With seeding operations wrapping up it will be back on the sprayer for many producers as they try to get a handle on any early insect or weed concerns.

Dr Tom Wolf is co-owner of Agrimetrix and says the sprayer is one of the most used pieces of equipment on the farm.

He notes on average we cover every acre about 4 to 5 times per year.

"We do pre-seed burnoff, we do an early in crop herbicide, we may in some cases do a second herbicide depending on the crop," Wolf said. "Fungicides are becoming more and more common on almost all of our crops, in fact, there is hardly crop in Saskatchewan that we don't spray with fungicides now if the weather conditions are conducive, and of course there is the preharvest or postharvest spray."   

He adds you also want to watch wind conditions, speed and choose the right time of day to spray noting with auto-steer there’s more of a temptation to do more night spraying.

Wolf also says farmers have to be very efficient when they can spray and are tweaking equipment to better suit their needs.

"There are putting lights behind sight gauges, so they can see their tank level better and make a better estimation of when it's going to be empty," he said. "Some guys are putting load cells on their tanks so they can read the exact level of the tank at any time without leaving the cabs. Other guys are doing improved monitoring, there are installing better monitors, sectional controls and better data management on their unit."       

Wolf says it’s important that producers know their sprayer, select the right nozzle for the job and are fully aware of the products they are using and their mode of action.