Cereals 2025 Unboxed: Two days, five machines and a full tank of good vibes
Cereals has always held a special place in the Bateman calendar – its where ideas are launched, conversations sparked, and relationships strengthened.
But this year’s event felt even more significant. Under two glorious days of sunshine, the Bateman stand was absolutely buzzing.
From long-standing customers, to new people interested in what sets our machines apart, the turnout exceeded expectations. With five Bateman sprayers on display and demonstrations in the spraying arena, visitors had plenty to explore.
A stand that delivered: Five machines, endless conversations
We pride ourselves on building sprayers that don’t just meet expectations – they exceed them. At Cereals, we had the opportunity to showcase this with:
- RB26, RB35, and RB55 sprayers on display
- A custom RB55 lime spreader, showing the versatility of our chassis
- Demonstrations in the field, highlighting performance in action
- A dedicated PWM demo rig that drew crowds all day
Stand-out features included our upcoming CapMod precision control module and AI-powered spot-spraying technology from Carbon Bee. These innovations are part of a wider programme of design and production enhancements – all aimed at making Bateman sprayers the most efficient, capable and future-ready machines in the field.
Celebrating 25 years of the Bateman VG Boom – where it all began
This year marks the quarter century of our Variable Geometry (VG) Boom, launched at this very event in the year 2000.
Back then, it was a UK-first: a 36-metre steel boom with floating section design, allowing unprecedented control and precision. Today, our third-generation VG Boom builds on that legacy with lighter sections (up to 30% weight saving) and 80% of components re-engineered for even better performance and durability.
We say that its ‘often imitated, never bettered’ and it was rewarding to hear visitors talk about how the VG Boom has become a cornerstone of their spraying operations over the past two decades.
Looking ahead: AI spot spraying and CapMod PWM innovation
A major talking point at the stand was our integration of AI-powered spot spraying technology, developed in partnership with Carbon Bee. Visitors got a first look at how this real-time weed and crop detection system can reduce herbicide usage by up to 95%, thanks to the SmartStriker X camera system detecting weeds both in and between rows
The system offers complete plug-and-play ISOBUS integration with current Bateman models, and is a major step forward in nature-positive, sustainable farming. This technology will have a huge impact on herbicide efficiency, soil health and long-term sustainability – themes that resonate with farmers more than ever before.
Another future-ready feature that created a buzz was CapMod, our latest PWM development.
Working in tandem with Capstan’s PinPoint III system, CapMod acts as an auxiliary processing unit, effectively giving your system a ‘brain boost’. It opens the door to new application strategies like individual nozzle variable rate control, tailored to prescription maps and specific crop requirements. While still in development, the potential of CapMod is clear and conversations on-stand reflected that excitement.
Our thanks to Brian Finstrom from Capstan Ag, who once again joined us in person to explain the tech in detail and support the demo rig over both days.
Jonathan Hardy’s final lap
Cereals also marked the end of an era for Bateman, as we officially said goodbye to Jonathan Hardy, our long-standing Technical Sales Manager, who retired earlier this spring after 25 years with the business.
Jonathan has been a trusted face for farmers up and down the country, always ready with advice, insight, and support. To honour his incredible contribution, we held a BBQ on the stand at the end of day one, bringing together customers, colleagues and friends to give him the send-off he deserved.
Top of the crops: Mark Turner named Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year
We were thrilled to see RB35 operator Mark Turner crowned the FSOOTY champion at Cereals 2025.
Mark’s win is no small feat. The competition is rigorous, with judging covering every aspect of spraying knowledge and performance. After narrowly missing out in previous years, Mark’s perseverance paid off and we couldn’t be happier for him.
The award also highlights the crucial role operators play in maximising the performance of Bateman machines. Congratulations again Mark – well earned!
Driving Sprayers Issue 6 is now available
The latest edition of Driving Sprayers magazine was snapped up fast from our stand. Featuring behind-the-scenes stories, product insights, and customer success tales from across the UK, if you didn’t manage to pick a copy up, it’s now available to read online or download as a PDF. If you would prefer a printed copy please email: mail@batemansprayers.com.
As always, Cereals delivered another farmer-focused event
Thank you to everyone who visited our stand. We’re always delighted to meet customers face-to-face, hear about what you are trying to achieve and welcome your interest in what we’re building at Bateman.
We often say that we don’t just build sprayers – we build partnerships. Cereals 2025 was further proof of that, with collaboration, innovation, and shared goals at the heart of every conversation.
If you didn’t catch us at Cereals, there’s still time to see what makes a Bateman special. We’ll be heading to events in Devon, Scotland and Yorkshire later this year, and we’d love to see you there. And if you’d prefer a closer look on your own ground, just get in touch to arrange an on-farm demo – we’ll bring the sprayer to you.
Jason Bateman
CEO
R.J. Bateman Engineering
Would you like to book a demo? Contact us today and arrange for the Bateman Demonstration Team to visit your farm.
