Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022 - 41

Pesticide Application and Safety
Worker Protection Standard
All pesticides with an " Agricultural Use Requirements " box
on the label are subject to the regulations of the Worker
Protection Standard (WPS). The WPS requires all employers
to provide annual pesticide safety training to employees in a
language that employees understand. Training must be
approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. The
Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC) has a
library of free EPA-approved training materials available in
multiple languages on its website, including videos and flip
charts.
Restricted Pesticides
Most states have laws that restrict the use of certain pesticides
and that describe where such pesticides can be obtained and
used. Only individuals who are licensed by the state can
apply restricted use pesticides.
Some restricted pesticides require applicators to notify
occupants of land within 1,000 feet of the area to be treated at
least 24 hours before application. Occupants also must be
notified of any precautions they must take to ensure the safety
of livestock and humans.
The U.S. EPA, state regulatory agencies, or pesticide
companies can label specific pesticide formulations as
" Restricted Use Only. " To learn more about your state's laws
about restricted use pesticides, contact your state department
of agriculture or local extension office.
Calibrating Application Equipment
It is essential to apply pesticides at the specified rates for best
control and protection and to not exceed residue tolerance.
Calibrate and check sprayers carefully several times a season
for accurate delivery rates. Ensure equipment is clean and
functional, and replace broken parts prior to calibration.
Spreaders
Some granular spreaders are gravimetric and ground-driven,
meaning that a constant rate of granules are delivered by
gravity out of a feed gate, and a wheel running along the
ground is attached to gears and chains that drive the rotor that
displaces a fixed amount of granules per revolution. This
locks the spreading rate to ground speed, as long as the feed
gate is set at a consistent opening. If the feed gate opening
remains the same, then changing ground speed will not
affect output. However, doubling the rate of granules
released from the feed gate with a larger opening will
double the output, and halving the rate of granules
released from the feed gate with a smaller opening will
halve the output.
Some granular spreaders have a metering unit that is
independent from ground speed, and is run hydraulically,
electrically, or through a hand crank or the tractor PTO. If the
meter rate remains constant, then halving ground speed will
double output, and doubling ground speed will halve
output. If ground speed remains constant, then doubling
meter rate will double output, and halving meter rate will
halve output.
Rotary spreaders fling the material in a fan-like pattern to
either side of the spreader, drop spreaders release material in
a sheet-like pattern straight down directly over the footprint
of the spreader, and band spreaders meter out granules along
a row.
Here are suggested steps to calibrating selected spreaders.
Granular Rotary Spreader Calibration
1. Set applicator dial or dials to give desired delivery rate of
granules suggested for spreading according to
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Fill hopper with granules to be used.
3. Lay out a tarp that is smaller than the spread pattern.
Travel across tarp at desired speed and collect granules
off of the tarp into a bag, bucket, or other container.
4. Weigh granules, and multiply by fraction of an acre that
the tarp represents to find delivery per acre.
For example: granular rotary spreader that leaves 0.25 lb.
on a 20 sq. ft. tarp applies 544.5 lbs. per acre:
weight
collected
(0.25 lb.)
x
1 acre
(43560 sq. ft.)
area of tarp
(20 sq. ft.)
output
=
(544.5 lb./ac.)
5. Adjust each setting, and recalibrate until the desired
delivery rate is obtained.
Granular Band Spreader Calibration
1. Set applicator dial or dials to give desired delivery rate of
granules suggested for band treatment according to
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Fill hoppers with granules to be used.
3. Travel across field at planting speed for the distance
required to cover 1/16 acre (2,722 sq. ft.) per row.
Collect granules for each row in a bag, bucket, or other
container.
For example: granular band application for a 40-inch row
requires 817 ft. to cover 1/16 acre:
1/16 acre (2,722 sq. ft.)
row width (3.33 ft.)
=
distance of travel
(817 ft.)
4. Weigh granules from each row separately, and multiply
by 16 to find delivery per acre for each row.
Midwest Veg Guide 2022
41
Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022

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