Dakota Farmer

Fill sprayer in under 10 minutes

Time-saving systems can make you 82% more efficient during spraying season.

Sarah McNaughton

February 24, 2023

2 Min Read
aerial shot of a tractor and sprayer in a field
TIME-SAVER: With tight deadlines for chemical applications, saving time can increase spraying efficiency and acres covered.moiseXVII/Getty Images

Short spraying windows mean every hour counts to get the proper chemicals to the field.

Matt Volkmar, director of sales and marketing at Summers, says anything to increase efficiency can be beneficial during spraying. The company’s product Spray Xpress helps farmers reach up to an 82% increase in productivity and cover up to 932 more acres a day. The product reduces the time needed to fill a tank on a 1,200-gallon sprayer from half an hour to a little under seven minutes.

On top of the time savings, Volkmar says other benefits include unit size and chemical batching. “You’re able to batch-fill up to six chemicals at a time, either liquid or dry,” he says. “With some glyphosate resistance happening in fields, producers might be creating unique chemical mixes to kill weeds, and the batching system definitely helps in this scenario.”

The compact size of the unit, when coupled with the system’s 3-inch plumbing, maintains a high flow volume. “There are options for metering and scales to know you’re getting the right amounts of chemical,” Volkmar says. “The size of the plumbing allows for more product productivity and lets you cover more acres.”

BE MORE EFFICIENT: The Spray Fill Xpress comes in two models, the SFX1630 with a 160-gallon capacity and the SXF2430 with a 240-gallon capacity. (Summers Manufacturing)

The system’s 304 stainless steel means that rinsing will completely clean the system to minimize worry of contamination and residue buildup.

Farmers have two options: the SFX2430 or SFX1630 model, with 240- or 160-gallon capacity, respectively. “Both have 40- or 80-gallon tanks that are very deep to ensure the chemical doesn’t splash and the system is safer,” Volkmar says.

Summers’ offices are located in Devils Lake, N.D., and Aberdeen, S.D. To find a dealer and for more information, visit the Summers Manufacturing website.

About the Author(s)

Sarah McNaughton

Editor, Dakota Farmer, Farm Progress

Sarah McNaughton is a graduate of North Dakota State University, with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture communications, along with minors in animal science and Extension education. She is working on completing her master’s degree in Extension education and youth development, also at NDSU. In her undergraduate program, she discovered a love for the agriculture industry and the people who work in it through her courses and involvement in professional and student organizations.

After graduating college, Sarah worked at KFGO Radio out of Fargo, N.D., as a farm and ranch reporter. She covered agriculture and agribusiness news for North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. Most recently she was a 4-H Extension agent in Cass County, N.D., teaching, coordinating and facilitating youth programming in various project areas.

She is involved in agriculture in both her professional and personal life, serving on the executive board for North Dakota Agri-Women, and as a member in American Agri-Women, Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority Alumni and Professional Women in Agri-business. As a life-long 4-H’er, she is a regular volunteer for North Dakota 4-H programs and events.

In her free time, she is an avid backpacker and hiker, enjoys running with her cattle dog Ripley, and can be found most summer weekends at rodeos around the Midwest.

Sarah is originally from Grand Forks, N.D., and currently resides in Fargo.

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