Technology: Team prize for innovation
It is designed to keep the boom very close to the target area, even at high speeds and on hilly terrain.
The hydraulically proportional control allows for smooth movements, which guide the boom smoothly.
The reduced spray distance makes for low drift and high spray penetration.
The secure boom control allows operational speeds up to 30kph with a nozzle distance of less than 30cm above the crop.
According to Horsch, the industry standard working height above the crop canopy of 500mm is quite high, leaving 25-50% of spray not hitting its target.
It is available on all of the German company’s Leeb sprayers.
BoomControl Pro on the flagship PT 330 self-propelled sprayer takes the system further with unprecedented control at speed.
The PT 330 boom has been separated from the chassis, so it not affected by the rolling motions of the vehicle.
The top innovation award went to the German company, but Ireland definitely won the team prize. Irish winners in their innovation sections included James Geoghegan of Co Westmeath, the Moocall calving sensor team, and Padraig Fay from Co Cavan, while Shanks Engineering of Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, won a certificate of merit.
Agricultural contractor James Geoghegan of Tyrellspass, Co Westmeath, won the prize for the best innovation in mechanical, livestock production equipment.
His portable Agri Knives baler knife sharpener does both sides of the blade, and is designed to cope with the different blade profiles and patterns of various forage wagons and balers, including handles serrated edge blades.
The prize for the best new technological product also went to Ireland, for the Moocall sensor which is clipped on to a cow’s tail, and sends her owner a text about one hour before she calves.
Fitted with a 30-day rechargeable battery, it’s designed to work outdoors or indoors, and the relatively inexpensive sensor can be easily transferred from cow to cow.
At the recent Lamma show, Emmet Savage of the Moocall team said more than 1,000 of the devices have been sold in Ireland.
One device is more than adequate to service a herd of 40 to 50 cattle.
The prize for the best new environmental product or innovation at Lamma went to agri-tyre maker Trelleborg, for its progressive traction technology.
Trelleborg have re-engineered the traditional tread with a special double lug that progressively releases higher traction when and where it is needed, while improving floatation for even pressure distribution over a wide footprint.
Also a recent award winner in the US, these tyres have demonstrated 10% greater traction capacity in tests, resulting in a 3-5% reduction of working time, plus less soil compaction.
