Digital Ag

As the weather turns warmer and the days grow longer, many of us are thinking about getting equipment like sprayers ready for the spring. Beyond making sure the machine is mechanically sound and fit for spring (which this past blog post can guide you through), we need to make sure it’s calibrated to accurately apply pesticides and fertilizer.

Pulse width modulated (PWM) sprayer nozzle technology has been present in the ag industry for many years. These systems can maintain pressure as speed changes by adjusting the duty cycle of the nozzle, allowing more or less product to flow out. Many systems also offer individual nozzle section control, which can reduce overapplication of product at headlands and around field obstacles. Another key benefit of these systems that is not often well understood is turn compensation.

As farming slows down for the winter, many producers start thinking about what tools they might want to add to their farm for the next crop season. Throughout the year, we’ve shared information on equipment and products that you might be considering for your operation. If you are looking to change up your equipment or technology before the 2021 crop year, here’s a comprehensive list of articles, video, and information that might be helpful in making these decisions to best support your operation.

Field Agronomist Meaghan Anderson and Program Specialist Ryan Bergman explain some tips to make sure you have the best dry fertilizer application for your operation when using a spinner spreader. This includes some tools recommended tools to keep in the cab, like an SGN sizing tool and a crush tester to check the size and density of dry fertilizer particles, and how to set up your machine for the best application with a specific fertilizer or blend. 

Claims of poor fertilizer application and visual striping in fields have increased in recent years. This issue impacts all sectors of the supply chain including growers, custom applicators, cooperatives and agribusiness insurance companies. An increase in documented application problems is primarily driven by a broader use of aerial imagery that can easily detect problems and an increase in use of dry nitrogen fertilizers.

Prior to spring field operations, ensuring your equipment is ready can save valuable time and reduce stress when windows get tight due to weather conditions. The sprayer is a critical piece of equipment in most crop production operations. Ensuring your sprayer is mechanically sound, clean, and properly setup will help ensure quality and timely applications of spring fertilizer and pesticides.