For Eamonn Tracey, six-time World Ploughing Champion and seasoned Irish farmer and contractor, investing in the Kverneland iXter B18 sprayer was a significant decision.

Now, with a full season completed, he says he has no regrets.

"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," the Carlow farmer said.

"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."

Eamonn farms 90ac and rents another 200ac in Garryhill, Co. 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 fertiliser spreader, a mower, a tedder, and, most recently, the iXter B18 sprayer.

Eamonn said: "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.

"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," he added.

iXclean Pro is an advanced, fully automatic valve management system that allows seamless control over rinsing, priming, and spraying operations.

"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."

The decision to upgrade was not just about cleaning efficiency. Eamonn needed a sprayer with a bigger tank and wider booms to handle increasing workloads.

"Our previous sprayer had a 1,000L tank and 20m booms, but as we got busier with spraying, we upgraded," he said.

"This sprayer has an 1,800L tank and 24m 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. 

According to Eamonn, another great design feature of the iXter B18 is the compact, slim tank, which keeps the weight close to the tractor.

"We were a bit worried about going from a 1,000L to an 1,800L 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."

Eamonn said one of the biggest improvements was the fully automatic GPS-controlled spraying system with nine sections.

"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," he added.

Another standout feature for Eamonn is the automatic filling system.

"The pump is a 260L pump, so it fills really fast. You can key in how many litres 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.

"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."

The EasyHitch quick hitch system also impressed Eamonn, as it makes attaching and detaching the sprayer a breeze.

"It takes less than three minutes to hitch or unhitch. You just back in within a metre of the sprayer, connect the [power turn-off] 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.

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."

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," the World Ploughing champion said.

Contact your local Kverneland dealer or contact Kverneland directly for more info:

Product manager, Leonard Hovenden – 087 147 5137;
Area south, Greg Tennyson – 087 700 9689;
Area north, Allan Hetherington – 0044 7826 544 630.