The present disclosure refers to a method for operating an agricultural machine, the agricultural machine having a boom (1) horizontally extending, a balancing system (4) balancing an orientation of the boom (1) in operation, and a tension system (7) adapted for applying pretension to the boom (1), the method comprising: moving the agricultural application machine over soil； balancing the orientation of the boom (1) by the balancing system (4)； limiting or completely preventing balancing of the orientation of the boom (1) by the balancing system (4), and keeping the boom (1) in a pre-tensioned orientation by activating the tension system (7)； and enabling balancing of the orientation of the boom (1) by the balancing system (4) by deactivating the tension system (7). Further, an agricultural machine is provided.
