Pictured Above: With a bit of innovation and the right technology, Stephen (pictured) and Albie Bookham turned a 20-year-old sprayer into a precision workhorse without breaking the bank.
In the heart of Western Australia’s grain belt, Piawaning district farmers Stephen and Albie Bookham faced a tough decision. Their self-propelled sprayer had finally given out after two decades of service, right when their cropping program was bigger than ever. Buying new was costly, and the second-hand market wasn’t much better.
But a timely chat with a local precision ag dealer set them on a different path: upgrading their existing RoGator 1064 sprayer with Ag Leader’s RightSpot® system bringing cutting-edge spraying capabilities to an aging machine for a fraction of the price of buying new.
Old Machine, New Tech
Their RoGator 1064 is one of the first self-propelled sprayers in Australia fitted with Ag Leader’s RightSpot precision spraying system. The technology behind RightSpot uses pulse width modulation (PWM) to maintain consistent boom pressure regardless of ground speed.
Why does that matter? Because consistent pressure means consistent droplet size —essential for effective application and reducing spray drift.
“We deal with a lot of undulating country, trees, and irregular-shaped paddocks,” Stephen explains.“With traditional flow-based systems, you’ve got to keep your speed up to maintain pressure. Otherwise, your spray quality suffers. That’s how boom tip accidents happen.”
The Pressure of Expansion
The Bookhams farm across three properties in the Piawaning and Calingiri districts, northwest of Wongan Hills. In recent years, they’ve doubled their cropping program to around 4,000 hectares, growing canola, wheat, barley, and export hay.
This growth meant longer hours and heavier use for every machine in the fleet, especially their old sprayer.
“The spraying system on the RoGator threw in the towel,” Stephen says. “It was finished – nothing worked. The board had completely crashed, and the wiring had short-circuited. There was no technical support available because it was so old. We had no choice but to either buy a new sprayer or try to rebuild the old one.”
Because the Bookhams had recently upgraded their harvester, they weren’t really in the market for a new sprayer. Yet, they were keen to get a bigger machine. The pair identified the model they thought they wanted but were told they’d be waiting 12 months for delivery, so they started looking at second-hand machines.
“They were asking $300,000 or $400,000, even though these machines had far higher operating hours than our RoGator, and they weren’t anywhere near in the same condition,” Stephen says.
The Right Solution at the Right Time
While discussing a steering upgrade for their combine with Doug Jeans from GPS Agricultural Services, the Bookhams learned about RightSpot.
“It sounded exactly like what we needed,” Stephen recalls. “We got a quote and were surprised at how affordable it was compared to buying a whole new sprayer.”
The retrofit was completed over a few weeks, and the sprayer was ready in time for the 2023 sowing season.
“We’re happy with the performance. RightSpot isn’t just about speed—it’s about doing a better job at whatever speed you’re going,” Stephen says. “We usually spray at 27 km/h, but we’ve tested it from 3 to 30 km/h using blotting paper, and the coverage is spot-on.”
Features That Make a Difference
Several features of the new system have quickly become farmer favorites:
- AutoSwath™: Automatically shuts off nozzles over previously sprayed areas, eliminating over- or under-application. “It automatically shuts down each nozzle as the boom passes over previously applied sections, boundaries or headlands, reducing input costs,” Stephen says.
- Turn Compensation: Adjusts nozzle flow rates during turns for uniform application across the boom.
- InCommand® 1200 display: A responsive touchscreen that monitors speed, pressure, droplet size, nozzle status, and more. “It really is a superior screen,” he says. “It’s extremely easy to use, and there’s no lag time,” Stephen says. “We’ve got one in our Lexion, and we’re looking at putting one in our Challenger MT865 tractor too. That way, all our machines will be connected.”
InCommand displays incorporate DisplayCast® wireless connectivity that automatically syncs and shares guidance lines, application and yield maps, operating data and satellite imagery with other connected machines and remote devices. Authorized viewers can remotely view this information via Ag Leader’s cloud-based AgFiniti platform.
Application and yield maps can then be imported into SMS™ Software and easily combined with other farm data to generate prescription maps. crop plans, analyze previous data to look for trends and much more.
“It means the guy in the tractor will know exactly where the sprayer’s been. No missed paddocks, no double-ups,” Stephen says.
Looking Ahead
The Bookhams are open to buying a new sprayer in the future but not out of necessity.
“The only reason we would buy a new machine is because we want a bigger tank and boom,” Stephen says. “But it’ll definitely be running Ag Leader gear.” •
About Ag Leader. A recognized pioneer in the industry, Ag Leader was founded in 1992 and offers a complete line of proven precision farming technology that is easy to use and integrates seamlessly with a farmer’s existing machinery. The company is family owned and operated and solely focused on precision farming technology. Headquartered in Ames, Iowa, Ag Leader is a global company that continues to innovate and automate tasks that optimize field activities across every season.