Author: Jason Deveau (Spray_Guy)

About Jason Deveau (Spray_Guy): Dr. Jason Deveau (@spray_guy) has been the OMAFRA Application Technology Specialist since '08. He researches and teaches methods to improve the safe, effective and efficient application of agricultural sprays in specialty crops, field crops and controlled environments. He is the co-administrator of Sprayers101, co-author of the Airblast101 Textbook, a slow cyclist and an even slower runner.

Posts by Jason Deveau (Spray_Guy)

What’s a Ramsay Valve?

Posted on April 8, 2024 (April 10, 2024)

This article has been modified with kind permission from an article on Retrofit Parts. Liquid pressure in an agricultural sprayer must be controlled so as to apply the correct volume of spray per hectare. For sprayers that use positive-displacement pumps driven by the tractor’s power take-off, higher flow rates are produced than are actually required. […]

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Exploring Spray Drones in Soybean

Posted on March 19, 2024 (March 25, 2024)

White mould is caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and it’s an annual threat to soybean when cool, wet conditions correspond with flowering. Variety selection (e.g. high tolerance) and cultural control (e.g. crop rotation and wider row width) are important management tools, but ultimately the application of a crop protection product between R1 and R2 […]

How to Succeed with a Soil Drench Application in Strawberries

Posted on February 26, 2024 (February 26, 2024)

In 2016, Ontario berry growers were surveyed to determine the typical spray volume they used to apply unspecified crop protection products. For strawberry growers (day-neutral and June-bearing), the results spanned 50 to 1,000 L/ha (~5 gpa to ~100 gpa). In an earlier survey (2013), respondents specified 250 to 650 L/ha (~26.5 to 70 gpa) for […]

Beluga Drop Hoses in Corn: Utility and Return on Investment (2023 Update)

Posted on December 18, 2023 (December 21, 2023)

In 2019 we evaluated the spray coverage from nine application methods on corn silks. The results showed that a directed application from drop hoses (aka drop pipes, drop legs) suspended in between the rows gave significantly higher deposits. The results led us to wonder if the superior coverage from a directed application translated to improved […]

Crop-Adapted Spraying – A Multiyear Study in Highbush Blueberry (2023 Update)

Posted on October 12, 2023 (October 17, 2023)

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 […]

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