In less than two decades, Mayo-based agricultural machinery manufacturer AgriSpread has quickly established itself as a prominent international player.
With rear-discharge spreaders continuing to be the company’s bread and butter offering, the Ballyhaunis-based firm gave us a loan of its Pro+ 14000 rear-discharge vertical beater dung spreader to put through its paces.
Today, Agri-Spread offers a full range of vertical and horizontal beater manure spreaders. Its offering spans from 6t to 18t single-axle machines, while its fertiliser, lime and bulk product flowable spreaders range from 3t to 30t, in single- and tandem-axle models.
It offers nine variants of its vertical-beater machines, and two horizontal beater machines. As expected, vertical beater machines make up the majority of demand in the worldwide market.
Horizontal beater spreaders tend to be bought by specialist farmers or contractors who handle products such as chicken dung, compost, sludge and other soil conditioner products.
And of course, horizontal beater machines, regardless of the manufacturer, cost a pretty penny more.
Who are Agri-Spread?
AgriSpread International is a family run business based near Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo.
Three brothers, David, Marcus and Dermot Murphy, handle the day-to-day running of the company with their father Mark, who is still involved and keeping a close eye on all developments.
Established in 2006, Agri-Spread’s history dates back several decades further. It was in fact Mark Murphy and his brother John that established Major Equipment back in the 1970s.
This provided a great foundation for the three brothers growing up, working and learning all aspects of a design, manufacturing and production process. Upon setting up AgriSpread, the brothers began manufacturing parts, sub-assemblies, and even fully finished machines for some local manufacturers.
Initially planning to venture into the quarrying industry, the downturn in the economy changed the course of travel.
AgriSpread’s first product in its agricultural line was a vertical beater manure spreader. It also ventured into slurry tankers before deciding to move into fertiliser, lime and speciality spreaders. In 2010, the company developed and showcased its first fertiliser and lime spreader.
Pro+ range
The Pro+ range first appeared on the market a couple of years ago. Starting at 14t, it also includes a 16t and 18t model, which corresponds with the 14000, 16000 and 18000 model numbers. These machines slot in above the basic Pro range, which is available in six model sizes, from 6t to 12t.
Both ranges of vertical beater spreaders consist of a twin-beater design and drive-line that’s designed to handle a variety of farmyard manures and bulk products.
The spreader series has a monocoque design, meaning the chassis is integrated into the body. Driven off Walterscheid PTO shafts, it is operated at a PTO speed of 1,000rpm.
The body rides on a 150mm square heavy duty commercial axle rated to 105km/h, when empty, and fitted with 10 stud wheels on 420 x 180 brakes.
The Pro+ range comes with a 1,600mm width floor, stepped up from the 1,500mm floor used in the Pro range. Standard carrying capacity of the 14000 model we tried out measures in at 11.8m2, while the addition of a steel or timber extensions can increase this up to 14.7m2.
The material is fed to the beaters by a single-piece floor slat. AgriSpread uses 20mm pre-stretched heavy-duty (Grade 80) marine chains on the hydraulically driven floor, in comparison to 16mm chains on the Pro range.
We ran the machine on a Claas Arion 650 with 185hp on tap. The tractor powered the spreader at its absolute ease.
Chain tension is adjusted manually through a simple nut and threaded bar floor chain tensioner, with sprocket cleaners. It’s simple and effective.
The Pro+ range features a 60mm high tensile floor shaft, stepped up from the 50mm shaft used on the standard Pro range.
The spreader is guarded by three different protection systems. The floor gearbox is protected by a preset crossflow relief valve on the motor that drives the floor. By cutting out when hitting a certain pressure, it protects the floor drive mechanism.
The floor can also be reversed if a blockage occurs. The wide-angle PTO shaft is protected by an M10, 8.8-rated shear bolt.
A heavy-duty torque cam clutch system protects the beater gearbox. A stone managed to block the beaters on one occasion. As it says on the tin, the system cut out, we removed the stone, and it fired up smoothly again.
As standard, the Pro+ vertical beater range comes with a fixed drawbar, hydraulic brakes and is shod on 580/70 R38 tyres, with the option of going to 650/65 R42 tyres. The unit we tried out had the sprung drawbar, which comes as standard on horizontal beater models. We would be in favour of adding the sprung drawbar, it offers more comfort for transport.
The body rides on a 150mm square heavy duty commercial axle rated to 105km/h, when empty, and fitted with 10 stud wheels on 420 x 180 brakes. Whether loaded or empty, the spreader rides well on the road, even at 50km/h.
Beaters
The Pro+ range is fitted with a wider-stepped beater with a larger 855mm wide diameter auger and 1,175mm wide spinner paddles for a wide spread.
The beater design uses a reversible Boron 12mm tips, a high tensile Boron stepped spiral pattern and heavy-duty 200mm S355 tube.
The beaters are mechanically driven by a PTO at 1,000rpm through a one-piece gearbox at a speed of 420rpm. For the past few years, AgriSpread has been fabricating and balancing the beaters themselves in-house. The spreading deck features replaceable Hardox wear panels.
We spread a variety of well-decayed and fresh farmyard manure, and some chicken dung. We were pleasantly surprised with the beater’s ability to break up the fresher dung, while applying an even distribution.
Other options
The machine we tried out featured manual floor control, which essentially means floor speed is controlled through the tractor’s hydraulics. For those looking to go one step further, the range can be equipped with weight cells, which work with IsoBus to act as an auto rate controller.
This means the floor speed will be automatically adjusted to achieve the set application rate. This spec of machine is compatible with all IsoBus tractors or AEF certified terminals and GPS systems.
The test machine we used didn’t have a slurry door indicator, but it is available as an optional extra. This allows the operator to see what height the rear door is opened to from the cab. Other options include mudguards, air brakes, a spoon hitch, a screw jack and a range of camera/light options.
If you are in the market for a dung spreader, it’s seriously worth considering going the extra mile and opting for an auto rate controller, particularly if you qualify for Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) III grant aid. Rear-discharge dung spreaders were included in the most recent revision, with reference costs calculated in m3 (y = 3202.7x + 6766).
A heavy-duty torque cam clutch system protects the beater gearbox.
Basing it on this machine, it would have a reference cost of €44,557.86. Realistically, dung spreaders are a long-term investment, and with nutrient usage on farms ever tightening, being confident of an accurate application rate is worth considering.
Well finished
One nice feature, now quite popular with a growing number of manufacturers in this space, is the auto-fold cover on the lights.
Once the slurry door is opened, this function automatically folds a cover down over lights, protecting them from contact with any foreign objects and keeping them clean for safe transport on the road. This is fitted as standard.
We were impressed with the machines even application.
Not alone are the spreaders well built, but they also look well. One point you couldn’t but notice was the finish on the paintwork.
This follows a big investment by AgriSpread in its preparation and paint department. All machines are shot-blasted, two-pack painted and oven baked in a state-of-the-art blast and paint facility.
Verdict
I can confidently say that the AgriSpread Pro+ spreader is up there with the very best on the market.
The machine is well-built, but yet not overly heavy, it’s easy to drive and it pulls really nice on the road. We ran the machine on a Claas Arion 650 with 185hp on tap.
The beaters are mechanically driven by a PTO at 1,000rpm through a one-piece gearbox at a speed of 420rpm.
The tractor powered the spreader with absolute ease. The only time it may get caught out would be for weight, when the spreader is fully loaded, particularly if conditions get tricky.
The 14t machine is a big brute, but it’s packed with clever engineering ideas. AgriSpread uses premium, well-proven, off-the-shelf, quality components, which will pay dividends for long-term users.
The paint finish is really impressive and crowns what we would say is a well-engineered, home-grown piece of machinery.
Overall, we were hugely impressed with the machine and its capabilities, and would have no qualms whatsoever about buying one in the morning.
In less than two decades, Mayo-based agricultural machinery manufacturer AgriSpread has quickly established itself as a prominent international player.
With rear-discharge spreaders continuing to be the company’s bread and butter offering, the Ballyhaunis-based firm gave us a loan of its Pro+ 14000 rear-discharge vertical beater dung spreader to put through its paces.
Today, Agri-Spread offers a full range of vertical and horizontal beater manure spreaders. Its offering spans from 6t to 18t single-axle machines, while its fertiliser, lime and bulk product flowable spreaders range from 3t to 30t, in single- and tandem-axle models.
It offers nine variants of its vertical-beater machines, and two horizontal beater machines. As expected, vertical beater machines make up the majority of demand in the worldwide market.
Horizontal beater spreaders tend to be bought by specialist farmers or contractors who handle products such as chicken dung, compost, sludge and other soil conditioner products.
And of course, horizontal beater machines, regardless of the manufacturer, cost a pretty penny more.
Who are Agri-Spread?
AgriSpread International is a family run business based near Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo.
Three brothers, David, Marcus and Dermot Murphy, handle the day-to-day running of the company with their father Mark, who is still involved and keeping a close eye on all developments.
Established in 2006, Agri-Spread’s history dates back several decades further. It was in fact Mark Murphy and his brother John that established Major Equipment back in the 1970s.
This provided a great foundation for the three brothers growing up, working and learning all aspects of a design, manufacturing and production process. Upon setting up AgriSpread, the brothers began manufacturing parts, sub-assemblies, and even fully finished machines for some local manufacturers.
Initially planning to venture into the quarrying industry, the downturn in the economy changed the course of travel.
AgriSpread’s first product in its agricultural line was a vertical beater manure spreader. It also ventured into slurry tankers before deciding to move into fertiliser, lime and speciality spreaders. In 2010, the company developed and showcased its first fertiliser and lime spreader.
Pro+ range
The Pro+ range first appeared on the market a couple of years ago. Starting at 14t, it also includes a 16t and 18t model, which corresponds with the 14000, 16000 and 18000 model numbers. These machines slot in above the basic Pro range, which is available in six model sizes, from 6t to 12t.
Both ranges of vertical beater spreaders consist of a twin-beater design and drive-line that’s designed to handle a variety of farmyard manures and bulk products.
The spreader series has a monocoque design, meaning the chassis is integrated into the body. Driven off Walterscheid PTO shafts, it is operated at a PTO speed of 1,000rpm.
The body rides on a 150mm square heavy duty commercial axle rated to 105km/h, when empty, and fitted with 10 stud wheels on 420 x 180 brakes.
The Pro+ range comes with a 1,600mm width floor, stepped up from the 1,500mm floor used in the Pro range. Standard carrying capacity of the 14000 model we tried out measures in at 11.8m2, while the addition of a steel or timber extensions can increase this up to 14.7m2.
The material is fed to the beaters by a single-piece floor slat. AgriSpread uses 20mm pre-stretched heavy-duty (Grade 80) marine chains on the hydraulically driven floor, in comparison to 16mm chains on the Pro range.
We ran the machine on a Claas Arion 650 with 185hp on tap. The tractor powered the spreader at its absolute ease.
Chain tension is adjusted manually through a simple nut and threaded bar floor chain tensioner, with sprocket cleaners. It’s simple and effective.
The Pro+ range features a 60mm high tensile floor shaft, stepped up from the 50mm shaft used on the standard Pro range.
The spreader is guarded by three different protection systems. The floor gearbox is protected by a preset crossflow relief valve on the motor that drives the floor. By cutting out when hitting a certain pressure, it protects the floor drive mechanism.
The floor can also be reversed if a blockage occurs. The wide-angle PTO shaft is protected by an M10, 8.8-rated shear bolt.
A heavy-duty torque cam clutch system protects the beater gearbox. A stone managed to block the beaters on one occasion. As it says on the tin, the system cut out, we removed the stone, and it fired up smoothly again.
As standard, the Pro+ vertical beater range comes with a fixed drawbar, hydraulic brakes and is shod on 580/70 R38 tyres, with the option of going to 650/65 R42 tyres. The unit we tried out had the sprung drawbar, which comes as standard on horizontal beater models. We would be in favour of adding the sprung drawbar, it offers more comfort for transport.
The body rides on a 150mm square heavy duty commercial axle rated to 105km/h, when empty, and fitted with 10 stud wheels on 420 x 180 brakes. Whether loaded or empty, the spreader rides well on the road, even at 50km/h.
Beaters
The Pro+ range is fitted with a wider-stepped beater with a larger 855mm wide diameter auger and 1,175mm wide spinner paddles for a wide spread.
The beater design uses a reversible Boron 12mm tips, a high tensile Boron stepped spiral pattern and heavy-duty 200mm S355 tube.
The beaters are mechanically driven by a PTO at 1,000rpm through a one-piece gearbox at a speed of 420rpm. For the past few years, AgriSpread has been fabricating and balancing the beaters themselves in-house. The spreading deck features replaceable Hardox wear panels.
We spread a variety of well-decayed and fresh farmyard manure, and some chicken dung. We were pleasantly surprised with the beater’s ability to break up the fresher dung, while applying an even distribution.
Other options
The machine we tried out featured manual floor control, which essentially means floor speed is controlled through the tractor’s hydraulics. For those looking to go one step further, the range can be equipped with weight cells, which work with IsoBus to act as an auto rate controller.
This means the floor speed will be automatically adjusted to achieve the set application rate. This spec of machine is compatible with all IsoBus tractors or AEF certified terminals and GPS systems.
The test machine we used didn’t have a slurry door indicator, but it is available as an optional extra. This allows the operator to see what height the rear door is opened to from the cab. Other options include mudguards, air brakes, a spoon hitch, a screw jack and a range of camera/light options.
If you are in the market for a dung spreader, it’s seriously worth considering going the extra mile and opting for an auto rate controller, particularly if you qualify for Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) III grant aid. Rear-discharge dung spreaders were included in the most recent revision, with reference costs calculated in m3 (y = 3202.7x + 6766).
A heavy-duty torque cam clutch system protects the beater gearbox.
Basing it on this machine, it would have a reference cost of €44,557.86. Realistically, dung spreaders are a long-term investment, and with nutrient usage on farms ever tightening, being confident of an accurate application rate is worth considering.
Well finished
One nice feature, now quite popular with a growing number of manufacturers in this space, is the auto-fold cover on the lights.
Once the slurry door is opened, this function automatically folds a cover down over lights, protecting them from contact with any foreign objects and keeping them clean for safe transport on the road. This is fitted as standard.
We were impressed with the machines even application.
Not alone are the spreaders well built, but they also look well. One point you couldn’t but notice was the finish on the paintwork.
This follows a big investment by AgriSpread in its preparation and paint department. All machines are shot-blasted, two-pack painted and oven baked in a state-of-the-art blast and paint facility.
Verdict
I can confidently say that the AgriSpread Pro+ spreader is up there with the very best on the market.
The machine is well-built, but yet not overly heavy, it’s easy to drive and it pulls really nice on the road. We ran the machine on a Claas Arion 650 with 185hp on tap.
The beaters are mechanically driven by a PTO at 1,000rpm through a one-piece gearbox at a speed of 420rpm.
The tractor powered the spreader with absolute ease. The only time it may get caught out would be for weight, when the spreader is fully loaded, particularly if conditions get tricky.
The 14t machine is a big brute, but it’s packed with clever engineering ideas. AgriSpread uses premium, well-proven, off-the-shelf, quality components, which will pay dividends for long-term users.
The paint finish is really impressive and crowns what we would say is a well-engineered, home-grown piece of machinery.
Overall, we were hugely impressed with the machine and its capabilities, and would have no qualms whatsoever about buying one in the morning.
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: