Meet the FSOOTY final three - Jack Williams
While working on a farm to help a friend for a week, first time finalist, Jack Williams realised he liked operating a sprayer more than providing advice as an agronomist. He is now enjoying his role as the main operator for W J Watkins & Son Ltd at Arkstone Court near Hereford.
“I made the change because my heart’s in driving a sprayer. I’d rather be responsible for applying the products, than advising on the crops,” he says.
Jack now looks after all the treatments on 1,000ha crops. A wide rotation, including 200ha of potatoes as well as winter wheat, barley, oilseed rape and peas, grown for seed, keeps him busy throughout the season.
“I entered FSOOTY because I am very interested in spraying. You can never stop learning, and I think it’s a great way to meet other people and learn more,” he says.
Jack operates a one-year-old Househam Harrier, with a 4,000-litre tank and 30m boom, with Norac levelling. He added a Techneat V2 Outcast applicator, which he says improves pellet distribution and efficacy.
Otherwise, it’s fairly standard, but he has specced RTK auto-steer with a Novatel satellite receiver to follow semi-permanent tramlines. He also has a separate 500 litre/min filling pump, which he says speeds things up, as does a move to 1,000 litre IBCs with CTS coupling.
Twin outlet nozzle bodies offer Jack plenty of choice to optimise the application to the target and product. At the front he has a GuardianAir twin 04, while behind there is an 08 and 03 3D Defy as well as an O5 3D ninety, which is used for all autumn pre-em applications on the wheat.
“For the spring pre-ems on the potatoes and peas I apply 300 litres/ha with an 08 GuardianAir Twin at 10-11km/h with back-up from two water bowsers,” he adds.
The main, bunded filling area drains to a biobed. There’s a 12,000 litre water tank and spray store holds little stock and no part cans, because he fills the sprayer to use only full containers. “It’s easier, there’s no need to measure, so it’s much quicker and safer,” he adds. “It also makes it easier to manage four spray stores on different farms.”
“It’s also all about planning ahead – having everything in the right place, avoiding washouts – even if that means more travelling. Field size ranges from 4ha to 24ha, but on a good day I can still cover up to 140ha,” he says.
FARM FACTS
Business: W J Watkins & Son Ltd at Arkstone Court
Cropping: Combinable crops and potatoes
Sprayer: Househam Harrier 4000, 30m boom
