Precision in practice: how BBLeap enhances spraying efficiency at Kingsussie Farming
Managing 12,000 hectares of farmland spread across a 100-kilometer from farm to farm is not a small task. For Lee Smith and his family at Kingussie Farming in Dumbleyung, Western Australia, precision and efficiency are essential to maintaining their operations. With a mix of wheat, barley, canola, lupins, oats, faba beans and vetch, alongside managing up to 9,000 sheep during lambing season, the Smiths rely on innovation to overcome the challenges of large-scale agriculture. Recently, the addition of BBLeap technology to one of their sprayers marked a turning point in their approach to crop spraying. Having bought the system at the start of 2024, Lee shares his experiences, highlighting the impact of this innovative system on their operations.
“With BBLeap, you don’t have to worry about overdosing or wasting chemicals. The precision and peace of mind it provides are invaluable.” – Lee Smith
Farm Facts Kingsussie Farming
Location: Dumbleyung, WA, Australia
Owner: Lee Smith
BBLeap user since: 2023
Crops: Wheat, barley, canola, lupins, oats, faba beans, and vetch
Hectares: 12,000
Functionalities: Leapbox
Sprayer: Calibre Leap edition
The complexities of large-scale spraying
Farming on such a scale brings significant challenges, particularly when it comes to spraying. With paddocks often sprayed up to six times a year, efficiency and accuracy are crucial. However, factors like weather and varying terrain make this task complex.
Lee pointed out that managing moisture is a priority in Australia’s dry climate: “Every millimeter of rainfall counts. We need to utilize as much soil moisture as we can,” he explained. This includes extensive summer spraying to keep weeds away and preserve moisture for the growing season. “So when we come into our growing season, we’ll hopefully have a bit of moisture in reserve in the bank underneath,” Lee added.
Weather adds another layer of difficulty. Wind and high temperatures often dictate when spraying can occur. In such conditions, precision spraying becomes essential to avoid waste and minimize drift onto neighbouring crops.
“In a 150-hectare paddock, I was spraying about 14 hectares less with BBLeap compared to a sprayer without the system. That’s a lot of saving chemicals!” – Lee Smith
Why BBLeap? A step towards precision
Kingussie Farming’s adoption of BBLeap technology came after careful consideration of the benefits. Installed on their Calibre sprayer, BBLeap brought advanced features designed to improve accuracy and reduce chemical use.
Especially the turn compensation, a standout feature, adjusts the application rate to account for speed differences across the boom during turns. “On a 48-meter boom, the end moves fast during a turn,” Lee explained. “Without turn compensation, you risk over- or under-applying chemicals. We chose BBLeap to get the accuracy in our spraying and the way the technology is going to be able to spot spray. And the efficiencies and chemical savings as well,” Lee explained.
The last key advantage of BBLeap already became quite clear. On rocky paddocks, Lee noticed significant savings compared to other systems. “In a 150-hectare paddock, I was spraying about 14 hectares less with BBLeap compared to a sprayer without the system. That’s a lot of saving chemicals,” he noted.
User-friendly and adaptable
Beyond precision, BBLeap stands out for its user-friendly design and adaptability. Operators can easily adjust droplet sizes on the go, a critical feature for maintaining safety near neighboring crops or in windy conditions. “You can dictate your spray pattern very easily so you can spray more safely,” Lee shared.
The system also integrates seamlessly with pre-mapped paddock boundaries, making operations smoother and reducing errors. “You just turn the pump on, upload the paddocks, and the sprayer follows the boundaries,” Lee explained. This automation allows the team to focus on productivity, covering up to 600 hectares in a 12-hour day.
BBLeap’s consistency at varying speeds further enhances efficiency. Whether driving fast on open paddocks or slowing down near obstacles, the system maintains uniform coverage. “You can drive nice and slow without compromising your spraying pattern,” Lee said. This feature is particularly valuable in tight areas or challenging terrain.
“It’s a great system,” Lee concludes. “You can clearly see the difference when you’re not using BBLeap. Without it, the inside of your boom sprays non-stop, oversaturating areas and potentially killing parts of your crop by applying up to 20 times the required rate. It’s basically hitting a saturation point. With BBLeap, you don’t have to worry about that, and that peace of mind is invaluable.”
A game-changer for sustainable farming
For Kingussie Farming, BBLeap has proven to be more than just a technological upgrade—it’s a transformative tool driving both productivity and sustainability. By reducing chemical waste, improving application accuracy, and simplifying operations, BBLeap effectively addresses the unique challenges of large-scale farming.
As agriculture continues to evolve, innovations like BBLeap demonstrate the transformative potential of technology to tackle industry challenges. For operations like Kingussie Farming, tools like these not only enhance efficiency but also lay the groundwork for a more sustainable future.
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Customer Experience
Ben Hewson: “I really like the turn compensation. With lots of small paddocks, it ensures even application where we used to over- or under-apply around tight turns.”
Customer Experience
Ashley Bone: “I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting into when I first bought BBLeap, but now, a couple of years down the track, I know this was a great choice!”
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.”