North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service
Volume 15, No. 4 -- October 1997
Equipment
Effective Use of Spray Nozzles
Safety
In Rememberance of Larry Skow
Don't Try This at Home . . . or Anywhere!
In This Issue
Coordinator's Comments
Pesticide Perceptions
Law
Insect Control
Disease Control
Weed Control
Selecting and using the correct spray nozzle is important, but accurate chemical application requires regular periodic checks of sprayer performance. Sprayer operation accuracy should be checked using water. Sprayer calibration includes checking nozzle pressure, nozzle output, effective nozzle spray width, and travel speed. Accurately mixing the spray formulation is also an essential to ensure accurate spray application.
Inspect nozzles for wear by comparing the flow rate when they are new with the flow rates found in follow-up inspections at regular intervals.. Replace nozzles when the flow rate of any one nozzle varies more than 10% from the average output of all the spray nozzles. Periodic nozzle inspection can reveal streaking in a spray pattern, which indicates that the nozzle is damage or plugged. Clean plugged or dirty nozzles with soft materials such as nylon brushes, which will not damage the nozzle orifice. For most nozzles, a screen or strainer with adequate mesh size is needed to prevent orifice clogging, spray pattern distortion, and resulting spray application failure.
Check the uniformity of the spray pattern by spraying clean water while driving on dry concrete, firm gravel, or asphalt on a bright sunny day. If part of the spray pattern dries more quickly than the rest, the boom height may need to be adjusted to ensure a more uniform application. Excess water under the nozzles indicates that the boom and nozzles should be raised. Excess water between nozzles indicates that the spray patterns overlap too much and that the boom and nozzles should be lowered. Worn or damaged nozzles will produce distorted spray patterns as well. Do this in a area void of other traffic.
Water-sensitive paper can be used to check the spray coverage or spray pattern. Attach paper to leaves with paper clips, clothespins, or staples to check spray coverage and to see whether the spray is reaching all parts of target plants. Also, lay paper on the ground to check for spray patterns, drop size and the amount depositing on the soil.
Before operating a sprayer, read the operator's manual and chemical labels to review recommended procedures for safe use of the equipment and the chemical. Use the required personal safety protection equipment when working with spray materials.
(Submitted by: Vern Hofman, Agricultural Engineer)
My condolences to the family of Larry Skow. Larry was an aerial applicator in the Larimore area and he farmed near McCanna. He was injured in an accident and died September 11 from his injuries. We are saddened by his passing. Pesticide applicators, especially aerial applicators, are faced with very real and significant risks. Please remember accidents can happen, even to very good applicators. Please take a moment in remembrance for Larry, and then be remember to be even more careful.
An article in The Des Moines Register in early July created a significant stir among the regulatory community, extension staff, and even a few pesticide applicators and homeowners. The article was a passing look at non-scientific home remedies for a variety of problems. One of the remedies suggested that people suffering from poison ivy dermatitis could treat it with three applications of "broad-leaf herbicide" (one tablespoon per gallon) directly to the affected skin! Although a correction has been printed it is important to note that intentional application of any herbicide to the skin is not only illegal as a non-labeled use, but has considerable potential human health consequences. This practice would constitute pesticide exposure between 1 and 1.5 million times the drinking water standard for several commonly used herbicides.
What could happen if someone used herbicides this way? Possibly nothing visible, but some products would likely aggravate the existing dermatitis, or independently induce a painful and difficult to treat chemical dermatitis. Product absorbed through the skin can cause nausea, headache, and a variety of other symptoms. Additional chronic effects may not be immediately apparent, but could add to the problem.
There was one bright spot in this story. Public response questioning the safety of applying herbicides to the skin was considerable, which shows a certain level of public awareness. Pesticides can be valuable tools for homeowner and producers, but unwise (illegal) use can result in great harm a fact that many readers of the Register apparently know.
(Iowa State University IC-478-19)
Please plan to attend the recertification meetings scheduled below. Also I strongly encourage you to send your new employees to one of the initial certification meetings scheduled below. We in the NDSU Pesticide Programs Office have noticed that it is much easier to pass the initial examinations on the first try if the person attends the training meetings. If you need to retest you are welcome to attend the initial certification meetings if you wish.
The initial and recertification meetings that have been scheduled are listed below.
November 6, 1997
The South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service, the NDSU Extension Service, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture are conducting recertification training for the home, institutional and industrial, and public health categories from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CT on November 6, 1997. This training program has been approved as meeting the recertification training requirements for recertification in North Dakota.
- The fees for the training program are $40 for preregistrations, or $60 at the door.
- Preregistration is strongly encouraged because seating is limited at most of the locations.
- The recertification meeting sites are NDSU, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Pierre and Aberdeen.
- Noon meals and coffee breaks will be provided at the facilities.
To preregister or for more information contact
NDSU Pesticide Programs
North Dakota State University
Box 5051
Loftsgard Hall Room 166
Fargo, ND 58105
(701) 231-7180
Fargo--Fargodome (inconjunction with NDAA Ag Expo)
(recertification only; must attend both days)
Mandan--Seven Seas(initial certification only)
Video training statewide(recertification only)
First American Bank Minnewaukan Bottineau Cty Courthouse Bottineau Burke Cty Courthouse Bowbells Doublewood Inn Bismarck Doublewood Inn Fargo Farmers Union Mtg Room Ellendale Carrington Research Ctr Carrington Emmons Cty Courthouse Linton Holiday Inn Grand Forks Hettinger Cty Courthouse Mott Omega Room LaMoure Towner Public School Library Towner McIntosh Cty Courthouse Ashley McKenzie Cty Courthouse Watford City Pembina Cty Courthouse Cavalier Wahpeton Law Enforcement Ctr Wahpeton Rolette Cty Courthouse Rolla Sheridan Cty Courthouse McClusky Holiday Inn Express Jamestown Ward County Etension Office Minot
Grand Forks--Ramada Inn (initial certification only)
Bismarck - Radisson Inn (recertification only; must attend both days)
(in conjunction with NDAAA)
Aerial Only
Video training statewide(recertification only)
Research Center Hettinger Call Ext Ofc Valley City Doublewood Inn Fargo Killdeer Cty Bldg Killdeer Omega Room LaMoure McKenzie Cty Courthouse Watford City Beulah Civic Center Beulah Mandan Eagles Mandan Mountrail Cty Ext Ofc Stanley Nelson Cty Courthouse Lakota Ramsey Cty Courthouse Devils Lake Lisbon High School Lisbon Mohall American Legion Mohall Dickinson K of C Club Dickinson Holiday Inn Express Jamestown Memorial Bldg Cando Traill Cty Courthouse Hillsboro Walsh Cty Ext Ofc Park River Wells Cty Ext Ofc Fessenden
Fargo--Doublewood Inn (initial certification only)
Fargo--Doublewood Inn (recertification only)
(in conjunction with NCTGA Conference)
Bismarck--Holiday Inn (initial & recertification)
Fargo--Doublewood Inn (initial & recertification)
[ BACK ]
[ In This Issue /
Coordinator's Comments ]
[ Pesticide Perceptions ]
[ Law / Insect Control / Disease Control
]
[ Weed Control ]
ND Pesticide Quarterly, Vol. 15, No. 4 -- October 1997
NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University of
Agriculture and Applied Science, and U.S. Department of
Agriculture cooperating. Sharon D. Anderson, Director, Fargo,
North Dakota. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress
of May 8 and June 30, 1914. We offer our programs and facilities
to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin,
religion, sex, disability, age, Vietnam era veterans status, or
sexual orientation; and are an equal opportunity employer.
This publication will be made available in alternative formats
for people with disabilities upon request, 701/231-7881.
North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service