Stocks Ag has responded to growing interest from customers wanting the ability to control multiple applications of product and seed in one pass by extending the capabilities of its Isobus compatible i-Con control system.
Up to four i-Con applicators from the Stocks Ag range – including the Turbo Jet, Fan Jet Plus, Fan Jet Mini and Rotor Meter – can now be connected through a single terminal or, ideally, through the tractor’s own terminal. Each applicator’s i-Con control automatically maintains a pre-set target application rate as the forward speed varies, with on-the-move adjustment of the rate applied as required.
An ISObus ‘bridge’ module connects up to four Stock’s applicators directly into the tractor’s ISObus socket. Connecting directly into the tractor’s screen simplifies the operation and eliminates the requirements for multiple control boxes and GPS receivers as the system can also rely on the tractor’s own GPS and task controller unit. Should the tractor’s own screen not be available, an additional terminal can be supplied.
“A growing number of customers are looking for precisely metered, accurate application of more than one product in a single pass as part of the cultivation process,” Stocks Ag’s technical director, Tim Farrow, said. “For example, a combination of OSR, fertiliser and slug pellets; or cover crops drilled with at least two seeding units, to account for different seed sizes.
“This reduces the number of passes, saving on fuel, time and labour. The new module gives greater versatility and flexibility and allows users to deploy up to four Stocks applicators at the same time.”
Typically, for a seeding operation, the drill would use two of the four channels. This leaves two available channels for a pair of supplementary applicators. On a stand-alone machine, up to four Stocks i-Con applicators can be controlled via the bridge unit.
