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
In gale force winds, it’s pretty easy to make the call to park the sprayer; but on days that are a little breezy, and if time is tight, there are things you can do to manage drift risk and do a better job of spraying in less than ideal conditions. Of course, time is a… Read More
This week’s RealAgriculture LIVE segment features Tom Wolf of Agrimetrix, Sprayers 101, and Spray Myths fame, answering all the tough questions ahead of the growing season. From nozzle selection, water volume in dry conditions, herbicide resistance, and if he has a favourite nozzle, RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney and Tom cover a lot of ground… Read More
A good fungicide application is all about getting the active ingredient where it needs to be at the right time to prevent disease. That can be a challenge in lentils, especially when conditions have been conducive for thick canopy growth, as is the case in parts of Western Canada this summer. “We’re looking for ways… Read More
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
RealAgriculture and spray application specialist Tom Wolf, with AgriMetrix Research and Training, have teamed up to bring two one-day sprayer clinics in April. Sponsored by Bayer CropScience, the two events will take place in Saskatoon April 5th, and Brandon, April 12. The Brandon event is hosted and sponsored by Assiniboine Community College. The Saskatoon event… 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
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