As winter fades and crops begin to blossom, it is once again time to diligently apply granular and spray fertilizers and pesticides. We have inventoried how much of each material we have on hand and begun preparing an order list.
Prices vary a lot, so you will want to shop for supplies. Even if you have been in the farming and ranching business for years, it is wise to brush up on your calculations to determine how much of each ingredient to use in your mix. The high cost of supplies demands precision when you’re mixing chemicals.
Before you begin, be sure your spray equipment is clean. Partially loading spray equipment with clean water, running and calibrating the equipment beforehand can save you trouble later. Allow the machine to run several minutes to be sure the lines are free of foreign particles. After a sprayer has been lying around unused all winter, particles have been known to break loose and clog jets. It can be hazardous and expensive to stop a job to clean spray jets. Also be sure to check the expiration date on pesticide licenses.
Applying pesticides properly is critical to your crops’ success.
CREDIT
column by BRAD WEIHRAUCH
BIO: Brad Weihrauch is a Polk County native. He grew up around a family business of agriculture and customer service. After Winter Haven High School, he went on to complete his education at Polk Community College and Warner Southern College. After serving 17 years in customer service for a large retailer, Weihrauch returned to his agriculture roots and founded RWC, an agri-service and management company, in 2002.
