Guide to Sprayers News and Trends

Stay up-to-date with the latest sprayers news and trends

By Denise Brown

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find articles about sprayers

You can find this information from universities that offer agricultural programs. Equipment companies that specialize in agriculture sprayers also offer expert information about the use of their products.

I recommend: Spraytec.com offers a number of articles about agriculture sprayers. Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs has a number of articles about the safe handling of pesticides and pesticide sprayers.

Sign up for newsletters that provide information about sprayers

This is another instance of good information coming from both universities and manufacturers. When you combine the information from both sources you can get an excellent feel for trends in the sprayer industry.

I recommend: You can read archived newsletters from Iowa State University that pertain to fertilizer sprayers and sprayers for pesticides. You can also subscribe to the newsletters to keep up with sprayers news and trends. AgWeb.com has a large selection of newsletters on its website about sprayers news and trends. You can find information about herbicide spraying equipment and proper herbicide usage as well. You may also sign up to receive its newsletters if you wish.

Get first-hand information about agriculture sprayers on blogs

Often these blogs compare various models of agriculture sprayers and how well they work in field trials. Blogs are a good way to get up-to-the-minute news on ag-chemicals and their sprayer applicators.

I recommend: You can find numerous blog entries about agricultural chemical and sprayers from the Corn & Soybean Digest blog, The Briefing Room. AgWired discusses crop sprayers along with a variety of other agriculture topics.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  More and more manufacturers of ag sprayers are working to make their sprayers eco-friendly. Because the chemicals used in sprayers can be so harsh to the environment, as well as to the equipment, more manufacturers are working with the chemical companies to find greener alternatives.

Guide to Sprayers for Agriculture

Locate suppliers of agriculture sprayers online

By Ben Hahn, Freelance Writer

1. For purchases of multiple sprayers at once, find suppliers selling all of the equipment you need, including fertilizer sprayers, sprayers for pesticides, and herbicide spray equipment.
2. Buy from vendors selling sprayer parts as well as full equipment and stock up on the products you'll need for future replacements or repairs.
3. Save money when you buy used or refurbished sprayers.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate dealers selling multiple types of crop sprayers

Make your search for a new sprayer easy when you browse the selection of an agriculture supply company with a large stock of products. Whether you need a new fertilizer sprayer, pesticide sprayer, or both, keep your online search simple and look for a vendor selling all kinds of equipment. Find manufacturers with a wide variety of makes and models so you can easily find an option that works for your business.

I recommend: Check out the wide array of crop and weed sprayers available from PWMALL.com. Find equipment ranging from small lawn sprayers to larger trailer sprayers. Apache is a leader in mechanical drive sprayers for pesticides. Choose one of their three models that best works for your agriculture operation.

Look for a vendor selling sprayers and parts

It's an unfortunate fact of business that things will occasionally break down. You will sometimes need to buy parts to repair or enhance your inventory of sprayers. Make your future needs easier by buying from sprayer vendors offering a wide range of equipment and parts, so that you've already got a source to turn to when your machinery needs new parts.

I recommend: Visit AgriSupply to find sprayers, parts and accessories. Browse their online catalog by searching in the category that contains the parts you need. Find sprayer rigs, accessories, parts, and tanks from Tractor Supply Company. Also look for deals on free or reduced shipping from their website on qualifying orders.

Buy used agriculture sprayers

When you want to save money on a sprayer, look for dealers offering used and refurbished equipment. Refurbished equipment can work just as well as new equipment, and will cost a fraction of the price. If you're looking to get rid of your old sprayer, many equipment dealers will buy as well as sell used machines.

I recommend: Use MachineFinder.com to locate used sprayer equipment at a local equipment dealer in the US. Specify the type of machinery you're looking for and your location to receive full listings from local dealers. The website is run by John Deere but lists equipment from all manufacturers. Stahly is a manufacturer of liquid, dry, and sludge applicators, and sells a wide range of industrial sprayers. View specifications of used sprayers for sale, or contact them about selling your used equipment through their website.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  An agriculture sprayer can be an expensive piece of equipment, and you need to be certain it won't cause you financial stress if it breaks down soon after you purchase it. In addition to comparing makes and models, pay attention to the warranties offered by different sprayer suppliers.

Guide to Making the Most of Sprayers

Keep your agriculture sprayers in top-notch condition

By Denise Brown

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use the right parts for your agriculture sprayers

Knowing which parts and accessories to choose is crucial to making the most of sprayers. If you use a sprayer calibrated at the wrong level, you may burn your crop or actually kill it.

I recommend: F/S Manufacturing has poly tanks you can use to update and upgrade your agriculture sprayers. You can find nozzles and tips for all sorts of herbicide spraying equipment at Spraying Equipment Supply.

Know safe handling procedures for agriculture sprayers

Wear safety equipment at all times when working with sprayers. This not only protects you from the chemicals, but it protects the equipment as well. Be familiar with the directions for the chemicals or fertilizers you are using.

I recommend: The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation offers tips for the safe handling of crop sprayers. It also has specific directions for winterizing sprayers. In the article entitled “Safe Handling of Pesticides” from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, there are directions for the safe handling of pesticides, as well as herbicide spray equipment.

Keep your sprayers clean

It's important that you clean your agriculture sprayers after each use so that the pumps, hoses and spray nozzles don't clog. It's also important to carefully follow the directions for the safe removal of chemicals. You can't just wash out the sprayer and call it good. You must discard each chemical in a precise manner that is safe for the environment.

I recommend: The University of Missouri Extension Service offers a field guide of safe ways to clean your fertilizer sprayer and herbicide spray equipment. The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture has a podcast that also offers tips to effectively use sprayers for pesticides. The information also offers cleaning tips for making the most of sprayers. The Virginia Cooperative Extension has detailed information of preserving and cleaning agriculture sprayer pumps.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Hand-held sprayers for lawn and garden use need the same care and safe handling as the larger field sprayers. Clean and store them properly after each use.

Guide to Sprayer Key Terms

Learning sprayers key terms can help you operate your sprayer more efficiently

By Denise Brown

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Tank

The sprayer tank is where you mix the chemicals with water to make the herbicide or fertilizer. For corrosion resistance, many new sprayer tanks are plastic.

I recommend: See the variety of shapes and sizes of sprayer tanks on the Northern Tool + Equipment.

Tank agitators

If you mix a dry herbicide or fertilizer with water, sometimes lumps form and the chemicals and water don't mix properly. With tank agitators, the liquid in the tank mixes constantly to prevent this problem.

I recommend: M.K. Rittenhouse & Sons sell a number of tank agitators.

Sprayer booms

Sprayer booms are arms, or extensions, from the sprayer and tank that are part of the spraying system, along with the sprayer drops and spray nozzles.

I recommend: CropCare Equipment offers hydraulic sprayer booms that let you spray large areas with one pass.

Sprayer drops

Sprayer drops can help you deliver a more precise application of fertilizer or pesticide by moving the actual spray closer to the ground. There is also less 'chemical drift' with sprayer drop applications.

I recommend: Read more about sprayer drop hoses from Lemken.

Sprayer nozzles

Sprayer nozzles are the tips of that come from the boom or drop hoses. The liquid fertilizer or herbicide pushes through the sprayer nozzles in a pattern designed to cover the ground or crops in the proper manner. Depending on the size of the sprayer boom, there are usually several sprayer nozzles on each sprayer.

I recommend: Get more information about sprayer nozzles from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Sprayer calibration

Sprayer calibration is the process of setting up the sprayer to deliver the exact amount of herbicide or fertilizer to the field. There is a bit of math involved in calibrating a sprayer, but once you understand the process it should be easy to do. As you calibrate a sprayer you must also consider things such as weather conditions.

I recommend: Read the step-by-step sprayer calibration process described by the Ohio State University Extension.