Key Features of the M Boom*: 

The M Boom, available exclusively on the LM Series, is a game-changer offering full wing lift and hydraulic fold functionality from just 2 hydraulic remotes.  Features include: 

“We believe we are offering something so unique to the market that we are currently in the process of patenting many features of this product – meaning you won’t find anything else like it,” Harris continues. 

For farmers seeking a sprayer that embodies innovation, efficiency, and durability, the LM Linkage Sprayer with M Boom is the solution that sets a new industry standard, and they won’t have far to look with the new sprayer hitting the road and heading to the BA Stand at all the regional Field Day and National Fielday events. 

“Field Days are a great way to connect with farmers and we’re excited that we can take our product out to market for a grand unveiling – We can’t wait to see what everyone thinks,” added Harris. 

To find out more visit the BA Stand at the Regional Field Days in Waimumu, Dargaville, and Feilding over the next few weeks, and Mystery Creek in June.    

Nestled under the Remutaka ranges near Featherston lies a 960 hectare dairy and beef operation run by the Wrigley family.

The Wrigleys grow around 50 hectares of kale and turnips each year as well as oats, which they either bale or graze. Over the past five years the family has built up its cropping and intensive re-grassing programme, investing in equipment and tools.

When it came to spraying, however, the farm still relied on contractors. While the Wrigleys had an excellent relationship with their local sprayer, the weather often didn’t play ball. Securing a window for spraying when conditions were ideal became more and more challenging.

Farm Source’s Technical Sales Representative Jess Morrison worked closely with the Wrigleys to help them find a solution.

“The farm is exposed to extreme weather including significant rainfall and gale force winds. Over the past couple of seasons they identified they weren’t able to spray the crops in time. They were just missing their opportunities, whether that was through weather not being conducive or the contractor not being able to get to the farm at short notice when the conditions allowed. Sometimes there would only be an hour or two before the weather closed in, so they needed to be able to move quickly,” Jess says.

“I knew Grant was considering buying his own spray unit so I got in touch with our vendor, BA Pumps and Sprayers. Their rep, Louis, came out to meet Grant and me on farm so he could learn where Grant was at and what he wanted. From there, Louis went away and his team customised a trailed spray unit specifically for the farm.

“Grant had been looking at different suppliers but was sold on BA Pumps and Sprayers’ after-sales support. We were able to get him a great price with our relationship with the vendor. The Wrigleys have now done their first round of spraying with the trailed unit and are able to spontaneously do post-emerging spraying as well.”

The Wrigley’s cropping operation can now all be managed internally on farm with Grant and his son, Jason, maximising windows of opportunities.

Jess says the exercise reinforced the benefits of Farm Source’s relationships preferred vendors in securing solutions for Co-op farmers.

If you are looking for a customised sprayer contact us to see how we can help.

With a broad customer base that includes farms, hobby farms, equine facilities, and industrial blocks, Will’s Spraying requires equipment that can handle all spraying applications.   

Owner of Will’s Spraying and Pasture Services, Will Hasthorpe, said: “When investing in equipment for the business it needs to be tough and built to last. I have a range of BA sprayers including 300 litre deck mount sprayers with a Honda petrol-powered pump and 100m QuickSpray hose reel, a 12v sprayer with 50m QuickSpray hose reel and 6m boom, various 50 and 200L spot spraying tanks, and a 30L Eco Sprayer.”      

The robust BA equipment at Will’s Spraying and Pasture Services is used for a range of herbicide spraying applications including spot and hand spraying, and small to medium acreage boom spraying tasks. 

Will continued: “The BA equipment is well designed and fit for purpose, especially for a contractor like me who uses it every day. The galvanised frames were a deal breaker when it came to buying my sprayers and I really like the practicality of their equipment, so I’m pleased my dealer Gendore Tractors and Machinery recommended the brand to me.”  

Gendore Tractors and Machinery are an authorised BA dealer and work with local businesses like Will’s Spraying and Pasture Services, to recommend equipment that’s suitable for your requirements.  

Will concluded: “The practicality of BA equipment has stood out, proving essential for the daily demands of a contracting business. With the quality and practical design of the BA equipment combined with the advice and support from Gendore Tractors and Machinery, it allows me to provide a quality service to all of my customers.”  

Will's Weeds small deck mount sprayer in the West Gippsland Hills

The $20,000 instant asset write-off is back, providing farmers with the perfect opportunity to enhance productivity and efficiency in their operations by upgrading their agricultural equipment, including sprayers.

What is the $20k Instant Asset Write-Off?

The $20k instant asset write-off is a government initiative designed to boost small and medium-sized businesses. It allows eligible businesses to immediately deduct the full cost of eligible assets, such as agricultural machinery, costing less than $20,000 plus GST. This means that farmers can reinvest in their businesses by upgrading to newer, more efficient sprayers while significantly reducing their tax liability.

Why Upgrade Your Agricultural Sprayer?

If you are looking for a new sprayer then you have until June 2024 to take advantage of this opportunity.  Upgrading to a newer model of sprayer offers numerous advantages:

How to Benefit from the $20k Instant Asset Write-Off

To take advantage of this opportunity you will need to:

  1. Assess Your Needs: Evaluate your farm’s requirements and determine the type and size of sprayer that will best serve your objectives.
  2. Budget and Financing: Calculate the costs associated with your new sprayer and explore financing options, if needed.
  3. Purchase Your Sprayer: Talk to your local BA dealer to find the perfect agricultural sprayer for your farm, make the purchase, and keep all relevant receipts and documentation.
  4. Claim Your Deduction: Consult with a tax advisor to ensure you maximise your instant asset write-off when filing your tax return.

The revival of the $20k instant asset write-off is a golden opportunity for Australian farmers to modernise their farming operations. Whether you’re a small family farm or a large-scale agricultural enterprise, upgrading your sprayer can transform the way you farm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to improve your farming efficiency, reduce costs, and bolster your agricultural output. Explore the latest sprayer options, evaluate your needs, and leverage the instant asset write-off to secure a brighter future for your farm. The time is now to upgrade your sprayer!

For more information about the Asset Write-Off talk to your tax advisor.  To find out which sprayers are available contact us or click to find your local BA dealer.

This exciting partnership brings together two family-run businesses that share a deep commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.

Fieldtorque, a proudly local and family-owned operation, has earned a stellar reputation for its quality products and outstanding service. They have been serving the Taranaki community since 2006, specialising in tractors and various accessories. Now, they are expanding their offerings by adding the renowned BA Pumps & Sprayers catalogue to their lineup.

Paul France, BA National Sales Manager, expressed his enthusiasm for this collaboration: “We are pleased to have Fieldtorque on board. They align with our culture and are a well-known business valued for the quality brands they work with and service, making them a perfect fit for BA. We are excited to see this partnership flourish in the region.”

Carl Hinton, General Manager of Fieldtorque, shared his pride in this new development: “We are proud to add the BA Pumps & Sprayers catalogue to our range of products. We have been selling tractors since 2006, along with various accessories, and it’s great to be able to offer this range of sprayers to our loyal customer base.”

The collaboration between BA Pumps & Sprayers and Fieldtorque represents a commitment to providing top-quality agricultural equipment and services to the Taranaki region. With their shared values and dedication to customer satisfaction, this partnership is set to offer enhanced solutions and support to local farmers and agricultural businesses.

To learn more about Fieldtorque visit fieldtorque.co.nz or visit them together with our Territory Manager, Louis Melchers, at the Stratford A&P Show on the 25th – 26th November.   

Taking place at Pernod Ricard Winemakers in Blenheim on the 9th November, the BA Technology Day is a spotlight on the transformative impact innovative precision technology is having on transforming the New Zealand viticulture industry.

The key emphasis of the event will be on the groundbreaking BA Smart Sprayer, featuring the Smart Apply innovative vine density spraying technology. This pioneering sprayer is the first of its kind in New Zealand and has been operational at Pernod Ricard Winemakers since 2020, making a significant impact on their operations.

The BA Smart Sprayer applies the easy-to-use Smart Apply USDA-based LiDAR sensor technology to sense and detect the canopy and assess foliage density, before adjusting each spray nozzle to ensure it only sprays where required. The result is reduced drift, reduced chemical use, and less waste than conventional sprayers.

With over 2,000 hectares of vineyard in New Zealand, Pernod Ricard Winemakers operates three sprayers with the Smart Apply system to help manage the risk of disease. Transformation Manager for Viticulture, David Allen, has been leading the project at Pernod Ricard Winemakers closely with BA Pumps and Sprayers. David said: “We were excited for the sprayer to arrive on site and see what it could do compared to the other sprayers we had. We ran comprehensive comparison trials over the past two growing seasons to understand how the Smart Apply system compares to our existing sprayers.

“Over the Vintage 2023 season, in the field tests using the three-row sprayer showed an impressive +30% reduction in chemical usage compared to conventional sprayers. Other impressive benefits included a reduction in spray drift,” added David.

Attendees to the day will not only get to witness the BA Smart Sprayer live in the vine but also gain valuable insights from the Pernod Ricard Winemakers team about the remarkable benefits it has brought to their vineyard management. In addition to this, Gary Vandenbark, Chief Engineer of Smart Apply in the United States, will be on hand to answer questions and provide in-depth insights into this cutting-edge system.

Another highlight of the event will be the demonstration of OXIN, hailed as the world’s first autonomous, multi-functional vineyard tractor, courtesy of Smart Machine. This impressive innovation is set to redefine vineyard operations with its multifaceted capabilities.

Furthermore, attendees will have the opportunity to explore and learn about BAs under vine herbicide sprayers and COLLARD’s world-leading range of vine trimmers and defoliators, setting new standards in vineyard maintenance and care.

This event presents a rare opportunity to witness precision viticulture products in action while having the chance to hear directly from technology experts paired with the practical experiences of the team at Pernod Ricard Winemakers.

Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to witness the future of viticulture technology in action at the BA Technology Day.

Click here to find out more and to reserve your place.

Pernod Ricard Winemaker’s New Zealand is one of the country’s leading wine companies, and part of the Pernod Ricard Group – the world’s second-largest wine, spirits, and champagne-style company, managing an unrivaled portfolio of over 240 premium brands and iconic New Zealand wines, including Church Road and Brancott Estate. 

Being a leading company in the wine industry doesn’t happen without hard work, attention to detail, and the right equipment to ensure their crops are the best they can be. Pernod Ricard Winemakers strive to reduce environmental impacts and over time have an ambition to reduce and target pesticide application, in part using technology to support precision viticulture, enabling application only at the right moment, in the right place. 

Since 2020, Pernod Ricard Winemakers has partnered with BA Pumps & Sprayers to trial innovative technology In New Zealand, implementing a BA canopy sprayer with Smart Apply LiDAR control technology, the first to do so in New Zealand. 

The BA Smart Sprayer applies the easy-to-use Smart-Apply USDA-based LiDAR sensor technology to sense and detect the canopy and assess foliage density, before adjusting each spray nozzle to ensure it only applies pesticides where required. The result is reduced drift, reduced chemical use, and less waste than conventional sprayers. 

Transformation Manager for Viticulture, David Allen, has been leading the project at Pernod Ricard Winemakers. Having been with the company for 18 years David has a long history with grape growing. David said: “The role of the Transformation Team is to explore the adoption and integration of new technology which will help us achieve our Vineyard of the Future vision.” 

We are always looking at ways we can reduce our impact and nurture our terroirs. The LiDAR-based control from Smart-Apply fits well with our strategic goals so we were keen to investigate more and continue our trials of the technology.” 

With over 2,000 hectares of vineyard in New Zealand, Pernod Ricard Winemakers were the first in the country to trial the technology, requiring a lot of collaboration, and now operate three sprayers with the Smart-Apply system to help manage the risk of disease. David said: “We were excited for it to arrive on site and see what it could do compared to the other sprayers we had. We ran comprehensive comparison trials over the past two growing seasons to understand how the Smart Apply system compares to our existing sprayers. “Over the Vintage 2023 season, in the field tests using the three-row sprayer showed an impressive +30% reduction in chemical usage compared to conventional sprayers. Other impressive benefits included a reduction in spray drift,” added David. 

The introduction of technology can help viticulturists operate more efficiently, while also appealing to new generations of talent by embracing innovation. “With the Smart Apply system, it’s easy to set up and operate. The system controls the entire spraying function including turning on and off at the start and end of rows simplifying operations making it accessible for all to use.” 

Since the project began BA and Pernod Ricard Winemakers have worked closely to integrate feedback and learnings from the trials to create a sprayer that is suitable for New Zealand vineyards.  

“The support from BA has been great and it has very much been a joint project the whole way. As well as the technology side we’ve been really impressed with BAs engineering, especially for the three-row sprayer which needs a lot more modification and setting up than a two-row. We also liked the attention to detail. Their commitment to health and safety features for operators has been outstanding. For example, the sensors can be lowered for cleaning rather than having to climb up to reach them.” David said. 

“We are very pleased with the results and have ordered three more Smart Apply systems for the Vintage 2024 season. Our testing will continue to monitor the performance of the sprayers throughout their life so we can get a fuller picture of their effectiveness.” He continued.  

You can see the Smart Sprayer in action at the BA Tech Day taking place at Pernod Ricard Winemakers, Blenheim, New Zealand, on 9th November 2023. Click here to find out more.

Mike helps landowners, environmental trusts, iwi, private organisations, and local and central government agencies to establish and manage indigenous forests across New Zealand. Mike said: “My primary role is as an advisor but I also get my hands dirty from time to time with planting, weed control, and all the other enjoyable outdoor activities associated with forest restoration.”

After spending several years carrying out small spray contracting jobs using knapsacks for spot spraying and releasing trees, it was time to step up to a ‘gun and hose’ high-pressure system to tackle bigger jobs and bigger weeds. Mike said: “I did a fair amount of research through the usual sources; product reviews, Fieldays, YouTube, and talking to people, mainly contractors and farmers.”  

In 2018, after his extensive research, Mike bought a deck mount sprayer, the BA DM300, and said: “I really like the robust build of the equipment, the use of high-quality parts, and the Honda engine to drive it. The range of accessories that I could upgrade and add to the unit was great too.”

The DM300 sprayer is used for larger weed control operations on his own block as well as for various jobs on farms around the BOP and Waikato. Mike runs the unit on the back of his side-by-side or occasionally off the small stock/bike trailer.

Recently Mike won an EZI-Spot 50L Quad-Pro ATV Sprayer in a photo competition run by BA Pumps and Sprayers.  When asked what he’ll use his new sprayer for Mike said:  “My new sprayer will be the perfect accompaniment to the larger DM300. I can see the EZI-Spot sprayer being positioned on the Polaris for most of the time due to its smaller size and ease of use. It’ll allow me to quickly spray the annoying thistles or gorse bush that I come across in the corners of paddocks or along the lanes. It’ll be especially useful when I don’t have time to set up the big sprayer or have no desire to mix 100+lt of chemical.”

If you’re in the market for a new sprayer Mike’s advice is:  “If you’re after a sprayer that is well built, will do the job you want it to, and will last – then go to BA Pumps and Sprayers. You won’t regret it!”