[Apple-Crop] sprayer calibration debate

[John Bruguiere]

Hello all, need some healthy practical advice on sprayer calibration.  
Specifically air blast sprayers.  For decades we have measured a block 
of trees to determine acreage, sprayed out tank and determined gallons 
per acre based on what area was covered in tank. For example trees 
planted at 8 x 18 spacing gave us 300 trees to acre, we sprayed out 
tank, counted trees and determined that our sprayer puts out 2.5 acres 
per tank.  we used this  to determine amount of material to put in the 
tank etc. All the calibration formulas , I have seen require tree row 
volume(height x row spacing) to be part of equation.  I have 4-5 
different spacings in 100 acres of orchard which makes it more of a 
headache to constantly figure gallons per acre and spray materials 
needed in each different block(thus the reason we simply measured trees 
per acre). I know my speed , i know my gallons per minute but can't find 
an equation that converts this to gallons per acre without tree row volume.

need a simple but effective solution...any takers?

in Virginia we have plums in full bloom, fantasia and red gold 
nectarines in pink and some open blooms, 21 degrees forecasted on friday 
and saturday night.

God Bless,

John Bruguiere

Dickie Bros. Orchard


On 1/30/2017 6:36 PM, Arthur Kelly wrote:
> I agree Mo.  We try and remove trees every year and plant every year. 
>  I did use the word can to hedge the productive life of a block.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 30, 2017, at 5:48 PM, maurice tougas 
> <appleman.maurice at gmail.com <mailto:appleman.maurice at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>> Art
>>
>> I agree that it's great to be out pruning. I disagree that you should 
>> expect a longer productive life with high density systems. My goal 
>> here is to be looking at replanting when the orchard reaches twenty 
>> years or so. New varieties, strains of varieties and improved 
>> planting system encourage 5% renewal in my opinion.
>>
>> My best to you
>> Mo Tougas
>>
>> On Mon, Jan 30, 2017 at 1:27 PM, George Greene <cortland9 at icloud.com 
>> <mailto:cortland9 at icloud.com>> wrote:
>>
>>     Art:
>>
>>     Your comment makes sense to me.  Right now I have a cold and I
>>     fell on the ice on Dec. 29th and I am still suffering.  Pt may
>>     help but it may take a while.
>>
>>     I suppose that you are enjoying the warmer weather.
>>
>>     Be well, George
>>
>>>     On Jan 30, 2017, at 12:43 PM, kellyorchards
>>>     <kellyorchards at gmail.com <mailto:kellyorchards at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>>     Ruminations after a morning pruning.  The weather is ideal.  The
>>>     temps are in the high 20's, the wind is light and the sun is
>>>     shining. Weather like this is why we live here.  Permanent limbs
>>>     ultimately and inevitably get too large.  This is why high
>>>     density systems can have a longer productive life than less
>>>     dense orchards.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>     Art Kelly
>>>     Kelly Orchards
>>>     Acton, Maine
>>>     _______________________________________________
>>>     apple-crop mailing list
>>>     apple-crop at virtualorchard.com <mailto:apple-crop at virtualorchard.com>
>>>     http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
>>>     <http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop>
>>
>>     George Greene
>>     68 Willow Lane
>>     Wiscasset, ME 04578
>>     207-882-8074 <tel:%28207%29%20882-8074>
>>     cortland9 at icloud.com <mailto:cortland9 at icloud.com>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Maurice Tougas
>> Tougas Family Farm
>> Northborough,MA 01532
>> 508-450-0844
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>
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