"Since we started using BBLeap, I never want to go back"

Precision in tree nursery and arable farming

With 200 hectares of tree nursery and arable land, Ralph Vugts runs a diverse and intensive operation in North Brabant. From Christmas trees to boxwood trees, from potatoes to onions—each crop demands a different spraying approach. Especially in the tree nursery, where crops grow close together and stay on the same plot for many years, effective spraying can be a real challenge.

“We used to spray over 1000 liters per hectare in the nursery,” Ralph explains. “That’s a lot of water. And we constantly switched between coarse and fine droplet sizes, depending on the treatment. It required a lot of thinking every time.”

“The system is user-friendly, precise, and reliable. And that gives peace of mind—maybe the most valuable thing a grower can have.” – Ralph Vugts

More control, no doubt

That changed in 2024 when Ralph chose for the BBLeap PWM system. “What I really like is that I can now just set the droplet size in the system, and it stays consistent—from the beginning to the end of the field. No matter the speed or conditions.”

This level of precision not only improves results but also brings peace of mind. “I used to wonder after spraying: was that done right? Now I know for sure. And if the effect wasn’t what I hoped, I can just adjust the settings next time. But I no longer doubt the application itself.”

“The system thinks for us, that gives confidence.” – Ralph Vugts

Less thinking, more doing

Previously, Ralph had to constantly balance speed, pressure, and nozzle changes. “If you drove faster, the pressure would go up. That meant finer droplets when you actually needed coarse ones. It led to mistakes. Now my operator doesn’t need to worry. The system thinks for him, and the droplet size stays the same, regardless of speed.”

He also sees improvements at field edges. “Before, the dosage would often be off at the start and end of rows. With BBLeap, that’s history.”

Not a pioneer—but convinced

Ralph doesn’t consider himself an early adopter. “I’m not a pioneer,” he says honestly. “We visited a grower in the central Netherlands who had been using the system for a few years. That’s when we knew: this works. Only then did we decide to go for it.”

What made the difference for him? The service and support. “Knowing you can get remote assistance if something’s wrong—that gave me confidence. Recently, a part broke down. Within no time it was fixed again, without the need for a mechanic on-site. Now that’s what I call operational reliability.”

An investment in the future

The financial benefit is hard to quantify immediately, Ralph admits. “Whether a spray application is 80 or 90 percent effective—you can’t put an exact price on that. But the feeling is: we’re doing it better now.” That feeling was confirmed in field tests. “With water-sensitive paper, I saw the coverage was much better than before. That reassures me that we’ll get a quick payback on the system.”

Ralph also sees this technology as a step toward compliance with stricter regulations. “I think it’ll come down to either spraying properly or not being allowed to spray at all. Like a doctor’s prescription: only apply treatments when necessary, under strict control. The days of just spraying and seeing what happens—they’re over.”

He believes the entire sector needs a mindset shift. “Many growers stick to fixed schedules and play it safe. But we’ve seen it can be done differently—as long as you monitor it properly. Spraying less doesn’t automatically mean more risk. On the contrary: the real risk lies in inaccurate applications, like under- or over-spraying. That’s what really causes damage.”

From farmer to plate: everyone plays a role

Consumers play a role in this too, Ralph says. “People want us to spray less, but if there’s a spot on their vegetable, it’s not good either. We need to be realistic about that. It’s still nature. And only when we all accept that can we truly make a difference.”

“With BBLeap, we know it works, we know it’s reliable, and we know we can count on it. That brings peace of mind and confidence for the future.” – Ralph Vugts

Precision as the New Standard

Ralph sees BBLeap as an investment in what’s next. “Regulations are heading toward verified and controlled spraying. BBLeap fits perfectly into that shift. And with the option to expand with cameras and task maps, we’re ready to work even more precisely.”

His conclusion is clear: “The system is user-friendly, precise, and reliable. And that gives peace of mind—maybe the most valuable thing a grower can have.”

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