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SPRAY RODEO DAY: A CALIBRATION FIELD DAY FOR LARGE-BOOM COMMERCIAL SUGARCANE SPRAY RIGS

Extension Education

Ronald Rice
County Extension Director (Palm Beach)
University of Florida / IFAS
West Palm Beach

Abstract

\r\n National surveys indicate that >50% of pesticide application errors are due to improper equipment calibration.  Since 2006, the UF/IFAS Sugarcane Extension program has organized 5 Spray-Smart Workshops to emphasize hands-on calibrations on multi-nozzle booms, including drift management, nozzle technology, and calibration math demonstrations.  Objectives:  Expand Spray-Smart Workshop impacts with a Spray Rodeo event, where operators calibrate their own spray rigs, targeting at least 8 large-boom sprayers servicing one-fifth (80,000 acres) of Florida’s sugarcane acreage.  Methods:  Operator/supervisor teams navigated rigs through 4 stations (ground speed verification, nozzle output/pattern calibration, spray pump calibration, and sprayer safety).  All calibration data were documented to improve spray records.  A 25-question survey summarized operator/supervisor knowledge regarding their spray rig performance and knowledge gained at the 4 stations.  Results:  18 spray rigs servicing 200,000 acres of sugarcane were calibrated, with rig-specific gallon-per-acre (GPA) quantified.  All operators expressed confidence they were accurately calibrated for groundspeed, nozzle outputs, and pump pressure.  Before the Spray Rodeo event, 6 of 18 spray rigs emitted acceptable nozzle spray patterns while the remaining two-thirds had significant errors.  Comparing target GPA vs. actual GPA, 5 rigs were within 5% accuracy, 12 were within 10% accuracy, and 5 exceeded a 10% error rate.  Conclusions:  By quantifying calibration errors, this Spray Rodeo event identified appropriate adjustments, allowing spray operator/supervisor teams to accurately calibrate their large-boom sprayers for the 2011 spray season.  Savings (costs and environment) are significant.  One large-boom rig servicing 60,000 acres/season, spraying 10% over target rate, would over-apply roughly $150,000 of unnecessary pesticide.

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Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: R.W. Rice, L.E. Baucum
  1. Rice, R. Sugarcane/Rice Extension Agent IV, University of Florida Palm Beach County Extension (NACAA), Florida, 33430
  2. Baucum, L. Regional Sugarcane/Agronomic Extension Agent II, University of Florida Hendry County Extension (NACAA), Florida, 33935