Fleming Agri has been manufacturing tankers since 2010 and in the past has used outside suppliers for the booms, but it has now decided to build them in house to its own design.
The company is now producing two models of floating trailing shoe booms, one 7.5m in width and the other 9.2m. They are compatible with all tankers fitted with appropriate brackets and outlet.
The design features a close coupled bracket for safe attachment and better weight distribution, maintaining as much weight on the tractor drawbar as possible.
Whole new design
The booms are said to include many unique features, a number of which had been requested by customers.
The most noticeable development is a cantilever lift system, which allows maximum clearance for headland turning and transport, while also allowing the boom to float laterally, keeping the shoes in constant contact with the ground.
The mechanism also allows the upright boom to be moved down when in transport position, bringing it lower than the overall tanker height, allowing it to be parked in barns or shed with restricted height access.
The spacing of shoes has been set at 250mm to provide an even distribution of nutrients at the base of the plants and below leaf level.
Fleming choose Truflo
Feeding the booms, is a Truflo macerator, which supplies the slurry to what is claimed to be a smooth and unrestricted distribution system which reduces blockages and pipe damage, while ensuring a consistent application rate.
Fleming Agri appreciates that purchasing a tanker and boom is major capital outlay for many farm businesses, but suggests that the advantages of trailing shoe application are widely proven and it will satisfy future legislation.
After extensive testing on several farms throughout the country, the machines are now entering production and both models will be available to view at this year’s National Ploughing Championships in September.