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While self-propelled field sprayers seem to be on the wish list of many Prairie farmers, a U.S. manufacturer is urging western Canadian producers not to overlook the economy and efficiency a well-built pull-type sprayer has to offer.

Fast Distributing of Mountain Lake, Minn., is just bringing to the western Canadian market this year a high-clearance, high-capacity, heavy-duty pull-type sprayer that retails for about a quarter of the cost of some self-propelled models.

Dave Cookson (left) and Mark Aslesen say in many cases a Fast pull-type sprayer can pay for itself in a year or two. -- Lee Hart photo

The Fast 9500, an 1,800-gallon sprayer is being featured this week at the Agri-Trade exhibition in Red Deer, Alta. The trade-show model, which has several optional features, retails for about $62,000, while a more basic model sells for about $45,000.

"If someone is farming 3,000 to 3,500 acres and they have to spray three times in a season, they can cover the cost of the machine in one year, compared to hiring custom spraying services," points out Mark Aslesen, territory manager for Fast.

Aslesen based the calculation on reports that some custom applicators are charging $6 to $7 per acre. "With three applications you're covering about 10,000 acres, so if you hired a custom operator, you would have spent roughly what a new sprayer costs."

The Fast sprayer, which was developed by Minnesota farmer Verlyn Fast, is being distributed in Western Canada by R.A. West International based at Vulcan, Alta., just south of Calgary.

The low-profile sprayers feature a low-centre-of-gravity polyethylene tank with 1,800- to 2,400-gallon capacity. It's carried on a heavy-duty steel frame, with a dual-wheel axle. The rear-mounted stainless steel spray boom can be ordered in lengths ranging from 60 to 132 feet, and it has a spray height adjustment from 20 to 72 inches from the ground. A Raven 450 rate controller is a standard feature on the sprayers.

One of the unique features of the Fast sprayer is a telescopic hitch, which can be extended an extra three feet to allow the boom to unfold without hitting the tractor cab and then be retracted for easier maneuvering around the field.

"Farmers already have a tractor they can use on the sprayer, " says Dave Cookson, sales manager for R.A. West. "This is designed by a farmer, so it has many of those 'overbuilt' characteristics, which means it is going to last a long time, and it has the capacity and width to get a lot of acres done in one pass.

"Even with the 1,800-gallon model if you're spraying at the 10- or five-gallon water per acre rate, you can cover a quarter to half section on one fill."

Fast sprayers come with a powder coat finish that can be custom-coloured to match the existing equipment line on the farm. The company can also custom-build a sprayer to meet individual specifications.

-- Lee Hart is a field editor with Grainews in Calgary.