New drop tube kit available for the AGCO RoGator

Worldwide agriculture equipment manufacturer AGCO has announced a new drop tube kit for the RoGator AirMax Precision R1/R2 application system.

“The new drop tubes expand the versatility of the AirMax Precision R1/R2, already the most accurate pneumatic fertilizer system in the industry,” says David Fickel, AGCO’s tactical marketing manager for application equipment.

“Now operators can place granular fertilizer between the rows in-season to feed the crop. This allows operators to follow the 4R’s of nutrient stewardship: the right rate, the right source, the right place, and the right time,” Fickel says. The tubes direct fertilizer granules below the crop canopy so nutrients don’t get caught in the crop whorls.

The aftermarket kit — available to order through AGCO dealers this fall — is quick and easy to attach. The top and mid-sections of the three-inch diameter tubes are made of long-lasting grade 304 stainless steel. The kit includes tubes for all 28 outlets, spaced at 30 inches off-center across the 70-foot boom.

Flexible tubing connects the two steel sections to allow the tubes to always point toward the ground, while an additional hose section at the bottom is gentle on plants. Hydraulic tilt switches on the joystick raise and lower the boom tips as needed to adjust the drop tube position as terrain height changes.

With the drop tube system installed, and because of independently metered twin bins on the AirMax Precision R2, operators can seed cover crops between the rows and top-dress late-season urea at the same time without blending. An UltraSpread low-speed, high-torque radial piston hydraulic motor is able to accurately apply high, low, and variable rates with sensor-fed control algorithms that provide almost 250 per cent more feedback than previous or competitive systems. Some customers have reported the ability to set and hold application rates lower than 20 pounds per acre.

The AirMax Precision R1/R2 can apply from 20 to 850 pounds of material per acre at 10 miles per hour, with less than five per cent variation in rate across the entire width of the boom. Turn compensation TurnLogic offers added accuracy and precision placement on headlands and contours. If you’re worried about life-span, the AirMax Precision features a stainless steel box as well as Heresite hydraulic cooler coating that resists rust and prevents corrosion.