“It gives freedom, precision, and confidence: it just works, in every field and on every soil type.”

Farming with Variation: From Sandy Loam to Heavy Clay

On his 140-hectare farm in Sirjansland, Zeeland, Jan Op ’t Hof runs the business together with his family. The soils there range from sea clay to sandy, beach-like ground – a diversity that calls for customized solutions, especially in crop spraying. With potatoes, seed and set onions, sugar beets, celeriac, and rotational crops such as grain and beans, the farm focuses on a balanced crop plan and smart crop care.

“Within a single field, you sometimes find three different soil types. In one corner you’ll want to use much less product than in another,” Jan explains. “That’s exactly where BBLeap makes the difference.”

BBLeap and the step toward precision farming

In March, the BBLeap system was installed on Jan’s new self-propelled sprayer. What followed was a season full of new insights. “We used to have a trailed sprayer, but we wanted a system that could grow along with our needs. BBLeap could be mounted on a pre-owned machine – perfect for us.”

With features such as curve compensation, nozzle-by-nozzle section control, and variable nozzle steering, BBLeap makes it possible to spray with an accuracy of up to 25 cm.

“Normally you work with 3-meter sections. That’s just outdated if you really want to work precisely.” – Jan Op ‘t Hof

Smarter use of crop protection products

“During the first late phytoftora sprays, I already shut off one nozzle. That saved me a third of the product.” Flexibility in droplet size also makes a difference: “With just a few clicks you adjust the droplet size. We used to do this from the cab with air-mix nozzles, but regulations on that technique have tightened. With BBLeap it’s now simple – and fully compliant.”

The system is also intuitive. “My father, who’s 58, uses it without a problem. You hardly make mistakes – everything just works.”

Looking ahead: variable spraying and task maps

Although Jan didn’t use variable task maps this year, he sees plenty of potential: “Next year, we want to try them in onions, especially for soil herbicides. You see the variation in soil directly reflected in the crop response.”

Defoliation is another promising option: “There’s often overdosing in certain areas. With a task map you can easily adjust for foliage density.”

Moving toward a more sustainable approach

For Jan, switching to BBLeap means not just greater precision but also less waste and more sustainable farming. “In the past, you always sprayed on the ‘safe side,’ which really meant overdosing. Now you know: the system is precise, so I can dose exactly where it’s needed.”

This way, Jan Op ’t Hof takes an important step toward future-proof farming – where data, technology, and precision come together.

“It’s literally just two or three clicks and you’re done. That freedom – that’s just awesome.”

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