VICTORIAN apple orchard Bellevue Orchards is harnessing the reward of spray control from a new Silvan Stiletto orchard sprayer.
The 2000 litre unit replaces a 20 year old Silvan sprayer and brings a range of new features and technology to the table for the business which is noted for its fresh apples and single and mixed variety apple juice.
Director Robert Russo who heads the family growing operations said Bellevue had a long association with Silvan spray equipment.
“I reckon I have personally worn out a number of Silvan sprayers and our purchase of a new Silvan Stiletto is a step up to the latest technology,” he said.
“We extensively net our orchard and it is important to have the spray pressure available to effectively penetrate into the tree canopy."
The Silvan Powerhead has a 920mm axial flow type fan employing 10 nylon curved reinforced blades.
A centrifugal clutch ensures soft engagement or disengagement and is supplied with a protective mesh cover to stop it ingesting debris.
Hollow cone ceramic nozzles are fitted to ensure long lasting consistent droplet size - which is crucial to the effectiveness of the sprayer.
The choice of a Silvan auto rate controller also places control of the spray operations remotely in the hands of the tractor operator.
The Russo’s business evolved following a major hail storm in 1998 that destroyed their apple crop right at the harvest point. The family elected to convert the damaged fruit into fresh apple juice.
From then they have developed the Summer Snow branded apple juice range using 100 per cent Australian grown fruit.
