In The Field September 2025

Since taking over as Technical Sales Manager for the North, I don’t know where the last four months have gone! The level of interest in our sprayers has been nothing short of phenomenal.

We’re seeing interest across a range of boom widths, typically between 24 to 36 meters. The RB35 figures heavily in the various configurations I have been working on. It hits that sweet spot for a lot of customers in terms of size, flexibility, and capability.

But the real story here is about Bateman’s reputation, particularly in the contracting side of agriculture. Our strong relationships with long-term users is helping us maintain momentum, especially in sectors like vegetable and root crops.

Take Scotland, for instance, where there’s a lot of potato farming. We’re seeing solid sales for machines in the region. Many of these customers are involved in mixed cropping systems, growing not only potatoes but cereals and maize for AD (anaerobic digestion) plants too. The versatility of our machines makes them a good fit for that kind of farming.

The Buzz at Cereals 2025

It was great to catch up with everyone at Cereals 2025. The atmosphere was really positive. Despite the current climate, farmers are realists, they know they can’t stand still. Even if it’s a “make do and mend” kind of year, they still place a priority on keeping their machinery up to date.

Cereals is always a great platform. The level of engagement this year was strong, there were a lot of meaningful conversations, particularly around Carbon Bee technology.

Tech on the Move: Carbon Bee

Carbon Bee was a hot topic, with good reason. Farmers can see the potential real-world benefits of this technology. The weed recognition capabilities, powered by AI, are moving ahead at a serious pace. What’s exciting is the system’s ability to recognise weeds between rows, especially useful in crops like maize.

Our customers recognise there’s an initial capital investment, but if you look at the bigger picture – over five or ten years, the cost savings can be substantial. Farmers won’t need to spray chemicals where they’re not needed and that can have a significant impact on input costs.

Why Bateman?

Of course, tech alone doesn’t sell machines. The Bateman name carries weight. There’s genuine loyalty to the brand, which I’m seeing at first-hand. Customers love their Batemans. They know that if something goes wrong, someone will be on their doorstep within 24 hours. That level of support means a lot in this industry.

There’s a sense of pride too. We’re a British company, building machines here in the UK, with parts readily available from our base and through our approved partners.

Supporting British farmers is more than a tagline, it’s at the heart of everything we do. I’m proud to be part of it.