The need to perform multiple tasks in one pass, or to apply vital granular herbicides such as Avadex, continues to drive demand for applicators.

APV
Now brought into the UK through Dalbo UK, the APV range of seeders and applicators is one of the widest on the market.
Seeders have an electric fan, hydraulic fan or the electric-plus system, said to be a bridge between the other two options, offering twice the power of the standard electric fan while costing less than the hydraulic model. The electric-plus system reportedly enables the machine to spread fine seeds up to a 12m working width.
In the pneumatic PS range, going from 120 litres up to 1,600 litres, each model has the option of Isobus control.
It is available in a fertiliser edition for Avadex, with the hopper CDC-coated and rubber-sealed, and stainless steel outlets ensuring its durability against the fertiliser.
PS models can be mounted on a range of equipment, including grassland harrows, cultivators, rollers, drills, combine harvesters and hoeing implements.
APV offers a range of disc spreaders, starting with the ES, which goes up to 100 litres. They have a basic control box for 20 speed options and a spread width of 24m.
The MD range is also available up to 100 litres, with rotary feeding, concave discs and the option of variable speed.
It is possible to specify the MD machine with low-level tank sensors and a 5.2in control box, and each model can spread up to 28m.
Like the PS range, the ES and MD can be mounted on a variety of equipment, as well as front-mounted on the tractor to apply product ahead of the rear implement.

Horstine
Horstine offers a range of individual and machine-mounted applicators for spreading granular chemicals, such as Avadex, as well as seeds, slug pellets and fertiliser.
The boomed Cascade models are mounted on the three-point linkage and are available in working widths from 12m to 24m, with an integrated 1,600-litre hopper.
The smaller TMA4 has a 480-litre capacity and 12m boom width. This can be linkage-mounted or fitted to a trailer to run behind an ATV.
The TM Air is mounted on a drill or a cultivator up to 8m wide, with a 200-litre hopper to apply Avadex, seeds or slug pellets.
For larger equipment, the Twin Air can be mounted in multiples, making it suitable for boomed machines up to 36m. These are offered with hoppers of 300 litres or 450 litres, with the option to split the capacity in half.
Every Horstine model is available with Isobus, with the Cascade models offered with a full Raven set-up.
According to the company, this enables the boom to be split into multiple sections, with 12m machines offered with two sections, and 24m machines offered with four.
Each section can perform variable-rate application, based either on an uploaded map or using a camera system for real-time inputs.
Additionally, turn compensation can be optioned to adjust the application across the working width during cornering.

Kuhn Farm Machinery
As well as the SH seeder box range for mounting on its cultivators, Kuhn offers the standalone Aero 32.1 mounted boom fertiliser applicator, which is said to lengthen the application window in less-than-ideal weather.
It is available in 24m, 27m, 28m or 30m widths, featuring four sections and a 1,900-litre hopper capacity. An optional 1,300-litre extension increases the total capacity to 3,200 litres.
It has four metering units, one for each section of the boom. Each of these is connected to six diffusers (30m model), with individual adjustment possible to alter the spread pattern.
This means the Aero can operate four individual application rates and shut off sections as required, and a maximum flow rate of 360kg/min is possible.
Two onboard weigh cells monitor the tank contents and can adjust application rate by altering the speed of the metering units.
There is no requirement to change the spreader settings for different fertiliser types and a wide range of products can be applied, such as Avadex.
Growers also have the option to choose different fertiliser or nutrient types that aren’t a uniform shape.
Boom height control through two ultrasonic sensors is an option, along with a choice of rollers to apply slug pellets, Avadex, microgranules and small seeds for broadcasting cover crops.
Automatic break-back boom end sections are included, and the booms can be set to run in an elevated V-formation when turning on headlands.
For road transport, the booms fold vertically to the rear of the spreader and the empty weight is 2,150kg.
Kuhn’s CCI 800 or 1200 screens are an option to offer users increased levels of control, and the CCI A3 joystick can control up to 30 functions on one machine.

Opico
Opico’s pneumatic Micro-Pro granular applicator has been developed to enable accurate application of microgranules such as Avadex up to 12m working width when mounted on a variety of implements – mainly Cambridge rolls or drills. A hopper capacity of 180 litres or 400 litres can be specified.
It can have eight outlets (up to 6m spreading width) or 16 outlets (up to 12m spreading width) with a spacing of 75cm between each for a double-overlapping spread pattern.
Each outlet is fed by an individual metering roller for even distribution across the working width. The roller is driven electronically using a GPS receiver for accurate forward speed monitoring, with air supplied via a hydraulic fan.
The in-cab electronic control unit allows for calibration, adjustment and monitoring. On the move, forward speed monitoring gives a constant, accurate seed rate.
The unit also records area and application rates. Diagnostic features are included as standard.
Opico says independent tests measuring the complete spread pattern show the Micro-Pro 16E, spreading at 12m, produced a market-leading coefficient of variation of 5.36%.
The Variocast seeders are typically mounted on cultivators and subsoilers and are used to sow small seeds such as OSR, stubble turnips or cover crops, as well as applying slug pellets.
The range includes the Variocast 8, a pneumatic mechanical seeder where the seed roller metering is driven by a land wheel.
The Variocast is also offered as an electronic seeder, using a GPS receiver for accurate forward speed metering. It can have eight or 16 outlets, with a 180-litre or 400-litre hopper.
Said to be unique to the Variocast, it uses individual metering rollers for each seed outlet, enabling accurate metering and guaranteeing the same amount of seed is fed to each outlet.
This is crucial when using low application rates.

Stocks Ag
Stocks Ag will introduce the Stocks Turbo Jet 10 Hydraulic (HD), which will be offered alongside the company’s range of machines with electric fans.
The company says using a hydraulically powered fan maximises air flow, providing increased application rates at working widths of 10-15m.
It can also be operated at faster forward speeds and can be set up to apply product across the full width, in bands or in rows as required, with outlets either blanked off or doubled up.
Product is still delivered pneumatically, and metered via a rotary feed. However, a multi-blade, 1,400cu ft/m, 4in Crary fan is used, which the company says provides up to 6,000rpm and a 4cc motor to match the output of most drills.
The fan can be remotely mounted, making it suitable for a variety of machines, as well as making it possible to mount it away from dusty areas. On Cambridge rolls, for example, the fan is often mounted on the drawbar, while the hopper is mounted above the rolls.
The Turbo Jet 10 HD will be offered with 10 or 20 outlets, with a 240- or 400-litre hopper and a choice of the Jackal or i-Con control systems.
Stocks Ag also offers the Turbo Jet 8 and 10 without hydraulic fans, as well as the Fan Jet range, available with vari-speed control, dependent on the mode, and a choice of controllers. The Fan
Jet Duo with twin metering is also available.
The comprehensive range includes the Rotor Meter and Rotor Jet models, the Micro and Maxi Meter machines, and the Maxi Jet, with a choice of Jackal or i-Con controls.

Techneat
Techneat Engineering makes a full range of applicators, with all models complying with the National Sprayer Testing Scheme and designed to accurately apply a wide range of products.
Leading the range is the Multicast Applicator, combining the preceding Autocast V2, Terracast V2 and Avacast GR models. The Multicast, a multi-purpose seeder unit, can apply most types of products by simply changing the applicator’s single metering cartridge.
It is available with either a 200-litre or 400-litre hopper and comes with a Garmin GPS control system, a powerful hydraulic fan, a single distribution head, available in various sizes, and a range of interchangeable cartridges for different seed sizes or granular products.
The Multicast can be mounted on a drill, rolls or sprayer, or can be towed by an ATV with the Multicast Twin Air applicator, the company’s largest machine, now available in either kit form to fit existing spray booms up to 36m or as an individual machine complete with 24m boom.
The Multicast Twin Air also comes with the option of a 400-litre hopper, together with new cover crop cartridges, available alongside existing Avadex, grass seed and small seed versions.
For enhanced operator control, the Twin Air’s two control systems offer half-width shut-off with the addition of a new electro-hydraulic control system that reduces the amount of spool valves required to operate the sprayer boom.