Agricultural Sprayer
Talking with Tom Wolf Phd (@nozzle_guy) about the latest technology for an agricultural sprayer, proper timing of application, and the value of weather data.
Tom is the owner of Agrimetrix Research & Training, a company focused on improved delivery of crop protection products.
Episode Notes
- A crop in the presence of competition will limit its own growth.
- Small window of time to stay ahead of pests.
- Limiting factors for efficient spraying.
- Properly atomizing the spray to minimize drift and still allow for effective coverage.
- Steps in sprayer innovation.
- Latest technology that could reduce pesticide input by up to 75%.
- Adaptability required in farming.
- The need to focus on the long term.
- Federal regulations on MRL.
- How valuable accurate site specific weather forecasting would be.
Agriculture Terms
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
- Used to detect living green vegetation through reflection of visible and near-infrared light.
Pre-seed Burnoff
- Practice of applying herbicide to field prior to seeding to terminate unwanted growth.
Rainfast
- Amount of time needed before rainfall for pesticide to be effective.
Preharvest Interval
- Time between last application of pesticide and harvest to meet MRL.
Maximum Residue Limit (MRL)
- Legal limit to amount of pesticide residue present on or in food when adhering to product label.
Conservation Tillage
- Reducing soil erosion by leaving previous years crop on field before and during next planting season.