Sprayers

Spraying a field — Figure 1. Thoroughly cleaning a sprayer after pesticide application is necessary to avoid potential off-target contamination. Just one drop of dicamba can cause visible injury to three acres of crops.

Think Your Sprayer's Clean? Think Again June 6, 2018

A 120-foot sprayer can have as many as 96 nozzles and screens and stow away as much as 15 gallons of pesticide residue in its nooks and crannies after an application is done. Consider these tips for thoroughly cleaning your sprayer to avoid off-target contamination.

Pulse width modulation sprayer — Figure 1. The Capstan PinPoint® pulse-width modulation (PWM) sprayer used for this research is shown at the Palmer amaranth field site located near Beaver City. (Photos by Thomas Butts)

Precise Spray Droplet Sizes for Optimizing Herbicide Applications April 10, 2018

Achieving the most effective and consistent spray droplet size helps provide for precision application of pesticides, which saves input costs and reduces off-target movement. University researchers using a pulse-width modulation sprayer studied the best droplet size for effective weed control with six herbicides used in Nebraska crop production.

Greg Kruger demonstrating pesticide sprayer adjustments

Pesticide Spray Clinic March 6 in Syracuse February 23, 2018

Learn enhanced stewardship for dicamba and 2,4-D, how to better mitigate spray drift, and nozzle recommendations to improve control of troublesome weeds among other topics at an advanced clinic for pesticide spray applicators March 6 in Syracuse.

Removing Dicamba Residues from Your Sprayer: A Tricky Task February 15, 2018

Thoroughly cleaning your sprayer both before and after applying dicamba is required and can help reduce the potential for off-target damage. Check these recommended practices and see what research at Mississippi State University found when testing sprayer hoses.

An eastern Nebraska field with dicamba injury. — This eastern Nebraska soybean field was injured by off-target dicamba movement to a sensitive crop. Applying best management practices to all dicamba applications can help reduce the likelihood of similar whole-field damage in 2018.

Can We Manage Dicamba Applications in 2018? February 15, 2018

Factors leading to dicamba injury and how growers will need to practice best management practices with all dicamba applications in 2018 to help reduce injury to susceptible crops and other plants. This article discusses key practices to implement.

Greg Kruger, Nebraska Extension Weed Science and Application Technology Specialist, presenting sprayer nozzle information at a previous event.

New Southeast Nebraska Sprayer Clinic Feb. 8 January 27, 2017

The Southeast Nebraska Corn Growers Association and Nebraska Extension are teaming up to sponsor a new activity for area pesticide spray operators. A sprayer applicator clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wedneday, Feb. 8 at the 4-H Building in Crete at the Tuxedo Park and Fairgrounds. Doors will open for registration at 9 a.m.