Do Labels Help us Apply Pesticides Properly?

It happened three times this spring.  As is often the case, I was contacted by growers who wanted help with herbicide application.  In most of these calls, the discussion revolves around the proper choice of nozzles for a specific task, perhaps some questions on spray pressure, water volume and travel speed. But these three were […]

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Evaluating Electrostatic Spraying in Carrot

This research was performed with Dennis Van Dyk, OMAFRA Vegetable Crop Specialist. In 2018, MS Gregson introduced a line of electrostatic sprayers (the Ecostatik) in Canada. While electrostatic technology has been used in agriculture since the 1980’s, this is the first time ground rigsĀ have been so readily available to Ontario (possibly Canadian) growers. The 3-point hitch […]

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Adjuvants in the airblast tank

Spray adjuvants are tank mix additives that either physically or chemically influence the efficacy, consistency or safety of pesticides. For example, adjuvants can improve the handling characteristics of a spray solution (e.g. water conditioners, de-foamers, emulsifiers). They can improve uptake into a target plant and/or improve the amount of contact between spray droplet and target […]

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Diagnosing Airblast Coverage

Assuming there are no mechanical or maintenance problems, water-sensitive paper can be used to diagnose sprayer performance. Go here to read more about water-sensitive paper. Interpreting the results and knowing what changes to make is the critical part of the process. Observing no coverage, or a sodden paper, make for obvious conclusions… but what about everything in between? Here […]

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Spraying Sweet Corn

Jacto in Sweetcorn (Hamilton)

This article was written with information from George Hamilton, Field Extension Specialist with New Hampshire Cooperative Extension (retired), and from Dr. Ben Werling, West Michigan Vegetable Educator with Michigan State University Extension. Commercial sweet corn growers must use spray application equipment capable of depositing spray material at the ear zone. These producers often hail from […]

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