Maximizing fertilizer application is a priority for every grower and custom operator. Precision and accuracy make the difference between a good crop stand and an uneven one, and ultimately, total bushels per acre. And, as the cost of fertilizer and inputs continues to rise, accuracy is more important than ever to make every dollar count.
Salford sat down with a Saskatchewan grower who purchased a BBI MagnaSpread 16 in early 2021 and his sales representative to find out first-hand just how the machine was performing.
PURCHASE DECISIONS
Verral Scriven, sales representative with Full Line Ag in Saskatchewan, Canada has noticed a trend towards the purchasing of pull-type and self-propelled fertilizer application equipment over recent years. He says the time crunch during spring seeding is driving this change. “More growers are looking to free up space in their seeding tanks or air carts, replacing the fertilizer bin with seed to cover more acres in the spring,” he explains. “This reduces time and labor since growers don’t need to follow the seeder with extra fertilizer to fill those tanks.” By investing in dedicated fertilizer application equipment, Salford customers are able to spread out their application time throughout the year. The fertilizer that would have otherwise been applied with the seeder can be applied the previous fall instead, and at faster speeds, opening a new window of application and reducing spring seeding stress for growers.
When Scriven retailed a MagnaSpread to a local grower in southwestern Saskatchewan, he said his customer had a similar goal in mind – to spread out his application season and ultimately save time and labor. In fact, the grower was able to apply Urea Nitrogen in spring 2021 and again in the fall, spreading out his 2021 application. Scriven’s customer purchased the MagnaSpread to replace an older self-propelled unit with a more reliable system. The grower says that the pull-type unit is ideal for his wheat and lentil operation and has been most impressed with the machine’s accuracy and spread pattern.
MEASURING PERFORMANCE
The MagnaSpread is capable of spreading dry fertilizer up to 120 feet and lime up to 60 feet. And that’s exactly what Scriven’s Saskatchewan customer found. The grower says that, in order to save time, he didn’t do a pan test for his spring application, but the even coloring of his durum wheat crop stand confirmed the precise and accurate application he was looking for. “You could tell the machine did its job just by the way the crop came up and the way it matured, it looked pretty darn good,” he said. And when fall application season came around, the grower put the MagnaSpread to the test again. Scriven assisted the customer with the calibration and conducted a pan test. “I bought a semi load of fertilizer, enough to cover 456 acres. We covered 457 acres instead, applying at a 120’ spread. I was very pleased with the accuracy, it’s not too often you can get within a 1-acre difference,” he says.
Scriven is pleased with his customer’s experience, saying he’s had positive feedback, especially about the accuracy of the spinner spreader. He also notes how easy, quick, and confident his customer was able to calibrate the MagnaSpread.
The happy customer says the success of the fall application means he feels confident going into the spring seeding season. “The machine is fine-tuned and ready to go for next spring,” he says. The BBI MagnaSpread is built to maximize application and a grower’s investment in equipment. Scriven says he’s been impressed with the machine’s performance and with Salford’s service, supporting customer experience at every step of the purchase and operational process. “Salford equipment is second to none, the quality and service make them stand apart every time,” he says.
To learn more about Salford application equipment and the BBI MagnaSpread, visit salfordgroup.com.
