Transforming large-scale agriculture: the role of BBLeap in precision spraying
Managing a large-scale farm comes with its unique set of challenges, from maintaining precision in operations to navigating varied terrains and weather conditions. For Chad and his team, operating 5,000 hectares with diverse crops like canola, wheat, barley, oats, and hay, the BBLeap system has been instrumental in tackling these issues. Recently introduced to two of their sprayers, BBLeap has streamlined spraying operations, offering greater accuracy and efficiency, even on demanding paddocks.
We interviewed a spray operator who works for Chad Davidson. He gave us insights into the daily operations, and benefits BBLeap has brought to the farm.
“I used to drive into all the corners to ensure coverage. But by doing that, the chances of destroying my crops was high. Now the system does the work for me, saving both time and crops,” – Spray operator at Davidson Farm
Farm Facts of Kukerin Farm
Location: Kukerin, WA
Owner: Chad Davidson
BBLeap user since: 2024
Crops: Canola, wheat, barley, oats, and hay
Hectares: 5,000
Functionalities: LB AM and OEM
Sprayer: Calibre OEM and Miller Nitro AM
Pulse-width modulation
The Leapbox system automatically adjusts spray rates during turns, ensuring even coverage without over- or under-application. This capability eliminates the need for manual intervention in tight areas, which was a common issue with the old system. “I used to drive into all the corners to ensure coverage. But by doing that, the chances of destroying my crops was high. Now the system does the work for me, saving both time and crops,” the operator explains. “I use exactly how much I should be using, the rates are a lot more accurate. And if I’m slowing down, all of the pulsing slows down as well,” he added.
“I use exactly how much I should be using, the rates are a lot more accurate. And if I’m slowing down, all of the pulsing slows down as well,” – Spray operator at Davidson Farm
Day-to-day operations
On a large farm with multiple paddocks and varied terrains, efficiency is critical. BBLeap has proven its value by simplifying the spraying process. Depending on the water rate and tank capacity of the sprayers, the team can spray up to 500 hectares with a single sprayer in a single day. It depends on the crop how many times during the season a single crop will be sprayed, but on average it will be between three and six times. The operator explained it is easy to use the system. “We’re driving on GPS. It’s straightforward, most of the work is automated. You don’t have to do much, apart from managing headlands. All the rest of it is pretty simple. Just watch the nozzles and make sure they’re not blocked up,” he noted.
Future proof
BBLeap has revolutionized spraying operations on Chad’s farm, addressing challenges, improving efficiency, and preparing for future advancements like cameras. By automating critical tasks and offering unparalleled accuracy, BBLeap allows the farm to maintain high productivity while reducing resource use.
And the biggest challenge? “Every now and then I get a kangaroo trying to jump into my sprayer,” the operator joked.
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Customer Experience
Rick Carpenter: “The smooth ride of the Calibre boom, combined with BBLeap’s advanced nozzle control, creates a system that excels in both accuracy and consistency – critical factors for effective and efficient crop management.”
Customer Experience
Spray operator at Knud’s Farm: “Another advantage? Just simplicity. It saves thinking, which means I can put anyone in the driver’s seat. The computer is actually doing half of the job for the driver and the driver just has to point the sprayer in the right direction.”
Customer Experience
Michael Eva: “The biggest advantage? I’ve got more control over what I’m doing. BBLeap gives me the precision and confidence to get it right every time.”