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Calibrate for effective early season weed control

Farmers planting dicamba products this season are required to document when sprayers are calibrated.

Ned Birkey of Spartan Ag Consulting tells Brownfield variables in calibration include nozzle spacing, ground speed, and application rates.

“If the tank is half full of water and the sprayer is in good working order, you can calibrate your sprayer in an hour or less,” he shares.

He says farmers are also required to use specific sprayer nozzles to reduce off -target movement of dicamba which have been difficult to come by in his region.  He recommends finding a supplier and precisely following directions before making applications.

Birkey says Right to Farm guidelines for pesticides in Michigan also require farmers to calibrate sprayers at least once a year.