Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/50987
Every good grower wants to plan well and make sure they are making sensible decisions. For over a century, C&O has offered solid advice and... Sensible Solutions The variable output nozzles and adjustable louver, developed for this citrus sprayer as part of a specialty crop research project, should soon be available for tree fruit sprayers. gap within 0.25 seconds. "So now, you can quickly adjust the air coming out of the side of the sprayer to match the tree. If you have a little tree, you only need a little puff of wind." Two major manufacturers of orchard and vineyard sprayers are in the process of incorporating the adjustable louvers into their spray equipment, Landers said. Landers has received a grant from the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency to continue field-testing auto- matic airflow adjustments of sprayers and is conducting trials in three vineyards and three apple orchards in New York. The EPA is interested in the reduced-risk aspect and improvement in spray deposition, particularly in early season spraying. Multitasking Landers has also been field-testing off-the-shelf Global Positioning Satellite systems like EZ Steer—an inexpen- sive GPS device commonly used by Midwest farmers to steer tractors—for tree fruit orchards. He believes using GPS to steer tractors during spraying could allow drivers to multitask, such as mow orchard row middles while spraying. A GPS-guided tractor could also reduce operator fatigue at the end of the day and allow older people the opportunity to work. "In the Midwest, I'm told the EZ Steer has allowed Grandpa to sit in the tractor and feel a part of the family farming unit," Landers said, adding that the EZ Steer devices are accurate to within two or three inches. When GPS is incorporated with the spray controller, every row sprayed could be documented, which might be useful for traceability programs and to ensure that the spray rig operator didn't miss or double dose a row, he said. Driverless liability Will autonomous tractors performing spray opera- tions ever become routine in crops like apples? Landers is doubtful, but notes that the system worked well in the middle of a 15,000-acre Florida citrus grove that was part of the research, and that the tractors stayed on course. "But suppose a sprayer rolled into a ditch?" he asked. "This was a research project, but in the real world, no laws and regulations yet have been developed to cover autonomous equipment." A lot more testing would be needed for liability purposes, he added. "But the integrated automation project resulted in important research spin offs that have real value to specialty crops like tree fruit," he said. • www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER DECEMBER 2011 23 PO Box 116 Wenatchee, WA 98807.0116 509.662.7164 tree@c-onursery.com FAX 509.662.4519 www.c-onursery.com *Patent information available upon request. 800.232.2636 Rubinstar® Jonagold More intense red and colors more evenly throughout the tree Pacific Gala® Flavor remains sweet and pleasant throughout its storage life. Benton® Excellent flavor with good aftertaste. September Wonder® The earliest true Fuji Fuji Skylar Rae® (Tip Top cv) Very high sugar. Colors well without reflective material. courtesy cornell university