As a first step, conduct a careful inspection of your sprayer or spreader and its systems to note any repairs that should be taken care of immediately. Be sure your equipment is clean and fully greased, and check for any hydraulic leaks that were not taken care of at the end of the previous season.

For sprayers, it’s vital that your machine is properly calibrated – something that should be conducted several times during the application season, not just annually. Ensure that your machine is measuring distance accurately and that booms are calculating the correct amount of acres as the machine is applying.

Check to confirm that the flow meter is calculating gallons accurately as well as the pumps for any injection systems. Do a catch test on the nozzles to make sure they are in the specified range.

Catch test any new nozzles to ensure they are correct, as even new nozzles can be inaccurate. Verify you are using the right nozzle type, tip size and droplet size for each product being applied, and inspect and replace worn nozzles in a timely manner.

For dry applications, two of the most important maintenance checks for pneumatic applicators are chain calibration and bag testing. These tests confirm the right amount of fertilizer is being applied and properly spread across the field.

They should be performed at the start of every season and also after any adjustments or component replacements have been made to the distribution system.

The chain calibration check confirms that the product is being applied at the same rate that is input into the product controller so it is not overapplied or underapplied. The bag test, also known as certification, ensures that air booms are evenly distributing product on the ground and across the spread width of the applicator.

Examine the air distribution area to determine if the fans are in good working condition and that pre-cleaners are free of debris. Confirm that you have the right amount of water pressure to pull fertilizer into the booms. The deflector should be in good working condition and adjusted correctly to distribute fertilizer onto the ground in an even pattern.

In addition to pre-season maintenance, following are additional recommendations to help get the best performance out of your application equipment:

• For weed control, proper application timing is essential for maximum effectiveness, based on local weed types or conditions. If a field is sprayed too early, weeds may not be fully emerged and require multiple passes to properly control.
  
  On the other hand, if a field is sprayed too late, the application may only stunt the growth of a particular weed and create more resistant weed strains.
  
  
• Take time to make sure you are using the right tank mix. Verify you have made the correct calculations and measured the load properly to avoid potential crop damage. Carefully review and follow all product labels and guidelines.
  
  
• Proper tank and boom cleanout is also essential to avoid misapplications. This is becoming much more critical as the spread of herbicide-resistant weeds requires growers to use a wider variety of herbicides with different modes of action and chemistries, often on the same fields.
  
  Sprayers should be cleaned out as soon as possible after use to prevent deposits of dried spray residue.

Make good use of technology

Recent advancements in application technology also play an important role in improving application accuracy and productivity. Selecting application equipment with the systems best-suited for your operation can help improve your forage crop while reducing costs.

Following are examples of leading technology systems offered either standard from the factory or which can be added as optional features.

• Any product control system needs to be correctly set for the application system (dry or liquid) being used. If the machine was changed from a liquid to dry system, or vice versa, ensure the console is set properly.
  
  Verify that any jobs that remained in the console from last year are cleaned up, and archive any that are remaining on the control website.
  
  
• Direct chemical injection has experienced growing adoption for improved weed control. This system provides the flexibility for operators to designate a specific tank for each herbicide, thus eliminating mixing and cleaning when switching from one product to the next.
  
  Because direct injection also speeds up the application process, operators can cover more acres per day.
  
  
• Boom section control is another example of smart technology. It allows users to set up non-spray zones and field boundaries to eliminate skips and wasteful overlaps, as well as minimize operator fatigue. Savings can be as much as 15 percent, depending on field shape and acreage.
  
  
• Boom height control is a boom height-adjusting system that automatically raises or lowers booms based on crop variances and provides rapid calibration to maintain application precision and accuracy across uneven ground.

Industry experts recommend a spray height of about 20 inches above the target pest, and boom height control helps provide uniform coverage by ensuring the correct nozzle tip-to-target ratio.

• Auto-steering systems allow operators to set different operating speeds and different courses – such as straight line, fixed curve or pivot mode – for easier, more relaxed driving.
  
  
• A four-wheel steering system greatly reduces soil disturbance and damage to crops and beds during headland turns, resulting in higher yield opportunity and increased revenue.

With four-wheel steer activated, the rear axle automatically adjusts to the front axle for coordinated steering, leaving two tracks through the end rows as opposed to four tracks with a conventional two-wheel steer machine. Another benefit is the tight turning radius that greatly improves maneuverability, both in and out of the field.

Effective application of nutrients and crop protection products is one of the most important determinants of crop performance. Proper equipment maintenance, attention to detail regarding the correct product application and the latest technology tools can go a long way toward maximizing your forage production.  FG

Craig Miller is sales and marketing specialist for AGCO Application Equipment.