[Apple-Crop] sprayer calibration debate
Hal Wentzel
appls4u at gmail.com
Thu Mar 2 16:27:29 EST 2017
Thanks,
Hal
On Thu, Mar 2, 2017 at 10:48 AM Peter Werts <pwerts at ipminstitute.org> wrote:
> Hal,
>
>
>
> Question. As an enclosed-cabbed tractor ages, will the seal around the
> doors wear out, or better yet, how do you verify the enclosed cab is
> providing the protection you are after? That might make an argument for
> wearing the respirator in the cab, at some point during the life of the
> tractor.
>
>
>
> Regarding the rest of calibration of the calibration discussion, you
> should be able to separate tree-row volume from your calculations which use
> row width, travel speed and gallons-per minute, to establish a gallon per
> acre application rate. All the growers we work with have variability in
> their row spacing. Three things we do to address this include minor
> adjustments to travel speed, flipping over/turning on or off spray nozzles,
> and use of spray control systems. So, lots of ways to skin that cat, but
> we finish and think we have it set up correctly, we verify by hanging those
> water/oil-sensitive cards in the trees and see if we are satisfied with the
> coverage.
>
>
>
> I would never trust a site line on a spray tank and it is easy to put more
> water in a tank than what a tank is labeled to hold. Think about any water
> bottle, the 30 fl. oz. mark is about an inch below the top of the bottle.
> As with a sprayer, if you fill it all the way up, there will be more water
> in it, than what it is labeled to hold. A good way to check is to
> calculate the GPM flow of the hose you use to fill your sprayer with, then
> just set a timer to accurately fill your tank. This will help you be sure
> you are putting the correct amount of water in the tank, before you run it
> out through your control block.
>
>
>
> Another helpful website is http://sprayers101.com/airblast101/
>
>
>
> Several years ago we had some money from EPA to go calibrate sprayers. We
> worked on dozens of spray scenarios and found applicators were applying 52%
> more water, on average, than what they were reporting. The number of
> broken nozzles, missing screens, etc. was amazing. So at the very least,
> regardless of what method you use, calibration helps address some of the
> basic maintenance needs of a sprayer, which is helpful in preventing
> breakdowns during that first primary scab infection at green tip.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Peter
>
>
>
>
>
> =============================
>
> Peter Werts
>
> Specialty Crops Project Manager
>
> IPM Institute of North America, Inc.
>
> 211 South Paterson St.
>
> Suite #380
>
> Madison WI 53703
>
> Office: 608 232-1410
>
> Cell: 612 518-0319
>
> Fax: 608 232-1440
>
> pwerts at ipminstitute.org
>
> www.ipminstitute.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* apple-crop [mailto:apple-crop-bounces at virtualorchard.com] *On
> Behalf Of *Con.Traas
> *Sent:* Thursday, March 2, 2017 9:46 AM
>
>
> *To:* 'Apple-Crop discussion list' <apple-crop at virtualorchard.com>
>
> *Subject:* Re: [Apple-Crop] sprayer calibration debate
>
>
>
> Hello Hal,
>
> I don’t think an additional respirator should be needed. After all, the
> respirator in the tractor cab is the same design (only larger) than the one
> on the oral one.
>
> Regarding the theoretical calibration of sprayers, whenever an inspector
> tells me they to do it with water, and to apply that result to a
> water/chemical mixture I have a go at them. Only a regulator who never
> applied products with different viscosities (due to temperature or
> different mixtures) would pretend you can pre-calibrate with more than a
> 90% accuracy. The fact is the same sprayer with different products in it,
> or water of different temperatures, will put our at different rates.
>
>
>
> Con (Cornelius) Traas
>
> Room SR2-009,
>
> Department of Biological Sciences,
>
> University of Limerick.
>
> Ph: 061-202905
>
> M: 086-6091998
>
> T: @theapplefarmer
>
>
>
> *From:* apple-crop [mailto:apple-crop-bounces at virtualorchard.com
> <apple-crop-bounces at virtualorchard.com>] *On Behalf Of *Hal Wentzel
> *Sent:* 02 March 2017 15:24
> *To:* Apple-Crop discussion list
> *Subject:* Re: [Apple-Crop] sprayer calibration debate
>
>
>
> Since I upgraded my tractor this winter, I plan on recalibration and this
> is the method I plan to use. Adjust the nozzles and the tractor speed
> until I feel I get adequate coverage of the trees. I will then fill my
> tank with 50 gallons of water, and spray it over a prescribed route. When
> the tank is empty, I calculate the acres sprayed. From that I can
> determine the number of gallons per acre. To that number of gallons, I
> will add the chemical required per acre. Since we are high density, well
> pruned, I multiply by .7 (captan: 6# x .7= 4.2 #). If I travel the same
> route, I will get the required spray per acre.
>
>
>
> A different question: my new tractor has an enclosed cab (no more monkey
> suit), with an activated charcoal filter. What is the opinion on the
> necessity of also wearing a respirator. EPA would say yes, but are they
> too cautious.
>
> Hal Wentzel
>
> Pleasant View Orchard
>
> Niagara, Wi
>
> 715-927-2050
>
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 2, 2017 at 8:16 AM John Bruguiere <John at dickiebros.com> wrote:
>
> 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>
> 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>
> 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>
> 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
>
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>
>
> George Greene
>
> 68 Willow Lane
>
> Wiscasset, ME 04578
>
> 207-882-8074 <%28207%29%20882-8074>
>
> cortland9 at icloud.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>
>
> --
>
> Maurice Tougas
> Tougas Family Farm
> Northborough,MA 01532
> 508-450-0844
>
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> --
>
> Hal Wentzel
>
> Pleasant View Orchard
>
> W6050 Chapman Road
>
> Niagara, WI 54151
>
> 715-927-2050
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--
Hal Wentzel
Pleasant View Orchard
W6050 Chapman Road
Niagara, WI 54151
715-927-2050
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