"We have the sprayer, it has one season done now, and yeah, it was a big investment at the time, but we're not sorry for making that investment. We think that investment has paid off. It pays itself off well with all the features that are on the sprayer. They've led to more productivity, better crops in that your spraying is more accurate, and yeah, we're very happy with the whole package."
Spraying with Precision and Efficiency
Eamonn farms 90 acres and rents another 200 acres in Garryhill, County Carlow, working in partnership with his son, Sean. Their enterprises include contracting, tillage, and heifer rearing, and their fleet includes several Kverneland machines, including a fertilizer spreader, a mower, a tedder, and, most recently, the iXter B18 sprayer.
"We've had Kverneland machinery here all our lives, even before my time and my father's time. We've always had Kverneland ploughs and commercial ploughs. We also do competition ploughing, and we have three Kverneland competition ploughs here."
With two sprayers in operation – a self-propelled sprayer and the new Kverneland iXter B18 – Eamonn needed a mounted sprayer that would bring efficiency, ease of use, and accuracy to his farm.
Why the iXter B18?
"First of all, we’ve never had any issues with Kverneland over the years, so that was a big attraction to the brand. But the major thing that drew us to the iXter B18 was the iXclean Pro system – it’s a game-changer for us."
iXclean Pro is an advanced fully automatic valve management system, allowing seamless control over rinsing, priming, and spraying operations.
"This sprayer can be used in multiple crops now. Our previous sprayer was only used for beet – we couldn’t take the risk of cross-contamination. But with the iXclean Pro, it's just so easy to clean out. Literally, at the touch of a button, you just make sure your clean water tank is full, and the system does the rest. It takes about eight minutes, and the sprayer is completely washed out – booms and all."
Bigger Tank, Wider Booms, No Overlapping
The decision to upgrade wasn’t just about cleaning efficiency. Eamonn needed a sprayer with a bigger tank and wider booms to handle increasing workloads.
"Our previous sprayer had a 1,000-litre tank and 20-meter booms, but as we got busier with spraying, we upgraded. This sprayer has an 1,800-litre tank and 24-meter booms – it’s a major step up, and we’re glad we made the change, and I’m really happy with the booms – they’re strongly built, fold in tight, and flow really well in the field. They don’t bounce too much, which makes a big difference for uniform spraying."
Boom guide is an automatic boom height control system that helps the operator to maintain your chosen spraying height. Ultrasonic sensors control the sprayer's hydraulics to guide the boom.
Another great design feature is the compact, slim tank, which keeps the weight close to the tractor.
"We were a bit worried about going from a 1,000-litre to an 1,800-litre sprayer, but the weight balance is perfect. We didn’t need any extra weights, even though we’re only using a four-cylinder tractor. It handles it with no problems, even on hills."
One of the biggest improvements was the fully automatic GPS-controlled spraying system with nine sections.
"Our last sprayer had just four sections and no GPS, so there was always some overlapping, which wastes product and money. With the new system, there’s no overlapping – every square meter of the field gets the exact same rate. That means better coverage, better weed control, and more savings."
Fast, Automatic Filling
Another standout feature for Eamonn is the automatic filling system.
"The pump is a 260-litre pump, so it fills really fast. You can key in how many liters you want, press the button, and it stops automatically. That means while the sprayer is filling, I can be doing something else – checking my fields, setting up the next job – instead of standing there watching it."
Despite the advanced technology, Eamonn found the sprayer surprisingly easy to use.
"Look, I’ll admit, when I got it first, I was looking at all the buttons and wondering where to start. But once you get into the system, it’s so simple. You just drive around your field, and from there, the sprayer does the rest. It turns off and on automatically at each headland, and with nine-section control, there’s no waste."
The dual control panels – one in the tractor and one on the sprayer – make operation even easier.
"I’m no computer wizard, but I find the system very user-friendly. You can change your application rates on the go. If a field needs less herbicide or more weed control, you can adjust it instantly. You can also store multiple nozzle settings, so when you switch nozzles, the sprayer automatically adjusts the rates and pressure."
Quick Hitch and Compact Design
The EasyHitch quick hitch system also impressed Eamonn, making attaching and detaching the sprayer a breeze.
"It takes less than three minutes to hitch or unhitch. You just back in within a meter of the sprayer, connect the PTO, two hydraulic hoses, and the ISOBUS connection, lift her up, and you’re good to go."
The Kverneland SpotSpray Application is possible on the complete Kverneland sprayer range.
Dealer Support
Eamonn purchased the sprayer from Hegarty’s of Tullow, a dealer he trusts.
"The service was excellent. They were really helpful, especially in the first couple of weeks. If I had any questions, they were always at the end of the phone. They even came out for half a day to make sure everything was set up properly."
Final Verdict: A Smart Investment
After one full season with the Kverneland iXter B18, Eamonn is confident in his decision.
"After having this sprayer for a season now, I’d highly recommend it to anyone considering an upgrade. It’s a user-friendly, efficient machine, and we’ve had no regrets about buying it. It has improved our productivity, saved us money on chemicals, and made spraying easier than ever before."
