When Case IH embarked on a road-show, introducing the new range of Patriot sprayers, the first stop was in Thabazimbi, where students from the Department of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Pretoria had the chance to put the new Case IH Patriot 350 through its paces.

The Patriot range of sprayers boasts a powerful array of technological advances, aimed at ensuring precise, efficient spraying applications, as well as a user-friendly platform, with ease of use and operator comfort front of mind.

And who better to ask about how the latest technology in spraying applications stack up, than the next generation of CASE IH customers?

The first impression students got was of a redesigned cab, complete with ergonomic control design, making spraying a joy. Long hours spraying in the field means that ride-comfort is non-negotiable, and each student noted how the suspension effortlessly managed center-pivot ruts with no jolting.

Stiaan Joubert said that the cab itself was very quiet and the suspension of a high quality. “We sprayed at 25 km/h, and never felt a bump or jolt. The cab itself is spacious and the layout of the controls logical and simple, with the boom opening and closing with the push of a button,” he said.

Stiaan was impressed with the Patriot’s tip-washing station, as well as the design elements incorporated in the latest model. “The two screens in the cab displaying the sprayer’s location on a field, as well as the amount of product used, together with a screen monitoring spraying performance are sizeable enough with information displayed in an easy-to-see format. The Patriot is a time saver, cost saver and hectare saver, without a doubt. If I had to describe the Patriot 350 in one word, it would have to be, breathtaking,” Stiaan said. With features like blue LED lights, spraying can be done at night. Small LED light indicators for diagnostic purposes simplify troubleshooting and the identification of any faults.

Nadia Volschenk was impressed with the Patriot 350’s ease of use. “It is a wonderful machine to drive. Even with the latest technology the controls themselves were designed for simplicity, with the transmission as smooth as an operator could desire.” Nadia was also impressed with the control the Patriot 350 affords the operator. “It is not a complex machine to operate and maintain, making it an attractive option for producers living in remote locations.”

Andrea Schutte enjoyed the comfortable cab and smooth ride the Patriot 350 affords. “The suspension is unbelievable, gliding over the uneven terrain with no bumping, ensuring operator comfort at all times.”

Kéran Schoeman not only was impressed with the accessibility of the sprayer, but as a taller person liked the spacious cab. “There is more than enough space for my legs with an impressive turning circle making handling an absolute cinch.”

To David da Rocha, the Patriot was a very different machine to what he’s seen before. “The feeling is one of interaction with the machine, which makes spraying far easier,” he said. David said the technology used in the Patriot also makes it far more efficient. “Because the machine is easy to use and works efficiently, the producer can rest assured knowing spraying will be done on time and correctly,” he said.

Big technology in smaller sprayers

The Case IH Patriot 250 and 350 sprayers are considered the next step up for producers looking to upgrade from trailed sprayers, and with generous tank capacities of 3500 liters and 2500 liters, combined with spot-spraying technology like Carbon BEE, can cover more hectares using less product.

The Case IH Patriot 350 and 250 also boast ground clearances of 1,53 m and 1,73 m respectively, allowing spraying later in the season. The series has also undergone an engine upgrade, now featuring the Case IH FPT 6,7 liter, six-cylinder engine. Although the sprayer is more mechanical than the flagship Case IH Patriot 50-series sprayers, the 350 and 250 are chock-full of technology. Both are equipped with autopilot and automatic section cutting, pulse-width modulation (PWM) rate control, which allows for variable rate control of flow, and the full Case IH Advanced Farming Systems (AFS) technology package, making for a dependable market leader in spraying applications.

For more information, visit www.caseih.co.za.