New 3-Wheeler Sprayer Gets Chemicals On Early
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Getting surface applied herbicides on in early spring before weeds germinate is the key to success for two Illinois no-till farmers who have begun manufacturing the 3-wheeler sprayer that gets them into even the wettest fields without leaving a track.
Jeff Mick, Edwardsville, and Mike Vieth, Worden, have no-till farmed for eight years. They say that weed control, which was once a big question mark, is something they can now control completely. What's more they have eliminated contact herbicides, cutting a third off their chemical bill in no-till corn, no-till full-season beans and no-till double-crop beans.
"Surface applied chemicals need moisture to be effective. When they're used at planting time there's no guarantee there will be enough moisture. However, if you can get chemicals on as early as possible, when the fields are still wet, control is almost 100% guaranteed," says Mick.
The "Mini Floater" is designed to be pulled by an all-terrain 3-wheel cycle. In fact, the half-size sprayer is equipped with flotation tires identical to those on a 3-wheeler. It carries a 20 ft. boom outfitted with electric drive rotary nozzles, which require less water and thus reduce the amount of weight the three wheeler must handle. The sprayer carries either a 25 or 50 gal. tank, and is powered by a gas engine which drives the spray pumps and motors. Boomheight is adjustable and it folds for transport.
Mick says he and his partner considered hiring either a floater or an airplane to apply their chemicals early but felt both alternatives were prohibitive. "A floater leaves tracks while airplanes are expensive and probably not as accurate as our Mini Floater, which is both accurate and fast. You can travel at 10 mph, covering 10 to 15 acres per hour."
Mick and Vieth have participated in a program with Elanco, applying the company's Surflan with the mini-size rig. Under terms of the program, part of the chemical is applied very early and the rest at planting. They say it has proven practically 100% effective.
The Mini Floater can also be used in-season, either when it's too wet for conventional equipment, or to plant in drilled crops. "It lets you apply Basagran or Blazer in drilled beans without damage no matter what the ground conditions are," says Mick. "Another use is in standing wheat with 2-4D for garlic or other weed infestations."
The Mini Floater, which can be outfitted with a hand spray wand for spot spraying around fence rows or buildings, sells for right at $2,500.
For more information. contact: FARM SHOW Followup. J.M. Innovations, Rt. 8, Box 232. Edwardsville. Ill. 62025 (ph 618 667-6089 or 633-2609).
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New 3-Wheeler Sprayer Gets Chemicals On Early ATV'S ATV'S 7-2-27 Getting surface applied herbicides on in early spring before weeds germinate is the key to success for two Illinois no-till farmers who have begun manufacturing the 3-wheeler sprayer that gets them into even the wettest fields without leaving a track.
Jeff Mick, Edwardsville, and Mike Vieth, Worden, have no-till farmed for eight years. They say that weed control, which was once a big question mark, is something they can now control completely. What's more they have eliminated contact herbicides, cutting a third off their chemical bill in no-till corn, no-till full-season beans and no-till double-crop beans.
"Surface applied chemicals need moisture to be effective. When they're used at planting time there's no guarantee there will be enough moisture. However, if you can get chemicals on as early as possible, when the fields are still wet, control is almost 100% guaranteed," says Mick.
The "Mini Floater" is designed to be pulled by an all-terrain 3-wheel cycle. In fact, the half-size sprayer is equipped with flotation tires identical to those on a 3-wheeler. It carries a 20 ft. boom outfitted with electric drive rotary nozzles, which require less water and thus reduce the amount of weight the three wheeler must handle. The sprayer carries either a 25 or 50 gal. tank, and is powered by a gas engine which drives the spray pumps and motors. Boomheight is adjustable and it folds for transport.
Mick says he and his partner considered hiring either a floater or an airplane to apply their chemicals early but felt both alternatives were prohibitive. "A floater leaves tracks while airplanes are expensive and probably not as accurate as our Mini Floater, which is both accurate and fast. You can travel at 10 mph, covering 10 to 15 acres per hour."
Mick and Vieth have participated in a program with Elanco, applying the company's Surflan with the mini-size rig. Under terms of the program, part of the chemical is applied very early and the rest at planting. They say it has proven practically 100% effective.
The Mini Floater can also be used in-season, either when it's too wet for conventional equipment, or to plant in drilled crops. "It lets you apply Basagran or Blazer in drilled beans without damage no matter what the ground conditions are," says Mick. "Another use is in standing wheat with 2-4D for garlic or other weed infestations."
The Mini Floater, which can be outfitted with a hand spray wand for spot spraying around fence rows or buildings, sells for right at $2,500.
For more information. contact: FARM SHOW Followup. J.M. Innovations, Rt. 8, Box 232. Edwardsville. Ill. 62025 (ph 618 667-6089 or 633-2609).
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