Thanks, Hal On Thu, Mar 2, 2017 at 10:48 AM Peter Werts <pwe...@ipminstitute.org> wrote:
> Hal, > > > > Question. As an enclosed-cabbed tractor ages, will the seal around the > doors wear out, or better yet, how do you verify the enclosed cab is > providing the protection you are after? That might make an argument for > wearing the respirator in the cab, at some point during the life of the > tractor. > > > > Regarding the rest of calibration of the calibration discussion, you > should be able to separate tree-row volume from your calculations which use > row width, travel speed and gallons-per minute, to establish a gallon per > acre application rate. All the growers we work with have variability in > their row spacing. Three things we do to address this include minor > adjustments to travel speed, flipping over/turning on or off spray nozzles, > and use of spray control systems. So, lots of ways to skin that cat, but > we finish and think we have it set up correctly, we verify by hanging those > water/oil-sensitive cards in the trees and see if we are satisfied with the > coverage. > > > > I would never trust a site line on a spray tank and it is easy to put more > water in a tank than what a tank is labeled to hold. Think about any water > bottle, the 30 fl. oz. mark is about an inch below the top of the bottle. > As with a sprayer, if you fill it all the way up, there will be more water > in it, than what it is labeled to hold. A good way to check is to > calculate the GPM flow of the hose you use to fill your sprayer with, then > just set a timer to accurately fill your tank. This will help you be sure > you are putting the correct amount of water in the tank, before you run it > out through your control block. > > > > Another helpful website is http://sprayers101.com/airblast101/ > > > > Several years ago we had some money from EPA to go calibrate sprayers. We > worked on dozens of spray scenarios and found applicators were applying 52% > more water, on average, than what they were reporting. The number of > broken nozzles, missing screens, etc. was amazing. So at the very least, > regardless of what method you use, calibration helps address some of the > basic maintenance needs of a sprayer, which is helpful in preventing > breakdowns during that first primary scab infection at green tip. > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > Peter > > > > > > ============================= > > Peter Werts > > Specialty Crops Project Manager > > IPM Institute of North America, Inc. > > 211 South Paterson St. > > Suite #380 > > Madison WI 53703 > > Office: 608 232-1410 > > Cell: 612 518-0319 > > Fax: 608 232-1440 > > pwe...@ipminstitute.org > > www.ipminstitute.org > > > > > > > > *From:* apple-crop [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.com] *On > Behalf Of *Con.Traas > *Sent:* Thursday, March 2, 2017 9:46 AM > > > *To:* 'Apple-Crop discussion list' <apple-crop@virtualorchard.com> > > *Subject:* Re: [Apple-Crop] sprayer calibration debate > > > > Hello Hal, > > I don’t think an additional respirator should be needed. After all, the > respirator in the tractor cab is the same design (only larger) than the one > on the oral one. > > Regarding the theoretical calibration of sprayers, whenever an inspector > tells me they to do it with water, and to apply that result to a > water/chemical mixture I have a go at them. Only a regulator who never > applied products with different viscosities (due to temperature or > different mixtures) would pretend you can pre-calibrate with more than a > 90% accuracy. The fact is the same sprayer with different products in it, > or water of different temperatures, will put our at different rates. > > > > Con (Cornelius) Traas > > Room SR2-009, > > Department of Biological Sciences, > > University of Limerick. > > Ph: 061-202905 > > M: 086-6091998 > > T: @theapplefarmer > > > > *From:* apple-crop [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.com > <apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.com>] *On Behalf Of *Hal Wentzel > *Sent:* 02 March 2017 15:24 > *To:* Apple-Crop discussion list > *Subject:* Re: [Apple-Crop] sprayer calibration debate > > > > Since I upgraded my tractor this winter, I plan on recalibration and this > is the method I plan to use. Adjust the nozzles and the tractor speed > until I feel I get adequate coverage of the trees. I will then fill my > tank with 50 gallons of water, and spray it over a prescribed route. When > the tank is empty, I calculate the acres sprayed. From that I can > determine the number of gallons per acre. To that number of gallons, I > will add the chemical required per acre. Since we are high density, well > pruned, I multiply by .7 (captan: 6# x .7= 4.2 #). If I travel the same > route, I will get the required spray per acre. > > > > A different question: my new tractor has an enclosed cab (no more monkey > suit), with an activated charcoal filter. What is the opinion on the > necessity of also wearing a respirator. EPA would say yes, but are they > too cautious. > > Hal Wentzel > > Pleasant View Orchard > > Niagara, Wi > > 715-927-2050 > > > > On Thu, Mar 2, 2017 at 8:16 AM John Bruguiere <j...@dickiebros.com> wrote: > > Hello all, need some healthy practical advice on sprayer calibration. > Specifically air blast sprayers. For decades we have measured a block of > trees to determine acreage, sprayed out tank and determined gallons per > acre based on what area was covered in tank. For example trees planted at 8 > x 18 spacing gave us 300 trees to acre, we sprayed out tank, counted trees > and determined that our sprayer puts out 2.5 acres per tank. we used this > to determine amount of material to put in the tank etc. All the calibration > formulas , I have seen require tree row volume(height x row spacing) to be > part of equation. I have 4-5 different spacings in 100 acres of orchard > which makes it more of a headache to constantly figure gallons per acre and > spray materials needed in each different block(thus the reason we simply > measured trees per acre). I know my speed , i know my gallons per minute > but can't find an equation that converts this to gallons per acre without > tree row volume. > > need a simple but effective solution...any takers? > > in Virginia we have plums in full bloom, fantasia and red gold nectarines > in pink and some open blooms, 21 degrees forecasted on friday and saturday > night. > > God Bless, > > John Bruguiere > > Dickie Bros. Orchard > > > > On 1/30/2017 6:36 PM, Arthur Kelly wrote: > > I agree Mo. We try and remove trees every year and plant every year. I > did use the word can to hedge the productive life of a block. > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Jan 30, 2017, at 5:48 PM, maurice tougas <appleman.maur...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > Art > > > > I agree that it's great to be out pruning. I disagree that you should > expect a longer productive life with high density systems. My goal here is > to be looking at replanting when the orchard reaches twenty years or so. > New varieties, strains of varieties and improved planting system encourage > 5% renewal in my opinion. > > > > My best to you > > Mo Tougas > > > > On Mon, Jan 30, 2017 at 1:27 PM, George Greene <cortla...@icloud.com> > wrote: > > Art: > > > > Your comment makes sense to me. Right now I have a cold and I fell on the > ice on Dec. 29th and I am still suffering. Pt may help but it may take a > while. > > > > I suppose that you are enjoying the warmer weather. > > > > Be well, George > > > > On Jan 30, 2017, at 12:43 PM, kellyorchards <kellyorcha...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > > > Ruminations after a morning pruning. The weather is ideal. The temps are > in the high 20's, the wind is light and the sun is shining. Weather like > this is why we live here. Permanent limbs ultimately and inevitably get > too large. This is why high density systems can have a longer productive > life than less dense orchards. > > > > > > > > > > Art Kelly > Kelly Orchards > Acton, Maine > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.com > http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > > > George Greene > > 68 Willow Lane > > Wiscasset, ME 04578 > > 207-882-8074 <%28207%29%20882-8074> > > cortla...@icloud.com > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.com > http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > > > > > -- > > Maurice Tougas > Tougas Family Farm > Northborough,MA 01532 > 508-450-0844 > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.com > http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > > > _______________________________________________ > > apple-crop mailing list > > apple-crop@virtualorchard.com > > http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.com > http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > -- > > Hal Wentzel > > Pleasant View Orchard > > W6050 Chapman Road > > Niagara, WI 54151 > > 715-927-2050 > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.com > http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > -- Hal Wentzel Pleasant View Orchard W6050 Chapman Road Niagara, WI 54151 715-927-2050
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