Sprayer filling protocols
- Thread starter Alex72
- Start date
Chae1
Member
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Just plan out all loads beforehand. Before your near sprayer.
I divide the total ha to do by sprayer loads so I'm putting in exactly the same each load.
Put empty cans down in order you've used them. Keep different empty chemical tins seperate too.
To keep track of what you have used.
If your feeling harassed/stressed filling it, just stop water going in and pour chemicals in, then top off with water. Time shouldn't be limited.
Don't answer the phone when filling, avoid distractions.
I lay out all of the days chemicals by number of tanks, on a line of old Europallets. If it says 4x5L cans on the sheet for the job, and 3 required tank loads, then lay it out as 3 individual cans with the fourth marked '1.66L' in sharpie on the lid and left at the front of the first load and 90 degrees to the other cans. When I've measured out the 1.66L it gets moved to the next pallet / stack of cans. repeat with the rest of the recipe.
After each load the empties are put back in their correct boxes and stacked against a wall by their individual tanks, so I can go back through them if theres a question like "did I add the can of X to the 2nd mix?", which usually happens when you realise there might be too much for the last load, you check the paperwork, and realise theres supposed to be a bit left over for the next field, etc. When finished and the sheet has been signed, the empties get tidied out of the way, orphan cans get fitted into odd boxes, part cans get marked up with remaining volume using the sharpie and returned to store.
Edit, beaten to it by Chae, but getting your ducks in a row before turning on the fill pump is the key.
After each load the empties are put back in their correct boxes and stacked against a wall by their individual tanks, so I can go back through them if theres a question like "did I add the can of X to the 2nd mix?", which usually happens when you realise there might be too much for the last load, you check the paperwork, and realise theres supposed to be a bit left over for the next field, etc. When finished and the sheet has been signed, the empties get tidied out of the way, orphan cans get fitted into odd boxes, part cans get marked up with remaining volume using the sharpie and returned to store.
Edit, beaten to it by Chae, but getting your ducks in a row before turning on the fill pump is the key.
- Location
- Wiltshire
Write down every load as you do it, area, chems and water.
Dont Rush
Leave phone in tractor.
I have my agronomist recommend as much as possible to the nearest whole can to minimise parts left over.
Make sure the agronomist has the same field area as the sprayer thinks they are,
Have a set of scales to measure SUs
Bg
Dont Rush
Leave phone in tractor.
I have my agronomist recommend as much as possible to the nearest whole can to minimise parts left over.
Make sure the agronomist has the same field area as the sprayer thinks they are,
Have a set of scales to measure SUs
Bg
- Location
- British Isles
As said set out the cans per tank mix and order to add and keep separate afterwards as reference
Have a permanent marker pen handy for part cans
i also do use the side window off the sp cab as a very handy white board as our fields are small so lots per tank so can keep track total area sprayed but also find the gps tramlines etc easier also a do calculations and all soets
thinking off adding a bit off vinyl to the side off the sprayer to act as an another whiteboard by the induction bowl
I also have a set off kitchen scale for powers but also a bit off plywood so the scales work better on the rough surfacegoing to change it to stock board as got given an bit off scrap as would pefer it as it wont adsorb chemicals as easily)
Have a permanent marker pen handy for part cans
i also do use the side window off the sp cab as a very handy white board as our fields are small so lots per tank so can keep track total area sprayed but also find the gps tramlines etc easier also a do calculations and all soets
thinking off adding a bit off vinyl to the side off the sprayer to act as an another whiteboard by the induction bowl
I also have a set off kitchen scale for powers but also a bit off plywood so the scales work better on the rough surfacegoing to change it to stock board as got given an bit off scrap as would pefer it as it wont adsorb chemicals as easily)
Write what you need in the tank on a post it note and stick it to the sprayer as a reference. Put the chems in in the same order as the note. Don't forget to put things like bulk mn on the note. I also write the field names of where the load is going on there too.
Write the contents of part cans on with a sharpie, saves time next time.
Write the contents of part cans on with a sharpie, saves time next time.
I’ve got a bulldog clip one the spray store and on the sprayer so I can put the recommendation up so I can see what I need. I have a large table next to where I fill so if I’ve got a big tank mix I’ll put all the cans out on the table before I start to fill with water. Not the best picture but I find the table a lot easier than picking up off the floor.
- Location
- Linconshire
Don’t be tempted to mix up a diluted can of roundup ready for the knapsack in an old chlormequat can without taking off the label first and scribing in bold Roundup. I’ve got two nearly full chlormequat cans in the shed but darent use them up as theres a chance it’s roundup mix. Smells like chlormequat though. I must put a dash of the stuff on some grass to see what happens.
- Location
- Dorset/Wilts
Our sprayer isn't that big - max 22 acres, which matches our biggest field. So - perhaps oddly - I tend to do loads to match fields. I don't have any blocks of lands that you'd save a trip by filling full each time.
So I calculate each load are write out separately, then pinned to filling station.
Then I sort of keep a running total of what I have used vs what I should have left. But we are small acres, so much easier to do.
Things I've learned from mistakes
- check all cans are correct, do not rely on the box that it is in.
- some chemicals (basf) come in v similar cans, read carefully before tipping and keep them far apart at the filling stations.
- Terpal looks, smells and moves v similar to water.
- do not race the sprayer when it's filling, just turn the tap
As some have pointed out. Keeping empties separate until finished is a great reference, should u think u have made a mistake
So I calculate each load are write out separately, then pinned to filling station.
Then I sort of keep a running total of what I have used vs what I should have left. But we are small acres, so much easier to do.
Things I've learned from mistakes
- check all cans are correct, do not rely on the box that it is in.
- some chemicals (basf) come in v similar cans, read carefully before tipping and keep them far apart at the filling stations.
- Terpal looks, smells and moves v similar to water.
- do not race the sprayer when it's filling, just turn the tap
As some have pointed out. Keeping empties separate until finished is a great reference, should u think u have made a mistake
will_mck
Member
This exact scenario inadvertently happened to me a few years back. Dad thought it'd be a good idea to store some left over round up in ccc jars and leave them back in the chemical store. Anyway sprayed some spring oats before heading off on holidays for the week. On my return as I was driving home from the break I took a look at the fields to see how they were getting on as you do and noticed one in the distance that appeared distinctly amber. Thankfully it was only a 5 acre field away from main roads, dad was hoping I wouldn't notice it for a few days at least but it almost glowed orange. It was a cracking crop too! Typical
Chae1
Member
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Magnetic clips handy. If I lay spray sheet on filling table it always seems to attract stains.
Surely you have plenty of old roundup cans for the purpose!
I always understood roundup does not want leaving for any amount of time diluted anyway, as it looses its potency.
- Location
- Linconshire
I find 10 litre cans are handier to take with me and tip into knapsack as needed when going off to do footpaths etc.
Steevo
Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Never found this to be the case. Often have a can mixed up for spraying round the yard or garden and it's never failed to do its job.
- Location
- Spilsby Lincolnshire
Depends on your water!! Rainwater this does not happen, do we really know what shite the water companies put in the water they supply us, if they told us would you believe them??
deleted user 837354
Member
Let the sprayer fill up to 1/3rd of a tank or so.
Put in the correct amounts of each product whilst the remainder fills. Prepare all the cans/bottles/packets on a table or at waist height ready for the tank load you are doing. Always check the labels of the individual packages match each other- I recall a friend of mine making a fudge up by applying the contents of some small SU products he was supplied by his supplier only the active ingredient he was putting in was not what he was expecting- the company had accidentally picked the wrong product (but the same size and shaped package) off the shelf and delivered it alongside a load of the correct product. Always check all the cans you are using are what is stated on the rec.
Tell your agronomist not to leave part cans or do awkward things. On larger areas in particular he should either be able to round up or down the recommendation to mean no left overs. The agronomist should also have the good sense to put products on the recommendation in the exact order they are put into the tank. If not he should be told to wise up. You can't expect spray operators to know the ins and outs over every single product- that is the agronomist's job.
Any unopened cans/packages a good agronomist should be able to pick up and take back and credit it you for, that's the difference between being good and a monkey you paid £4/ acre to do agronomy via a calendar. You could also do what I did was to go and look in everyone's spray store at the start of the season, write it all down and make an effort to use up all the stuff that was left over as I went.
Any special instructions for a particular mixture should be noted on the recommendation in plain English. I.e. 'add adjuvant to the tank last', 'clean out with all clear after spraying', or 'do not apply after crop emergence', etc.
Generally speaking, you do not want chemistry to be exposed to extremes of temperature or direct sunlight. The same would also apply to spray mixture in the tank. Get it on and get it applied. I've seen diluted spray form crystals in the bottom of knapsacks etc before, you don't want that carp going through your spray lines I'm sure.
I've said this many times before but all sprayer operators should be training for and sitting the BASIS exam so that they are more familiar with agronomy and the chemistry they are applying. It will go some way to motivating your key guys and helps their professional development by investing in them. It could also easily pay for itself with better spraying and just dodging one fudge up which can soon get expensive. This is doubly true for people involved in contract spraying who are doing a multitude of farms, crops and product mixtures of all kinds in any given season.
And another thing- if you find a particular agrochemical product is a problem to work with- can design you don't like, cans won't rinse out, too dusty etc etc, get your agronomist to use something else. There are usually many ways to skin a cat. Life is too short to be pished off with a product you are likely paying thousands for.
Cardinal rule:
Under no circumstances ever should you put unused spray concentrate or diluted spray solution into any other bottle or can- once it's poured out, it's out. Not doing this will come back and bite you eventually.
Put in the correct amounts of each product whilst the remainder fills. Prepare all the cans/bottles/packets on a table or at waist height ready for the tank load you are doing. Always check the labels of the individual packages match each other- I recall a friend of mine making a fudge up by applying the contents of some small SU products he was supplied by his supplier only the active ingredient he was putting in was not what he was expecting- the company had accidentally picked the wrong product (but the same size and shaped package) off the shelf and delivered it alongside a load of the correct product. Always check all the cans you are using are what is stated on the rec.
Tell your agronomist not to leave part cans or do awkward things. On larger areas in particular he should either be able to round up or down the recommendation to mean no left overs. The agronomist should also have the good sense to put products on the recommendation in the exact order they are put into the tank. If not he should be told to wise up. You can't expect spray operators to know the ins and outs over every single product- that is the agronomist's job.
Any unopened cans/packages a good agronomist should be able to pick up and take back and credit it you for, that's the difference between being good and a monkey you paid £4/ acre to do agronomy via a calendar. You could also do what I did was to go and look in everyone's spray store at the start of the season, write it all down and make an effort to use up all the stuff that was left over as I went.
Any special instructions for a particular mixture should be noted on the recommendation in plain English. I.e. 'add adjuvant to the tank last', 'clean out with all clear after spraying', or 'do not apply after crop emergence', etc.
Generally speaking, you do not want chemistry to be exposed to extremes of temperature or direct sunlight. The same would also apply to spray mixture in the tank. Get it on and get it applied. I've seen diluted spray form crystals in the bottom of knapsacks etc before, you don't want that carp going through your spray lines I'm sure.
I've said this many times before but all sprayer operators should be training for and sitting the BASIS exam so that they are more familiar with agronomy and the chemistry they are applying. It will go some way to motivating your key guys and helps their professional development by investing in them. It could also easily pay for itself with better spraying and just dodging one fudge up which can soon get expensive. This is doubly true for people involved in contract spraying who are doing a multitude of farms, crops and product mixtures of all kinds in any given season.
And another thing- if you find a particular agrochemical product is a problem to work with- can design you don't like, cans won't rinse out, too dusty etc etc, get your agronomist to use something else. There are usually many ways to skin a cat. Life is too short to be pished off with a product you are likely paying thousands for.
Cardinal rule:
Under no circumstances ever should you put unused spray concentrate or diluted spray solution into any other bottle or can- once it's poured out, it's out. Not doing this will come back and bite you eventually.
Last edited:
deleted user 837354
Member
Magnetic clips handy. If I lay spray sheet on filling table it always seems to attract stains.
Turns out Chae is a man of true culture as he is using the same type of Castelli Diary I use.
do same with post it note . have a nice 8x3 stainless table , knee height to put cans on , open all cans first , always put the , if needed part can in first and write how much left in on lid and side , then full ones
- Location
- Bedfordshire
Lay all cans for the mix out. Measure out all part cans before adding water. Remove balance of part can from fill area.
Only have what is going in the tank beside the sprayer.
I ignore anyone that comes to chat while filling. Totally blank them. Soon get the message.
Only have what is going in the tank beside the sprayer.
I ignore anyone that comes to chat while filling. Totally blank them. Soon get the message.
deleted user 837354
Member
As an aside you may be able to get shed loads of stainless steel stuff- usually catering grade- from auctions where companies are being wrapped up for very little outlay.
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