FSOOTY Finalist - Scott Harrod
Scott Harrod says he has followed the FSOOTY competition for years, but never entered until this year – making the final at his first attempt.
“I’ve learned a lot and picked up many tips from reading about previous FSOOTY finalists. I take great pride in my work and my wife, Emily who is an agronomist, encouraged me to enter.
“I thought I would give it a go because I am always keen to learn more. It’s also helped me look at my whole operation, the fine details and question what we are doing, how and why? My employer is also very supportive,” he says.
As the only sprayer operator for H.D.F Farming, based at Hall Farm, Trimingham, in Norfolk, Scott is responsible for all applications on the 1,400ha farm. Operating from two different bases, cropping comprises winter wheat, winter and spring barley, sugar beet, oilseed rape and vining peas. The largest workload, however, is 350ha of potatoes that are spread about 20 miles apart.
Geographically challenged
“Our location is ‘geographically challenged’ – farming literally up to the cliff edge and sea. This often brings cold, North East winds, which is why I only use at least 3* rated nozzles – all the time. We also suffer from ‘Sea Frets’, which are haze or mists that roll in from the sea in the spring and summer,” he explains.
The farm has used Sands sprayers for more than 40 years and in the 12 years Scott has been the sprayer operator he has operated a Vision 4000 and two 5,500-litre Horizons. “My sprayer has a lot to cover, so downtime would be a disaster but the back-up is superb,” he adds.
The 36m boom is equipped 1m wide sections and Hypro Duo react, twin valve nozzle bodies – with a quad holder at the back and a single at the front. “I tend to use the single as my ‘cereals’ line, usually holding Lechler 03, IDKs, at about 120 litres/ha. I also use these on sugar beet. For later stages in oilseed rape, I swap these for the Syngenta 05, 3D ninety at 200 litres/ha,” he says.
The back, quad holders, house the fertiliser nozzles until he switches to the 05 3D ninety. These are arranged forwards and back, fitted in nozzle extensions to clear the boom (except on the back frame where they all face backwards – otherwise the spray hits the machine).
‘Hedgerow’ nozzles at the end of the boom allow Scott to travel down every twentieth bed without leaving a miss.
Reversing camera tip
Up in the cab, control is via an Ag Leader terminal with RTK for steering and auto-control for the 36 x 1m sections. Scott has lowered the reversing camera and added two black lines on to its screen to help guide him to where he needs to steer when reversing into potato rows and tramlines.
Scott has also added many modifications to increase efficiency and comfort, with his personalisation topped off by smart coachlines on the side windows. To improve air-conditioning performance, he’s installed a switch in the system, which isolates the heater valve in the roof. “Previously, when system drops below 15° it tries to warm back up to that. Now the isolator stops this and the cab stays cool. I’ve done this on both my previous sprayers,” he explains.
Personal touch
Outside he’s fitted a spill kit between the engine and tank, mudflap extensions to prevent the soil flicking onto the steps, as well as extra lights facing along the side of the machine and back. He’s also specified steeper walls on the induction hopper bowl to enable powders to mix more easily.
There’s also an extra 2in hose carrier on the front and plastic coils to protect the hoses at folds on the boom.
Storage boxes next to the induction hopper hold all manner of spares, nozzles and tools. His toolbox, larger spares, including a collapsible shovel and saw airline and other useful kit are kept in the storage on the other side.
Stick to a routine
When it comes to filling and mixing Scott has a set routine, which he sticks to. “In the cab I write an ingredients list on a Post-it note and leave the rec-sheet in the cab. I then put on my PPE and wellies and clip the Post-it onto a Bulldog clip by the induction hopper. From there I take the master key for all the stores. In the store I lay out the mix in order it goes into the hopper – I try to avoid using part-cans whenever possible. I like using IBCs and use the Wisdom Fastrans CTS, which is safe and fast,” he explains.
In the yard he has a fully bunded filling area, which drains to a biobed behind. Beside this a 15,000-litre, mains-fed water tank. He has two bunded containers – one serves as a tidy store with shelves labelled and products stacked by type. The stock list and delivery notes are kept in folders on a table. The other holds the empty containers and other waste for recycling.
Scott currently keeps paper records, but there is a plan to go paperless using the Omnia App on a SIM-enabled tablet in the cab.
Farm facts
Business:
H.D.F. Farming, based
at Hall Farm, Trimingham, Norfolk
Cropping:
1,400ha farm on two
bases, including cereals and
oilseed rape, sugar beet, vining
peas and 350ha of potatoes
Sprayer:
Sands Infinity 6000,
36m wide VG boom with Hypro
Duo React Twin nozzle bodies.
Ag Leader terminal, RTK GPS
Modifications:
Mudflaps, 2in
hose carrier, blue work lights,
heater isolator switch, spill kit.
