Company spokesman, Jeremy Rennick, speaking at a three-day national training meeting in Toowoomba, Qld, said the advent of zero-till technology was fuelling sprayer sales, especially across Queensland, NSW and Western Australia.

“Previously, on any list of machinery for the farm, the sprayer might have been a bit down the run of things,” he said.

“But today the sprayer is right at the top – it’s the sprayer that allows them to keep on top of their weed control programmes,” he added.

In acknowledging that high-performance self-propelled sprayers are “big ticket” items on farms, Mr Rennick said more farmers were electing to buy these special-purpose machines.

He says their potential for high workrates permits one operator to replace the two who may have been necessary previously.

Factor in the absence of skilled labour required to drive these monsters-of-the-paddock and their appeal to farmers quickly becomes evident.

New-generation self-propelled RoGators, like its new 1084 model and the current 1286C unit, offer wider booms, bigger tanks and speedier filling times.

“And the slightly smaller 1084 model is coming into its own as an attractive option for individual farmers wanting to have better control over their spraying programs,” Jeremy Rennick said.

RoGator’s flex-frame design ensures all four wheels remain on the ground when working at speed over undulating terrain.

“Because the wheels are hydrostatically-driven, using a rigid, welded frame means all the oil will go to any wheel that lifts clear of the ground since all the oil will flow to it, causing loss of traction and power,” Jeremy Rennick said.

He said RoGator sprayers were still made at the same original factory at Jackson, Minnesota.

Since their designers are not involved with combine harvesters, tractors, or planters, they've been able to concentrate first and foremost on developing new farm sprayers.