Fendt Rogator 645: Boosting Productivity on a North Norfolk Farm

A Fendt Rogator 36m self-propelled sprayer which replaced two 24m machines on a large North Norfolk arable farm two and a half years ago continues to impress its owners and operators.

 

The Rogator 645 has worked more than 2,700 hours and applied more than 5.5 million litres of liquid, including fertiliser and crop treatments across a total sprayed area of 33,700ha since it arrived at Church Farm, Fring, near Kings Lynn in September 2021.

“Before confirming our order we considered several different brands, but a Rogator demonstration by Thurlow Nunn Standen (TNS) quickly convinced us of its superior performance and design,” explained farmer, Mark Coe.

 

Trading as J W Coe & Co, Mark farms approximately 2,100ha, including cash crops and cover crops, and land within Countryside Stewardship environmental schemes. Most of the land is tenanted or contract-farmed, and the crop rotation includes wheat, winter barley, spring barley, peas, oilseed rape, sugar beet, beans and rye.

 

Extra productivity

The new 5,000-litre, 36m sprayer replaced two 24m machines – one self-propelled and the other trailed. All crop treatments are applied through the Rogator, as well as fertiliser, and potatoes are sprayed under contract for a nearby farm. “The boom height control and levelling performance are fantastic,” confirmed Mark. “Four sensors are used for monitoring, and we can be confident operating at high speeds with the boom just above the crop.

“Applying fertiliser, we often travel at 19–20kph, so high work rates are easily achieved. We have plenty of capacity for the large workload and operate in a timelier manner now than we could before using the two smaller sprayers.”

Flexible but precise

The Rogator is equipped with Fendt OptiNozzle. Main operator, Kevin Williams explained that this allows spraying at higher speeds while maintaining spray pressures below 2 bars to minimise atomisation and drift. “There are three different-sized nozzles, and the most suitable nozzle or nozzle combination is automatically selected for the travel speed and application rate, within parameters set in the VarioTerminal,” he explained. “Whenever the travel speed alters, during headland turns for example, the pressure adjusts and the nozzle combination changes, so optimum droplet size is maintained. It maximises spray efficacy and reduces drift. As well as allowing a wider range of travel speeds, it also extends working windows as we can spray when conditions are marginal.”

 

To ensure maximum productivity, the sprayer is usually supported by a large mixer bowser which returns to the yard for filling and follows the sprayer from field to field. “The full Rogator tank gives us capacity to spray 54ha on average, and we can achieve up to five loads per day – more than 250ha, with the bowser used for filling.

“The ride is extremely comfortable, even on narrower row crop wheels, and with 235hp and hydrostatic transmission, the Rogator maintains high speeds easily even on soft ground and slopes.”

 

Mark said that the maximum 120cm ground clearance is exceptional. “It’s ideal for late applications to oilseed rape. Crop damage is minimal and it’s hard to see where the sprayer has been.”

Allowed change to liquid fertiliser

Before buying the Rogator, Mark relied on solid fertiliser applied as granules at 24m by a tractor-mounted spreader. “We wanted to move to wider 36m tramlines, but achieving accurate and even granular fertiliser applications at that width requires ideal conditions and a high grade product with a price premium,” he commented. “The Rogator is just as well suited to applying liquid fertiliser as crop chemical treatments at 36m, and its design makes it easy to alternate between them during the busy season. The Rogator has to cover a large area multiple times, but it is more than capable of meeting our requirements and it’s accurate. I don’t like stripes.”

 

Kevin said that the Rogator is well designed and user-friendly when it comes to filling the large 5,000-litre tank. “It’s very quick, and everything I need for adding and mixing chemicals is in one location. There is plenty of automation. The tank shuts off automatically to prevent over-filling, and the induction bowl allows large volumes of powder and complex mixes to be added without a problem.

“At the end of each day, I use two automatic wash cycles to clean the spray system and rinse the tank. It’s all done conveniently and cleanly from the control panel at the filling station.”

Preference for Fendt

Kevin, and back-up sprayer operator, Wayne Wells agree that having used the Rogator they wouldn’t now want any other sprayer. “The ride quality is superb, and the cab is quiet and comfortable. Even after more than 12 hours in the seat, I don’t feel tired and my back doesn’t ache,” Kevin stressed. “Starting work early or spraying into the evening it’s just as easy to use as the bright lights illuminate all the right places, and the GPS guidance and spray control systems ensure constant accuracy.”

 

The farm also relies on a fleet of three Fendt tractors, including a 724 Vario and two 942 Varios. “The Rogator’s VarioTerminal and controls have similar operating characteristics to our Fendt tractors, so even after winter when the sprayer hasn’t been used for several months, everything remains familiar. It’s a help too, when switching between tractor operations and spraying,” Kevin added.

“I like the Fendt tractors and believe that the lifetime ownership costs are lower than many competitors, and easily compensate for the slightly higher initial purchase price,” confirmed Mark. “A lot of what costs extra as options on other brands comes standard on Fendts, and we save money through better fuel efficiency too.”

 

Relationship with dealer

TNS Area Sales Manager, Josh Taylor looks after the farm’s account. “We enjoy a very good relationship with Mark and his team, and they are loyal Fendt customers having moved from another brand in 2005. The Rogator sprayer is ideally suited to his requirements, and we have sold a large number to other professional businesses in the region too.”

Mark said that the back-up from TNS is always excellent. “We do get on well with the TNS team but, even so, we wouldn’t be buying Fendt products and other machinery from the dealer if it wasn’t for our confidence in the aftersales support.

“Everything has become bigger and more expensive, and we can’t afford to have spare machines around just in case one breaks down. That means we rely on dealers who will come out when they say they will, and sort issues quickly. That is what we get from TNS.”

 

Nothing not to like

Asked whether he will buy another Rogator when the current machine is updated, Mark confirmed it is extremely likely. “The Rogator does everything we want it to, and the operators like it and find it comfortable. It gives us great flexibility alternating between chemical and fertiliser applications, and the technology including OptiNozzle helps us get more done, as we can continue working in marginal conditions.

“When you watch the Rogator 645 working; it’s immediately obvious how good it is, and the few times faults have occurred then the TNS sprayer specialists have resolved them quickly. There is nothing not to like.”