OPICO has expanded its portfolio of innovative machinery by taking on the Rumex range of spot sprayers. The current Rumex line up of products includes the RXF600 a 6-meter and RXF900 a 9-meter front mounted sprayers.

The Rumex brand was established in 2020 by cousins Michael Thier and Thomas Ullrich, who set out to tackle a specific challenge faced by Bavarian farmers. In Bavaria broadcast spraying of dock plants in grassland is banned, and farmers are forced to rely on backpack sprayers for spot spraying dock plants, creating a labour and cost intensive operation. By developing a spot sprayer which utilises artificial intelligence (AI) Rumex enabled these farmers to significantly reduce labour costs and precisely target weeds. This focus on dock leaves gave rise to the name Rumex, which is the scientific genus for dock plants. Since then, the AI camera guidance technology has been further developed for a number of high value crops.

Central to the design of the Rumex Spot Sprayer is the AI technology which can accurately identify weeds despite variations in size or vegetation. Additionally, it can differentiate between specific types of weeds to achieve the best possible treatment. Their flagship model, the RXF900, identifies weeds via 6 cameras and two spot lights which achieve an impressive 43,200 lumens per unit. Featuring 222 individually controllable flat-fan nozzles spaced just 40mm apart target even the smallest weeds. The adjustable chassis works for all common bed widths from 1.5 to 3m and folds to 3m for road transport.

The AI system can reliably identify weeds in difficult conditions such as poor light or shadows, eliminating the need for a hood over the nozzles, which differs from other AI spot sprayers on the market, and allows for a complete, uninhibited view of the machine working. Furthermore, as the machine uses bespoke nozzles to produce a precise narrow jet the Rumex boom is able to be positioned lower and closer to the target plant minimising drift in windy conditions

The Rumex system is easy to set up with a simple 3-point linkage and PTO connection and is not limited by tractor size. This simple set up allows low HP and older tractors to be used, requiring just 50HP and no additional interfaces. The spot sprayer works during turns and at varying travel speeds with oscillating bearings and lateral guide wheels to keep a constant distance between the nozzle and the plant, even on undulating ground.

“There is a big market for these sprayers in the UK, especially for onion and carrot growers, but the use of AI technology means there is endless potential for other crops.” Explains Product Specialist Tom Brookes. “The spot sprayer offers clear advantage for growers in terms of cost savings, earlier crop harvests and improved crop quality.”

The sprayer’s “All Green” function is designed for a range of crops such as onion, carrot, potatoes and sugar beet. It is particularly effective for targeting weeds when the volunteer plants are emerging but the crop has yet to break through the soil. This enables precise targeting while preventing herbicide application to the crop itself, helping to optimise yields and reduce competition for vital nutrients. Rumex is continuously expanding the capabilities of the AI software, moving beyond the current crop and weed identification abilities to unlock wider applications.

“With the cost of chemicals only going one way we anticipate the market to grow for other crop types” notes Tom Brookes. “As the AI algorithm is continuously refined for wider use, the Rumex sprayer is a future-proof investment that will become increasingly applicable to more crops and weed species”

Spot spraying offers two major benefits compared to broadcast spraying; reduced overall chemical use and reduced “crop check” effect. Targeted herbicide application reduces the overall chemical use by up to 94%, benefiting the environment while also lowering input costs. At the same time the cash crop is not “checked” by broadcast chemical as the machine only targets the weeds. As a result, the crop doesn’t expend valuable energy detoxifying herbicides and continues growing normally without weed competition leading to increased yield an earlier harvest in many cases.

Technical support will be provided through the OPICO service team with over-the-phone advice as well as a team of field-based technicians. Updates to the AI software are available on the user-friendly operator portal, constantly increasing the accuracy and performance of the machine. Genuine Rumex parts will be available through OPICO’s online ordering platform my.opico.co.uk/s/rumex

Rumex sprayers will be on the OPICO stand at Cereals, stand number 785 and at the Highland show, stand number R276A.

Contact OPICO: 01778 421111

https://www.rumexuk.com/

Technical and sales enquiries: Tom Brookes, Product Specialist – tom.brookes@opico.co.uk or 07508 875189