The Chaos Springs Cyclone sprayers are precision-built, purpose-driven, and designed with the Kiwi farmer in mind. A must-see.
I’m partial to a bit of chaos – and not the sort that involves a broken PTO shaft on a Friday afternoon. I mean the kind of chaos that comes with trying something new, or finding better ways to do the old things, and, crucially, asking why we do them at all.
Enter the Chaos Springs Cyclone Sprayers – machines with a name that conjures up images of wild weather and wilder ideas, yet at its core, these multi-taskers are about precision and purpose. For owners Steve Erickson and Jenny Yates (a last name very familiar to many growers), the Cyclone Sprayers combine years of trial and error – a nod back to their horticultural roots.
As well as growing a range of organic fruit and vegetables, Chaos Springs make compost and soil management tools to help growers take control of their soil fertility.
Their 200-acre Waihi property is routinely subjected to their various experiments, honing of techniques and running workshops with other like-minded growers, around building biodiversity and resilience within their operation.
The Cyclone Multi-Task Sprayers were first launched in 2011. They were originally designed to spray compost, but the applications have spread far and wide. The machines are now used by farmers doing many different combinations of fine particle minerals, all sorts of fertilisers and brewing a variety of biological inoculums.
Test time
Right: The Kohler motor has proven very reliable
Our test location was in the beautiful hills of rural Karaka, where owner Steve Haddock warmly describes the transition of his lifestyle block from conventional to organic as ‘a journey’ – one that started after visiting one of Chaos Springs’ workshops about biodiversity.
He is now fully immersed – growing everything from bananas and manuka, to avocados, lavender and wilding paddocks, with fat and happy black, whiteface cattle looking inquisitively over the fence at us as we take the Cyclone for a hoon.
Cyclone mutli-task
Right: Large, logically routed pipes allow for the high percentage of particulate in the mix
First impressions draw people in, and with this Chaos Springs Cyclone Sprayer, robust construction and user-friendliness are right up there at the top of the list. The controls can literally hang around your neck, there are very few maintenance points, and it’s built from components that reflect more of a milking plant than a precision sprayer. However, therein lies the beauty – farmers look at it and immediately think they can fix it… which they can, if only it actually broke down in the first place that is.
Also, if I can operate it without consulting a manual thicker than a phone book, we’re off to a good start. Despite the size, the tanks are easy to access, hoses are routed with logic, not wishful thinking, and the boom – well, let’s just say it’s more versatile than a Swiss Army knife.
The sprayer’s multiple nozzles can deliver heavy soil drenches or fine mist foliar spray, and the agitation system ensures even the trickiest biological brews remain well mixed. Due to the design, clever hose routing and large trash pump, it can also handle up to 60% solids in the mix. Although most will be around 20-30%, some may have the larger particle size (mainly from compost), which is where the Cyclone really shines.
Models and configuration
As the testing and honing of the design evolved, so did the sizes available for sale. There are now six models available, from 270L up to 2500L. The majority are trailing in either single or tandem configuration. However, there is a three-point linkage option in the 700L, 1000L or 1200L models available. Across the range are PTO, hydraulic and Kohler motor options.
The pump is a result of years spent trialling different off-the-shelf pumps, before giving up and going to what Steve considers possibly the best pump designer in New Zealand – Warren Ubels. These are 304 cast stainless steel and are one the few cast stainless-steel pumps in the world. They are cast by A&G Price in Thames, assembled by Chaos Springs and have been the key to making the whole system robust and functional.
The setup works very well and has proven to be extremely reliable for Steve. The ability to run this motor option on both his tractor and ATV, as well as the remote on/off switch, delivers a highly versatile unit.
Regenerative agriculture
Right: There are a range of models and options to suit specific needs
Now, if you’ve doom scrolled down some rabbit holes of regen Facebook groups lately, you’ll know “regenerative agriculture” is the phrase du jour.
Regenerative agriculture is about working with the land, not against it. It’s about improving soil health, retaining water, increasing organic matter, and fostering resilience in your crops and pasture.
The Chaos Springs Cyclone is uniquely suited to this approach because it supports low disturbance, targeted input, and, most importantly, facilitates the application of biological amendments – think compost, beneficial microbes, and foliar nutrition.
The irony is not lost on Steve Erickson when I mention that his most lucrative market is likely people who want the machine to dissolve and spread granular urea to get more bang for buck. There are many examples of farmers using urea and other conventional fertilisers through the Cyclone, both here and around the world.
Mixing urea is one of the hardest things to do for sprayers, mainly due to the chemical reaction that happens where everything literally tries to freeze. With its ability to spread a mixture ration of 60:40 solid, liquid urea is a walk in the park for the Cyclone.
Summary
The Chaos Springs Cyclone Sprayer is more than just a new bit of kit for the shed. It’s a tool that fits the philosophy of supporting biodiversity, improving soil health and supporting the journey. Whether you’re farming for the next round, the next season, or for the next generation, the Cyclone can be the answer to all of the above.
The Chaos Springs team doesn’t care where you are on the farming spectrum, from wanting to follow the cows with it spreading urea, to coming to one of their workshops to learn about the biodiversity journey. With multiple tank options, ATV ones, big and little tractor ones, and ute ones, you can embark on your own chaotic journey.
And, crucially, there’s backup, not just for the sprayer but the journey. The Chaos Springs crew have a reputation for standing behind their gear – even when it’s on the other side of the world. How? Well, it’s all New Zealand designed and made, so parts are just a phone call away, as is advice about that spraying rate.
The Cyclone Multi-Task allows you to
- Custom blend your fertilisers to suit your farm
- Combine compost, minerals and fertilisers in a liquid format for single application
- Easily get to places where space is limited, such as between orchard rows
- Apply soil nutrition at the right time and when it suits you, not when it suits the contractor
- Make it easy to get other jobs done around the farm (like trough cleaning and washing down equipment)
- Buy and maintain just one reliable machine to help you do multiple tasks around the farm
- Choose from a range of models and options to suit your specific needs