Ohio State University Extension is gearing up to host the Northwest Ohio Precision Ag Sprayer Day at the Fulton County Fairgrounds, Aug. 9. Farmers, retailers and crop consultants are invited to increase their know-how during this all-encompassing event.

“They have to make sure their sprayers are calibrated, rates are correct, drift is reduced as much as possible, and application coverage is the best it can be,” says Eric Richer, agriculture and natural resources educator for Ohio State University Extension and organizer of the event.

Pesticide application takes skill

“There will be a wide variety of precision spray equipment demonstrated that day, all the way from the most advanced self-propelled sprayers costing hundreds of thousands of dollars down to four-wheeler or ATV small sprayers,” Richer says. “From a budget perspective, we’ll be covering a wide spectrum.

“We’ll also talk about the latest and greatest in nozzle technologies. Costs can range from just a couple of dollars to $10 to $12 for a single nozzle.”

The event takes place from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds at 8591 State Route 108, Wauseon. Registration is $25 if postmarked by Aug. 1 or $40 at the door (space permitting) and includes lunch. A complete agenda and registration form can be downloaded at fulton.osu.edu.

The morning portion of the program will focus on education. “We’ll show farmers how to calibrate their sprayer, whether they have one of the oldest sprayers in the county or the newest,” Richer says. “Sprayer calibration is important each and every year.”

Erdal Ozkan, an agricultural engineering professor in the college and spray technology expert, and Greg LaBarge, agronomic systems field specialist with OSU Extension, will lead that portion of the program.

“We want to make sure we’re at the right rate, the right coverage and the right droplet size so we minimize drift,” Richer says

New seed technologies anticipated to be coming on the market soon will make such precision even more vital, he added. “With dicamba and 2,4-D soybeans on the horizon for 2017, applicators will want to make sure pesticide doesn’t drift off-site and damage non-target plants, including neighboring specialty crops and landscaping,” Richer says. “This program will be an opportunity to educate farmers and retailers on that topic.”

Also in the morning, Mark Gaerte of Gaerte Ag Service will conduct a flyover aerial spray demonstration, and a sponsor panel will discuss improved pesticide technologies.

In the afternoon, live demonstrations will take place thanks to the participation of industry partners, including:

Participants at the event will qualify for 3.5 hours of pesticide applicator recertification credits from both the Ohio and the Michigan departments of agriculture, Richer says.

For more information, contact Richer at [email protected] or call the Fulton County OSU Extension office at 419-337-9210.

Source: OSU