In previous focuses on the Tillage Captial Investment Scheme (TCIS), we’ve often featured items which we felt should be eligible for funding. Previous items included weighbridges, low ground pressure tyres and regulation kits, tracks, nitrogen sensors, chaser bins and soil sampling equipment to name a few.

This year is no different, and we feel that closed transfer system (CTS) technology to protect operators from pesticides when filling the sprayer is a worthy item for inclusion for future schemes. One such system was debuted last year and is a result of a combined effort by ADAMA, BASF, Corteva Agriscience, Nufarm and Syngenta.

This significantly reduces operator exposure and environmental risks from splashing or spilling

The CTS ‘easyconnect’ system allows crop protection products to be directly transferred from their original container to the spray tank and to accurately measure the volume of the chemical being transferred. This significantly reduces operator exposure and environmental risks from splashing or spilling.

The system can be retrofitted to an existing sprayer and is suitable for all containers with a IS63 neck (1l, 3l, 5l, 10l, 15l).

The five agrochemical industry players listed above are now independently testing the easyconnect system which is expected to be commercially launched in Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in 2021/2022.

The system is said to have been designed based on farmers’ feedback

The system can be retrofitted to an existing sprayer and is suitable for all containers with a IS63 neck (1l, 3l, 5l, 10l, 15l). Containers with a pre-fitted screw-cap are connected to the sprayer via a specially developed coupler which directly transfers the product into the spray tank and rinses the container, limiting the risk of exposure to operators when compared to conventional filling techniques.

The system is said to have been designed based on farmers’ feedback to improve the handling and speed, making the filling faster than via the commonly used induction hopper.

While there are no details about the pricing of the unit yet, this and other CTS units could potentially be a very useful tool to any spray operator by increasing efficiency and safety.