Making the Most of Sprayers
Keep your agriculture sprayers in top-notch condition
Fertilizer sprayers and pesticide sprayers are expensive, precision pieces of equipment. Making the most of sprayers is important not only for delivering the spray substance in an exact amount to get the job done, but also for getting the most out of your machinery investment. If you own your own equipment, lease it or rent it, you still must properly care for the sprayer after each use.Depending on the chemical in the sprayer, you generally find that sprayers for fertilizer tend to wear out faster because of the more caustic nature of fertilizers. Even so, pesticides and chemical herbicides are also hard on sprayers. Manufacturers of agriculture sprayers know this is a problem and make it as easy as possible to remove worn parts and replace them with new ones. The parts most likely to need replacement are:
1. Tanks. Almost all the newer sprayers use plastic tanks that corrode less.
2. Pumps. Because of their precise calibration, pumps must work properly or all the chemicals can be lost.
3. Hoses and nozzles. These are the least expensive items to replace, and in most cases they're modular pieces that are easy to exchange.
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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
- 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.
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