Agricultural Sprayer Talking with Tom Wolf Phd (@nozzle_guy) about the latest technology for an agricultural sprayer, proper timing of application, and the value of weather data. Tom is the owner of Agrimetrix Research & Training, a company focused on improved delivery of crop protection products. Episode Notes A crop in the presence of competition will limit its own growth. Small window of time to stay ahead of pests. Limiting factors for efficient spraying. Properly atomizing the spray to minimize drift and still allow for effective coverage. Steps in sprayer innovation. Latest technology that could reduce pesticide input by up to 75%. Adaptability required in farming. The need to focus on the long term. Federal regulations on MRL. How valuable accurate site specific weather forecasting would be. Agriculture Terms Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) Used to detect living green vegetation through reflection of visible and near-infrared light. Pre-seed Burnoff Practice of applying herbicide to field prior to seeding to terminate unwanted growth. Rainfast Amount of time needed before rainfall for pesticide to be effective. Preharvest Interval Time between last application of pesticide and harvest to meet MRL. Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) Legal limit to amount of pesticide residue present on or in food when adhering to product label. Conservation Tillage Reducing soil erosion by leaving previous years crop on field before and during next planting season. Mentioned in Episode The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Similar Episodes Modern Agriculture – Supply Chain – Commitment Mobile Game Development – Core Values – Golf Blitz