As winter maintenance starts, Corteva Agriscience has updated its best practice advice video to help sprayer operators get the best out of their equipment.
It is presented by spray application specialist Tom Robinson, who visits farm foreman Andrew Myatt to see how a robust maintenance programme improved sprayer performance throughout the season.
Mr Myatt, a former Sprayer Operator of the Year winner, explained that the time spent in the workshop last winter meant spring operations were uninterrupted by repairs or servicing.
Alongside scheduled maintenance, he followed Corteva’s advice on sprayer hygiene and spray concentration rates when applying the Univoq fungicide.
Mr Robinson said: “Andrew is a very knowledgeable and experienced operator and in this new video he is able to show the practical steps he took to look after his machine as well as the positive impact it had on operational performance.
“In 2022 Andrew had minor issues with his sprayer’s check valves when applying Inatreq active, but servicing and following Corteva’s best practice application advice led to him eradicating the problem this spring.
“The video has been made with operators in mind, showing in detail how to dismantle, replace and reassemble wearing parts on the sprayer which need attention during winter maintenance.”
A new addition to this year’s video is the servicing of a Ramsey pressure set, and how Mr Myatt approached replacing the nozzle pistons in his sprayer.
He also shares how to service the machine pump by replacing the diaphragms, as chemical residues can cause them to wear, distort and split.
There is also a demonstration of the post-application washout procedure, with rinsing and a general inspection of key parts.
Looking ahead to 2024 Univoq applications, Corteva has also released the following best practice guide:
- The maximum concentration should not exceed 2l of product in 285l of water per hectare – a 0.7% concentration.
- Inatreq spray solutions should not be left in the spray tank overnight – follow the recommendations on the label – and operators should rinse the sprayer tank, pump and lines through at the end of each day’s spraying.
- Inatreq should not be used in sprayers equipped with pulse width modulation technology.
- Corteva recommends replacing pump diaphragms annually, ideally with NBR or Blue flex parts. Abide by the pump manufacturer’s service recommendations.
- For anti-drip diaphragms, EPDM parts are recommended, or operators can modify air shut-off anti-drip valves to use Teflon replacements. If neither of these options are possible, Corteva recommends replacing all existing pneumatic/automated anti-drip diaphragms/pistons with new before spraying products containing Inatreq. It’s important to check these after use too.
- If your sprayer has a Ramsay box, you should replace the diaphragm seal during winter maintenance.
For more information go to www.corteva.co.uk
