Calibrate Sprayer Equipment
June 14, 2010

Producers have a wealth of South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service information to help them calibrate spraying equipment for pesticide application.

That’s according to Extension Pesticide Education Coordinator Jim Wilson. He referred to a number of publications, including Extension Fact Sheet 933, “Calibration of Pesticide Spraying Equipment” as one of several sources of information to help producers save money, reduce impact, and avoid violations of environmental protection regulations.

That publication is available at this link: http://agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/FS933.pdf. Or ask for it at your county Extension office.

Wilson wrote the publication, and he said having a properly calibrated sprayer is essential. If producers apply too little pesticide, they may not get the control needed to stop pests. If they apply too much, producers could be violating the law, with possible negative effects for humans, livestock, and the environment.

For some, proper calibration is crucial for another reason: It saves money.

“With just a small amount of wear, it is not uncommon for spraying equipment to over-apply at rates 10 percent more than expected,” Wilson said. “If your insecticide treatment costs $20 per acre, that amounts to an additional $2 an acre from over-application.”

Wilson added that if this example is spread across 2,000 acres, producers with improperly calibrated equipment have just wasted $4,000.

“The small amount of time spent calibrating your sprayer equipment is a very good investment,” Wilson said.

The fact sheet Wilson mentioned can help producers go through the steps and calculations they will need to accurately calibrate their spraying equipment. Producers also can all Wilson with questions at 605-688-4752.