New Leader Manufacturing introduced the latest addition to its N7 series of precision nutrient applicators at the Commodity Classic in Austin, Texas late last month.
The NL710 is a single-bin fertilizer spreader the Iowa company says is comparable in productivity and profitability to its dual-bin NL720.
“It’s a high-precision, high-output, wide fertilizer spreader that is user-friendly and low-maintenance,” says Benjamin Boelter, director of product development with New Leader.
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WHY IT MATTERS: Given the slow-release fertilizer products available today, the new and higher-tech broadcast spreaders are again finding favour among some Prairie farmers.
The machine’s 120-foot spreading capacity is a rarity in the U.S. market, he says, with most manufacturers opting for 90 feet.
“We also increased the throughput … so you don’t have to slow down to get a wider pattern, so we have more material that can go through the machine.”
The applicator features a spread pattern “wizard” that makes automatic output adjustments.
“You don’t have to make manual adjustments on the machine to change the spread pattern. That’s all taken care of internally for you,” says Boelter.
The machine’s variable rate spreading capability includes four options: 120, 90, 80 and 70 feet.
Boelter uses turn compensation as an example of its variable-rate capabilities — say, when “spreading on the left hand side of the spreader needs more material than the right hand side. Our machine can adjust for that,” he says.
“As you spread with VRT, as you’re going through the field and your rates are changing and your speed is changing, the amount of product dropping on your spinner is changing. So we have built into our software (the ability to) make the adjustments as you’re going through those rates to keep your spread pattern at a very good precision.”
According to the company, the NL710 also features:
- A 33 per cent more efficient high-output design.
- Uniform spread pattern with advanced swath width control.
- Tool-free maintenance and zero grease points for reduced downtime.
- Ability to pattern test and set the machine using only three pans.
The applicator was designed for productivity, efficiency and low maintenance, says Boelter, but the fundamental goal was simplicity.
“We tried to make it very simple for the operator to use. So one of the, I would say, most unexpected things from an operator standpoint is we added a lot of capability, but it’s actually easier to use from a control standpoint than what’s in the field today.”
