Luke James visits a family farm in Shropshire where owning and operating their own sprayer is key to keeping the grassland weed-free.

Controlling pasture weeds such as docks, thistles and nettles is, for Chris Paddock, largely about timing.

If we can spray at the right time, early in the spring when the target weeds are at the optimum growth stage, then we generally find we can stay on top of the problem, he says. Its this that provides the perfect justification for the business to run its own sprayer - enabling them to pick their moment to go when the conditions for spraying are right and the weeds are at their most susceptible.

Chris adds: We have a modern machine that is quick to attach and simple to operate, and has the right level of technology for our situation to ensure we are doing the job efficiently and accurately.

Chris, who farms at 170ha (420 acres) Burway Farm, Ludlow, with parents Philip and Nichola, recently upgraded to a Kuhn Optis mounted machine, with a 12 metre boom and 1,000 litre polyethylene tank, which makes a light and manoeuvrable unit when run on a 100hp John Deere 6310 tractor.

Get FREE access to your KUHN machine operator manuals and parts lists as well as reading Chriss full story online at https://mykuhn.kuhn.com/uk/ Sign up FREE today!