[Market-farming] organic standards for cleaning out conventional boom sprayer

Road's End Farm organic87 at frontiernet.net
Tue Feb 19 11:45:12 EST 2008


On Feb 19, 2008, at 8:09 AM, no one wrote:

> We recently purchased a formerly conventional boom sprayer for use 
> with possibly some biodynamic sprays and definitely compost tea and 
> some other liquid nutrients.  I would like to do a 1-time conversion 
> to organic with the sprayer, but have no idea what the organic 
> standards require (we're not actually certified - but I believe in the 
> standards).  I'm also concerned about a quantity of dry whitish 
> material on the bottom of the tank - how would I safely get rid of 
> what ever it is?  The sprayer was used for round-up for weed control 
> on berries and small fruits - I don't know if any other materials were 
> used in it.  I have no experience with conventional stuff - should I 
> be wearing rubber gloves, respirator, etc?
> Thanks much for any input!
>

I'd approach this thing with great caution if you have no idea what's 
been in there. I think that what you need to clean it with depends on 
what's been in it. If you can find out what's been in it, then you 
might be able to find out how to clean it by contacting the 
manufacturers of those materials.

You might also be able to get advice from a certification agency even 
though you're not certified; try calling one operating in your area and 
asking them.   -- I can't find the overall recommendations of NOFA-NY 
LLC certifying agency, though they do claim to have some; but they do 
say in the general standards manual that "cleaning should include the 
replacement of nozzle, tubing, and screening".

-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale
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