When father and son Rodney and Joel Jelbart were looking to improve the efficiency of their spraying, they decided to take a chance on a self-propelled RoGator 1300C.

Moving to the RoGator in February was a big decision as it was different to anything the New South Wales farmers had used previously.

“This is the first RoGator we have had. We have had trailing booms before this,” Joel says.

“I was keen on the increased efficiency of the self-propelled sprayer and the ability to apply higher water rates over shortening spray windows. The higher clearance also gives us the flexibility to apply later in the season.

“We are very happy with it so far.”

Joel and his wife Laura are based at ‘Tarcoma’ in the Alectown, NSW district. They farm about 2000 hectares in partnership with Joel’s parents Rodney and Penny.

The broadacre cropping operation grows wheat, barley, canola and pulse crops – mainly lupins and peas.

They sow winter crops in April and May, ready for harvesting in November and December and do all their own spraying.

The Jelbarts purchased the RoGator 1300C in February this year, and Joel has been the main operator so far.

In the last six months he has done one round of fallow spraying, some pre-sowing applications and some in-crop work.

Joel says he likes the SmartDrive traction control feature, which is standard on all C series RoGators.

SmartDrive controls each wheel to ensure any wheel slip is automatically countered as power goes to the gripping wheels. This gives the slipping wheel a chance to regain traction. It also matches engine RPM to the power required ensuring minimal fuel usage.

He also likes the operating controls in the cab and is impressed with the boom.

“We have got other AGCO gear, and the RoGator is very similar technology. We are very familiar with it. I have also been impressed with the boom’s strength and stability.”

The ClearFlow chemical recovery system allows the operator to flush unused product out of the boom and back into the tank at the end of the day. Joel says it is another big plus.

It means the boom can be properly rinsed and cleaned out after use, while minimising waste and contamination.

Joel is also impressed with the Croplands fill station which makes it easy to fill up with chemical and water. “It is all very quick, whether you are filling with liquid or granular.”

RoGator’s LiquidLogic recirculation system ensures a more accurate application, with less overlap. Nozzle body valves provide precise section control giving the operator more control of where the spray goes.

“We have noticed an improved coverage with the nozzles spaced at 250 mm compared to our older 500 mm spacings.”

The increased precision of the 1300C means the RoGator can get the job done efficiently and Joel can keep on top of his busy spraying schedule.

He has no hesitation in recommending the RoGator 1300C to other farmers and contractors.

I have been very impressed so far. It has got all the features that you would expect in a sprayer these days, but it is really easy to use and to get going in the paddock.

Joel Jelbart, NSW

Joel is the fifth generation of the family to farm Tarcoma. He returned home in 2014, after working away for several years.

Now the sixth generation of Jelbarts is on the farm, as Joel and Laura have two children aged 3 and 5 years.

When a Tasmanian agricultural contracting business made the switch to RoGator sprayers, they were so impressed they added a second one.

The Scott family runs KAAS Spraying and Agriculture from their base in Hagley, northern Tasmania. They provide a mix of services to cropping and livestock farmers.

Andrew Scott started the contracting operation 10 years ago. Now his son Angus manages it, while Andrew looks after the family’s firewood business.

KAAS Spraying and Agriculture purchased its first RoGator RG700B in September 2020, and added a second one in December.

The self-propelled RoGator RG700Bs have fitted in nicely with the company’s busy spraying schedule.

They are the centrepiece of our business.

Angus Scott, KAAS Spraying and Agriculture

“We spray anything from vegetables, onions, potatoes, cereals, broadacre crops and high value small seeds such as carrot seeds. Pasture clean-ups keep us busy over the winter,” Angus says.

“The RoGators are quite simple machines. They have got everything we need, and they have some creature comforts, which makes using them a bit nicer,” Angus says.

“It is easier to get spare parts when both our sprayers are the same, and they are both under warranty,” Angus says.

“We are very happy with the way they are going. We have had other sprayers, but we have just found with the RoGators, we don’t have to wait weeks or months to get spare parts. Servicing is the main thing, which has been really good.”

He says KAAS Spraying and Agriculture’s previous sprayers were rear-wheel steer and ran into problems. The new front-wheel steer, four-wheel-drive RoGators have had no major issues.

“They are the centrepiece of our business. We use them all year round, in spring, summer and autumn, and even while it goes a bit quiet in the winter. We need them to be running smoothly all the time.”

The sprayers typically do about 1000 hours each over a 12 month period.

“We aim to do spray about 10,000 hectares a year when things are going well,” Angus says.

Standard specification on the RoGator RG700B is a 2700 litre tanks, but the Scotts have upgraded to 3200 litre tanks to give them a bit more capacity.

While the RG700B is the smaller model in the RoGator line-up, Angus says the steel boom makes them quite a hardy and straight forward machine.

“For a contractor, it just makes sense.”

RoGators are all-wheel drive and designed with the engine, hydrostatic drive and gearboxes linked together. This ensures the system runs smoothly and delivers up to 20 percent more efficiency than other systems.

All-wheel drive and traction control allow RoGators to work in wetter or hilly areas without getting stuck and ensure an extra level of safety.
Speed sensors at each wheel motor ensure all four wheels turn at the same speed to reduce the risk of wheels spinning or slippage.

“If a tyre slips, the power goes to the other wheels so you don’t lose control,” Angus says.

RoGator RG700Bs have adjustable track width. Angus generally works with a track width of 1.8m to suit the crops he sprays.

The 24m folding boom provides flexibility, which suits KAAS Spraying and Agriculture because the paddocks they work in vary from 3-6 ha up to 40-80 ha.

“It allows the RoGators to fit through tight gates and tree lines. They also have good crop clearance.

“Even in the higher crops, you never hit the plants with the belly of the RoGator as they have a lot higher clearance than any other machines we have had.”

Priming the booms with product and emptying them are both “quite straight forward”.

“You can rinse them out in 10 to 15 minutes and go into another chemical group which is a good time saving.”

Angus has also been impressed with his RoGators’ fuel efficiency. They average around 12 litres per hour “which is a lot better than similar sprayers on the market” and they have an impressive road speed of 50 kph.

The Scotts bought their RoGators from Nutrien Ag Solutions in Launceston with back up from Croplands in Toowoomba, Queensland.

“The mechanic came down from the head office when we first purchased them and we can get help from both offices, which is always good,” Angus says.

“They have both got a two- year warranty, which a lot of other brands don’t have. That is quite handy.”

From his experience so far, Angus has no hesitation in recommending any of the RoGator sprayer range to other farmers and contractors.

Todd and Brooke Orrock bought their first RoGator self-propelled sprayer after an accident that involved an insurance company and the need for a quick changeover.

There was a RoGator on a dealer’s lot, 40 km away and Todd was always keen on the brand, so the deal was done.

When the family bought their second RoGator, it was no accident. In February they bought a RoGator 1300C for their 2400-ha cropping farm near Murray Town, South Australia.

It is a family farm owned by Todd, his mum, Karen, and his wife, Brooke. Todd and Brooke’s children, Sophie and Mitchell, also work in the business.

They grow wheat, barley, canola, beans, export hay and some lentils. The last three years have been tough with drought and late season frost, but even so they have managed to get crops. This season is looking better.

Todd says the things he liked about the first RoGator are still there, but the new model had enough new technology that it was worth updating.

The Orrocks specified their RoGator 1300C with a 36m steel boom. Todd says he would have liked to go wider, but 36m fits with their tramlines, where the urea spreader is the limiting factor.

Along with looking after the family farm, Todd sprays for neighbouring farmers on contract. The contracting gives him an income, and it means he has newer gear for his own farm.

“We specialise in desiccation and fungicides in canola and beans.”

He can do that because he invested in crop dividers and sprays tall crops without damage.

There are many things he likes about RoGators.

I like the simplicity of the drive system and the stability of the booms. RoGators carry the boom really close to the axle, so they don’t get a waggle up.

Todd Orrock, Murray Town SA

Stability also matters for accuracy. The Orrocks farm is undulating country, and keeping the nozzles at the right height mitigates the risk of drift.

Stability also minimises stress on the machine and the operator. The boom wings go back and reset during cornering, controlled by a ram that works as a big shock absorber.

Todd has to work in small paddocks, and the ability to spray folded up at 60 ft is another advantage.

The boom is divided into 35 sections. Every four nozzles have their own section. The nozzles are 250 mm apart.

It has the ability to apply variable rates as prescribed by a map, but Todd does not use this feature.

Then there is the continuous boom recirculation.

I am in love with it and it should be standard on every boom sprayer, especially for contractors changing brews every day.

Todd Orrock

He used to either park in a corner and prime up the boom, or else he did laps.

“It took 300 litres of product to ensure it was primed. Now I can prime on my way to the paddock and start as soon as I am in the gate. It cuts down the boom sprayer’s hours.”

Another advantage of boom recirculation is that left-over product goes back into the tank. It keeps the boom clean with water, which minimises contamination and makes decontamination easy.

Todd describes the RoGator’s suspension as like driving a big bean bag.

“It has air suspension on the cab and boom. I have had major back surgery with discs removed. At the end of a day spraying, I get out and I am still walking. I couldn’t do that with our old trailed sprayer. Comfort is good.”

He usually drives at 25 kph and says it is smoother than going slower.

The RoGator 1300C has a 6300-litre tank. It does make for a heavy load, but Todd says for a self-propelled it is not overly weighty. He can carry less product if traction is an issue.

Its tank has automatic agitation. Agitation reduces as it empties to limit foaming.

The RoGator has a 60 kph road speed, which appeals to the contracting side of the business. Unfolding from transport mode is done with the push of one button.

Todd does not want to cart a trailer, so he uses the RoGator as its own batching plant and gets water where he is working.

He says his RoGator 1300C is more fuel-efficient than his previous one. Traction is also better with power to all four wheels.

“It has a smarter drive that doesn’t have to run at full revs all day. It matches the engine speed to the load.”

“We had a wet block this year and the old one would have spun a hole. This one moved the drive between wheels and drove through it.”

RoGators come with their own screen and controller, but they can also play nicely with others. Todd runs tests for a company that supplies GPS and control units, and he wanted their software in his sprayer.

Croplands worked with him and his GPS company to ensure it happened.

Easy operation is another benefit of the RoGator. Todd often sprays at night when the temperature has dropped, so this is a huge advantage.

“Maintenance is also easy. There are only two filters on the spraying side, so cleaning out is a breeze.”

Todd bought his RoGator 1300C directly from Croplands. He says they are good to deal with and he is lucky to have an agent just 40 km away.

It is working very well. Product recovery and boom recirculation are amazing features.

Todd Orrock

Greg Younghusband has been purchasing sprayers through Croplands since 2009. In that time he has run 10 Croplands sprayers, primarily RoGators.

“I have had them for a fair while. The first one I had was a RoGator 1286 and then I got the 1300A.

“I usually try to get 8000 hours out of them, but now I think we will push them out past 10,000 hours or until they wear out.

“We just know how to run RoGators and they are a very strong machine.”

His latest acquisition is the RoGator 1100C with a 120-ft boom. It joins the other self-propelled sprayers in his shed, a RoGator 1300A, two RoGator 1300Bs and a Spra-Coupe 7660.

Based in Curban, in the Gilgandra region of central New South Wales, Greg has contracts to spray 42,000 hectares of crops farms in a 250km radius from his home base.

Depending on the season, he can spray crops five or six times a year, hence the need for so many strong and reliable machines.

Greg says while the RoGators are not perfect, they have proven to be very reliable.

“Croplands has made massive improvements with the C Series. I don’t expect to have problems with hoses and the under carriage is a big improvement.

“There are guys out there who would say other brands are comparable, but I doubt any of them would say their gear is better. You can find faults in them all, but in my experience Croplands has the most reliable gear.

The bit I am looking for is the strength in the design and the RoGator booms are very strong. We give them absolute punishment and they handle it.

Greg Younghusband, Curban NSW

Greg says he drove the new RoGator 1100C for 250 hours in one fortnight recently and he didn’t get tired.

With his fleet of sprayers, Greg has half a dozen different sized booms to meet the varied needs of his clients. The RoGator 1100C has a 36.5m boom.

“We started out with little Brumby booms and built out from there.”

Greg and his wife Gai-Maree farm at Curban with their two daughters. The farming operation produces grain on 2100 ha.

They lease the cropping ground from Greg’s father, Neville, who oversees the day-to-day running of the farm when Greg is away with his contracting work.

The farm has been severely impacted by the drought over the last couple of years, but Greg is hopeful this season’s grain crop will be a healthy one to get the farm back on track.

Over the last 18 months Greg’s team of nine full-time workers has also been kept busy cutting and transporting close to 45,000 big square bales of hay from Victoria to farms in NSW and Queensland impacted by drought and fire as part of the state government’s relief effort.

Running a large farming operation requires efficiency, and RoGator self-propelled sprayers have proven to be just the ticket in that regard for the Day family.

Based in Oaklands in southern New South Wales, Shannon Day and his uncle Gavin farm around 14,000 hectares (35,000 acres), with the bulk of the operation, nearly 10,000 hectares, in broadacre crops.

“With a property of this size, time is everything for us. Having these machines makes the work easier and we get more time to concentrate on other areas of the business,” Shannon says.

“It also frees you up for family time. Definitely getting family time is a priority.”

Shannon’s grandfather Pat started out as a local transport operator serving farmers in the area and he could see the opportunity that farming offered.

“Pop started buying farms in the early 1970s. He was always working for farmers carting fertiliser and grain, so he always had a connection with farming.

“He bought smaller properties in the same area and joined them together, gradually building it up to the business we have now.”

Shannon’s father Peter continues to run the transport operation with a fleet of 40 trucks on the road, while Pat is still very much hands-on with both businesses.

Six full-time staff are employed on the farm, along with Gavin and Shannon, and they employ seasonal workers as needed.

The farm runs a cropping rotation primarily of wheat, barley and canola.

“We do two or three cereals to break it back into canola. Around here that’s the standard rotation,” Shannon says.

“The yields have not been great the last couple of years with the dry conditions, but in the last 10 years we have averaged 3.8 tonnes of cereals and 5 tonnes in a good year. Canola yields are 2-3 tonnes.”

The Day family has been using RoGator self-propelled sprayers for the last 15 years. They bought their first RoGator 1274 from their local Croplands dealer back in 2005, and it is still going strong, having clocked up more than 11,000 hours in operation.

They are a simple enough machine to operate. It is really the ease of use and the simplicity that has kept that one going for so long.

Shannon Day, Oaklands NSW

“We have had no serious mechanical issues, only with the hydraulic piston-driven motors, which we have replaced.”

Shannon says the newer models now have a motor and hub design which make them more efficient.

The Day family added a RoGator 1100C with a 120-ft boom to their fleet last year, and they took possession of a brand new RoGator 1300C at the beginning of the year.

The RoGator 1300C also has a 120-ft boom. Shannon is particularly impressed with the simplicity of the new machines, their automation, and the height controls on the boom.

“The screen has a lot of information on it and they have done really well putting that whole package together and getting it working well.

We looked at other machines, but we have just been blown away with 1300C. It is really compressed and simple.

Shannon Day

“While we have only been operating it for a couple of weeks it is amazing to think about how far we have come with the technology.”

While his uncle Gavin is the main driver of the RoGator 1274, Shannon has been taking charge of the new machines. He says he would have no hesitation in employing and training new operators for them.

“They are simple enough. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to drive them. In the long run, we will probably have drivers for the two new machines.”