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
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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
New sprayer operators — or seasoned sprayer operators who just need a refresher — might be wondering what to winterize their sprayer with, and how to do it. In this episode of Canola School, Tom Wolf of AgriMetrix and Sprayers 101, joins Kara Oosterhuis to talk about sprayer winterization — the technical side, and the… Read More
Jason Deveau, application technology specialist with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Tom Wolf, co-founder of Agrimetrix — and both of Sprayers 101 — are BACK for this episode of Exploding Sprayer Myths! If you’re cleared to fly a drone, spraying product with a drone is easy peasy, right? Actually, that’s a… Read More
In a year when input prices have skyrocketed, producers are looking for ways to cut back where they can to maximize profits. When it comes to pesticides, is it possible to stretch or conserve product without sacrificing performance and efficiency? On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Canola School, research scientist and sprayer guru Tom Wolf shares tips… Read More