Main category for all sprayers that are not horizontal booms
This case study is taking place on a 15 acre highbush blueberry operation in southern Ontario. In 2016, considerable pressure from spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) prompted the growers to make changes to their crop management practices and their spray program. They employed a three-pronged approach to improving crop protection: We have been tracking pesticide use, water […]
Read More… from Crop-Adapted Spraying in Highbush Blueberry: Nine years of pesticide savings
I’ve experienced a few spectacular failures trying to build niche sprayers. Until now, I haven’t had a reason to write much about them. But I decided the contrast, and confession, would be a fun way to set the scene for a discussion about an excellent niche sprayer. Failed Attempts First, the ill-fated “Hops Sprayer”. We […]
Read More… from The Micothon M2 – The benefit of air-assist spraying in a vegetable greenhouse
Targeted spraying is a technology that enables the site-specific application of plant protection products and liquid fertilizers based on sensor readings. Some of the latest machines incorporate computer vision and processing capabilities that can distinguish between different types of weeds and crops based on multiple adjustable criteria. The Swiss-made ARA Sprayer by Ecorobotix, has recently […]
This article was co-written with Jennifer Llewellyn, former OMAFA Nursery Crop Specialist With more and more bio-rational products on the market, crop protection methods may require reassessment. Certain products require exacting water quality, cannot tolerate residues, and have half-lives that are both time- and temperature-critical. We’ve been getting questions about sprayer compatibility with some of […]
Read More… from Circulating Spray Mix Through a Tank-Rinse Nozzle Maintains Nematode Concentration
The level of filtration required for any given spray operation depends on the materials sprayed and the nuisance factor: That is, the balance between lost productivity from plugged nozzles and the effort required to address them during rinsing. There are opportunities to install strainers at the tank opening (usually a basket), the suction-side of the […]