Compost Teas: 24 hour, EM, IM, BD & fermented plant extracts

[Allan Balliett <igg AT igg.com>]

Jason Murray, hort extension agent for Loudoun County posted this to 
a local list today. I think  compost tea users will find it helpful. 
(You'll have to extrapolate from the chemical focus.) -Allan

SMALL SPRAYERS FOR SMALLER VINEYARDS

Andrew Landers
Pesticide Application Technology Specialist
Cornell University
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station
Geneva, NY 14456

There are many important points to consider before purchasing a 
sprayer, not least of which is the area to spray, the proximity of 
the local supplier, standard of manufacture etc. A fact sheet on 
Machinery selection - crop sprayers for orchards and vineyards is 
available from the author. There are many growers with small 
vineyards who don't require airblast sprayers and have a need for 
spraying equipment ranging from backpack sprayers to small truck or 
ATV mounted machines.

Canopy sprayers
1. Backpack sprayers
Small capacity (4-5 gallon) sprayers will produce up to 150 psi 
pressure. Weight is an important consideration and growers should 
select a sprayer with good, wide, padded straps to ease the load. 
Correct nozzle selection according to the target is very important to 
ensure even coverage. A good size filling hole at the top is also 
important.
$95-150 approx.

Maintaining a constant flow is crucial for good application. The use 
of a spray management valve such as a CF valve will ensure a constant 
output irrespective of hand pump action.
$10 approx.

An alternative to the hand pump backpack is the electric backpack, 
which utilises a small rechargeable battery. Max. pressure is quite 
low.
$265 approx.

2.Portable gas sprayers
If weight is a problem, and ground conditions are relatively smooth, 
a sprayer with a small 1/4hp gas engine, 12 gallon tank and 16" 
wheels is available from Dramm.
$930
Larger capacity tanks (14-100 gallons) are often trailed and can be 
pulled by a lawn tractor, ATV or small tractor. Often fitted with a 
small electric, battery powered pump or a 4-10hp gas engine.
$289-3000

3. Portable Mist and air blower backpacks
These are ideal for greenhouses where a controlled environment 
prevents the wind blowing away the droplets but outside in a vineyard 
they are too dangerous! Besides creating fine drift-prone droplets, 
they are noisy and you are walking into a mist.
$: not recommended

4. Small mounted sprayers
Ideal for mounting onto the carrier rack of an ATV, 15-25 gallons, 
they use a small electric pump to provide up to 70 psi.
$230-350

5. Large skid mounted sprayers
Ideal for fitting into the back of a pick-up truck these sprayers 
have a tank capacity of 35-
200 gallons, and electric or gas engine power.
$400-2700

6. Small trailed airblast sprayers
Very small airblast sprayers, such as the interestingly named Lil' 
Squirt from PMB sprayers with a tank up to 110 gallons, a 5.5hp gas 
engine and which can be towed by an ATV are available. Larger tank 
capacity up to 300 gallons is also available. Remember the larger the 
gas engine, the more important it is to buy an electric start option.
$5000

7. Small mounted airblast sprayers
Three-point hitch, PTO driven models with a 22 or 24" fan, for 
fitting onto 25hp tractors are available.
$3700

Herbicide application

1. All the sprayers, 1-5 above, (except the airblast) can be used for 
herbicide application BUT be very careful that there is no carry-over 
from herbicide residues in the sprayer, therefore wash out very 
thoroughly.

2.The use of Controlled Droplet Applicators (CDA) will considerably 
reduce the need to carry vast amounts of water. A spinning disc 
(battery powered) will produce 95% of the same-size droplets, thus 
reducing chemical rates by 50% and water rates. Herbi and Mantis 
(trade names) are hand-held sprayers
$200-400
       ATV or tractor mounted shielded CDA sprayers such as the 
Environmist from BDi  also reduce spray rates.
$2100

3. Wick wipers
Where occasional weeds are a problem, the use of a hand-held wick 
wiper is an easy-to use, effective option.
$35 -55




Where to look/buy

BDi  Machinery Sales, Macungie,PA
1-800-808-0454
Bdi AT fast.net

CF Valve by G.A.T.E, Deerfield Beach,Fl
1-800-303-2099
www.cfvalve.com

Demco, Boyden, IA
1-800-543-3626
www.demco-products.com

Forestry Suppliers Inc., Jackson, Mi
1-800-647-5368
www.forestry-suppliers.com

Gemplers, Belleville,WI
1-800 332-6744
www.gemplers.com

Orchard Supply OESCO, Conway, Ma
1 -800 -634-5557
www.oescoinc.com

PBM Sprayers, Chico,CA
1-800-688-1334
www.pbmsprayers.com

Rittenhouse, St Catherines, Ont. Ca
1-800-461-1041
www.rittenhouse.ca


Please note: Where trade names, manufacturers or distributors names 
appear, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the 
author or Cornell University is implied.