As farmers shut the door on the 2014 production season (save for those in Ontario still slogging through corn harvest), so too do we wind down the last of the Spray Tips series. In this post-harvest down-time, it’s important to take a much needed breather, then, before you know it’ll be time to start the… Read More
How often do you test spray-water quality and what do you do if you’ve got hard water? If you’re looking to replace your spray tank, is stainless still the way to go? What about double nozzles — are they really the bees knees? These are just some of the questions the Spray Tips series has… Read More
Hiring an aerial applicator means fewer tracks in the crop and often a quicker spray application, but spray planes are not miraculous, says Tom Wolf. In fact, they deal with a lot of the same challenges as their well-grounded counterparts. Related: Spray Tips with Tom Wolf — Ep. 8: Measuring Spray Coverage In this episode of Spray… Read More
When warm air is cooled, it loses some of its moisture-holding capabilities. This change often occurs at night, when plants (and other objects) cool. Once the temperature of the surface of the leaves, for example, drops below the dewpoint, it causes water to condense, forming the shiny dew that causes so many to question early morning spray applications. Related: Spray Tips with… Read More
The importance of good spray coverage is emphasized in all kinds of agricultural publications, including product labels. But, according to Tom Wolf, spray application specialist with AgriMetrix Research and Training in this episode of Spray Tips, “the labels are remarkably silent on what good coverage actually is and how you can actually measure it.” Wolf goes… Read More
One of the greatest threats to lost return and non-target plant damage in spraying is drift. Spray applicators have to be conscious of all kinds of factors that affect the risk of drift, including windspeed, boom height, potential inversions and, of course, spray quality. Related: Identifying Spray Quality with a Smartphone In this episode of Spray Tips, Tom Wolf,… Read More
The first question during the spray season is likely, what kills this weed spectrum? The second might just be, “How do I clean our my sprayer properly without risking crop injury next go-round?” In this episode of Spray Tips, Tom Wolf, spray application specialist and @Nozzle_Guy, answers not just that question, but also a few… Read More
What’s the right choice for nozzle fan angle? 80 degrees or 110 degrees? That’s this Spray Tips’ Question of the Week and that discussion leads very nicely into the topic of this episode — ideal boom height. How do we select the right boom height? Nozzle fan angle does play a role, but so does… Read More
Good spray quality is essential in application, but all of the factors involved can make getting there quite a challenge. In reviewing magazines, you may see that publishers will bold a certain pressure (like 40psi). They do this not because that is the pressure the nozzle must experience, but because that is the pressure at which… Read More
After running through your sprayer’s routine maintenance, it’s time to assess the suitability of its nozzles for upcoming applications, and, let’s face it, that decision can be pretty complicated. Besides the typical competition between manufacturers, you also have to consider spray quality. Do you want coarse droplets? Fine droplets? Air induction nozzles? Twin-fan nozzles? How… Read More
It’s early morning on a bright, clear day. The sun is just starting to climb. There’s a heavy dew on the crop. Should you still head out to spray? Well, the dew is one thing, but there’s a much larger factor at play here that should factor in your decision. Whether or not you should… Read More
What’s the only surefire way to know whether or not the sprayer is applying product at the rate you’ve specified? Can you let the cab monitor set it and forget it? That’s the very first question Tom Wolf, spray application specialist and founder of AgriMetrix Research & Training, tackles in this episode of Spray tips,… Read More
Two years ago our Exploding Spray Myths team raced against time to show sprayer operators that more air is not better when it comes to efficiently operating airblast sprayers. In this new episode, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affair’s Jason Deveau and Tom Wolf, of AgriMetrix, return to the orchard to show growers how to… Read More
The Spray Guys are back with a Canadian culture mash up that sees them reprise the roles of Bob and Doug McKenzie, everybody’s favourite beer drinking duo. In this episode of Exploding Spray Myths, our two hosers, played by Jason Deveau and Tom Wolf, somehow manage to jerry-rig a satellite hot stove lounge where they interview… Read More
Today’s radio show is coming to you from Saskatoon, SK, where host Shaun Haney is stationed at Western Canadian Crop Production Show for a few days. Today, on the show: Highlights from the show with Lori Cates, manager – agriculture at Prairieland Park. Jean Lundquist from NuFarm provides an update from Saskatoon, touches on market… Read More