New Amazone fertilizer spreader takes automation one step further

Glacier FarmMedia – Germany-based manufacturer Amazone is billing its new fertilizer spreader — set for full Canadian distribution in 2027 — as the next level in optimized, automated spreading, thanks to its self-adjusting spread pattern capabilities.

The ZA-TS 01’s AutoSpread feature tracks the fertilizer spread pattern in conjunction with an online connection to Amazone’s spreader application centre (SAC), which permanently validates the pattern. Operators do not have to set the pattern themselves.

A key difference between the ZA-TS 01 AutoSpread and other automated spreaders is its ability to determine the flight direction of the fertilizer plus its throwing distance.

Although ArgusTwin (another Amazone spreading system) already controls direction, Amazone says the ZA-TS 01’s ability to guide distance is brand new.

“The combined measurement of the throwing direction and, for the first time, the throwing distance turns it into a mobile spreading hall,” reads the Amazone website.

Sensors enable the spreader to automatically change spray variables according to conditions by adjusting the drop point.

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AutoSpread “optimally integrates” three features that until now were considered individual solutions: HeadlandControl, WindControl and section control.

Designed for particularly windy regions, WindControl constantly monitors the wind’s effects on the spray pattern and accommodates accordingly. For side winds, the disc speed is increased on the windward side while the leeward disc speed is reduced.

HeadlandControl is designed to optimize lateral distribution on the headland by increasing throwing width and spread rate on the inner field side. The result, says Amazone, is better uniformity of crops on headlands.

For section control, AutoSpread automatically determines switch-on and switch-off points for the fertilizer being used through the WindControl wind sensor.

Kelly Manikel, western Canadian sales manager for Amazone, says the company’s tech is helping improve producers’ opinions of spinner spreaders, the much-maligned but most common system powering fertilizer spreaders.

“I’ve had hundreds and hundreds of conversations now with western Canadian farmers or industry people who think, ‘spin spreaders? That’s crazy. That’s old school. My grandpa streaked his fields (by spreading) 50 years ago. We’ll never look at that again.’ ”

Manikel reminds them of Amazone’s century-plus history of building spreaders.