While John Deere will no longer offer the Mazzotti range of self-propelled sprayers, it continues to develop its own portfolio.
For model year 2027, the 500R self-propelled series will gain a new flagship model. The 560R offers a tank capacity of 6,000 litres, aimed at operators working within tight windows across large areas.
The existing 4,000 and 5,000 tanks will remain available, with the company stating that this will provide a broader choice on a single platform.
An all-new boom range has also been announced. Designed to be modular, the steel boom is available in widths up to 42m, with double- or triple-folding that reportedly speeds up opening and closing times.
Nozzle spacings of 25cm or 50cm are available, with stainless steel spray lines which are fully enclosed within the structure.
The new booms are offered with BoomTrac Pro 2 automatic boom height control. Using multiple ultrasonic sensors, the system enables the boom to closely follow either the ground or the crop. This is combined with a new centre frame with active boom yaw and roll control.
By keeping the boom stable, John Deere claims that the operating speed can be increased from 25kph on the previous generation to 30kph without sacrificing droplet quality. Individual Nozzle Control Pro and ExactApply enable up to 15 different rates to be applied across the boom width, with turn compensation to maintain droplet size.
Reduce downtime
All new 500R machines include John Deere’s PowrSpray dual-circuit solution system, delivering up to 1,200 litres/min of clean water, and an automated rinsing programme.
AutoSetup enables jobs to be prepped before entering the field. This includes integrated agronomic advice and guidance lines, as well as machine settings and application parameters. Automated documentation creates application records which are sent to the farm office.
“From easy pre-work planning to the quick opening and closing of the boom, to the freedom to speed up where and when possible thanks to Pulse Width Modulation, as well as efficient road travel thanks to added comfort features, we are looking at a 10 to 15% productivity gain compared to the previous model,” said Solenne Bourgois, go-to-market manager crop care for Europe.
It also retains the front-mounted cabin and rear engine layout, combined with in-wheel suspension and the CommandDrive transmission with automated engine speed management.
The order book is expected to open later this year, with the first deliveries arriving from early 2027.