Applying liquid fertilizer used to be a pain in the neck. Literally. Not anymore. You no longer have to watch your back for application blockages.

You asked for it, here it is. SafeGuard electronically detects blockages and alerts you with an Audible Alarm and a Visual Display of the blocked row's number. Reduce over and under-application, save money, and apply liquid fertilizer with confidence without having to watch flow monitors or outlets. 4-36 Row kits available.

Safeguard offers many advantages over other methods.

• - Instantly detects and alerts the operator of blockages without seeing the sensor.
• - Audible alarm immediately alerts operator of blockage - HEAR what you have been missing
• - Monitors all runs continuously
• - Blockage is detected while your attention is on other things
• - Same performance day or night, rain or shine
• - Achieve full benefit s of liquid fertilizer application knowing all rows are applying.
• - Excellent planter control

Purchase Micro-Trak Safeguard Blockage Monitor

SafeGuard Brochure

Spray Calibration made easier

Sprayer operators have tested the calibration of the nozzles on their sprayers for years by using an effective, but distinctly low-tech method. Each nozzle would be used to spray water into an empty jug while producers timed the process for up to a minute per nozzle with a stopwatch.

By timing the spray and with knowledge of the volume of the liquid in the jug, farmers could be reasonably certain their nozzles delivered the product at the desired rate. Though necessary, this process can be time-consuming. A 120-foot boom being used for 20-inch spacing would involve testing 73 nozzles – a process likely to last an hour and a half.

In the last few years, several products have tried to streamline the process while increasing nozzle-test accuracy. Tests conducted at six universities (and sponsored by Successful Farming magazine) indicate a relatively new, simple device may be up to the task.

Illinois-based Innoquest designed and manufactures the SpotOn sprayer calibrator, which demonstrated excellent accuracy in tests that only took 10 to 20 seconds per spray nozzle. The tests were conducted during the summer of 2010.

“We did find it to be most convenient,” says Mark Hanna, an Extension agricultural engineer at Iowa State University (ISU) who helped conduct the test. “There have been other devices on the market previous to this that will give a flow reading, but not with as much accuracy as this device.”

On average, the SpotOn gpm readings agreed with actual scale measurements taken of a given nozzle flow. The SpotOn average reading was never more than ¹⁄100 off from the actual measurements. The tests were conducted using nozzles with opening sizes of 11002, 11004, and 11006 at pressures of 15, 30, and 45 psi.

“If there were some gross flaw in the device, we wanted to know that, and we didn’t find any,” says Bob Wolf, retired Kansas State University Extension application specialist who now operates Wolf Consulting and Research, LLC in Illinois.

The SpotOn sprayer calibrator costs about $150 and is a mostly clear tube with a metal frame that can be placed over a sprayer nozzle for a test. A type of diffuser pad is incorporated to reduce splash or turbulence of the spray stream so it doesn’t strike electrodes directly and cause a false read. A digital readout on the side of the SpotOn tube registers flow rate.

A quick, accurate tool of this type is valuable, according to Wolf, who conducts calibration workshops as part of his business. The readout on the device replaces the need for testers to do the conversion math themselves after measuring the actual liquid in the containers used during traditional calibration tests.

Most producers should check calibrations when they change to a different nozzle type, and this tool “would make that a lot simpler,” says Wolf.  

 “It’s a huge time-saving device,” says John Lipscomb, an application business development specialist with AGCO Corporation, who is based in Alabama. So much so that Lipscomb has urged AGCO dealerships to include the calibrators as part of their inventory. If a nozzle test can be completed in 10 seconds as opposed to one minute, that’s a big help.

Once a nozzle has more than 10% wear, it needs to be replaced, according to most manufacturers. The SpotOn is a tool that can help make that determination more quickly. The danger isn’t so much that wear will cause application rates to increase so much that plants can be hurt, according to Lipscomb. Flow meters or electronic flow control devices on board tractors or spray rigs generally prevent overapplication of product, says Lipscomb.

Purchase the Spot On Sprayer Calibrator

By Desmond Keller

Northern Equipment Solutions is proud to annouce that the newly formed ROPA Potato Equipment ( formerly WM Kartoffoltechnik ) has entered the Canadian market, providing growers with its advanced equipment line up. WM Kartoffoltechnik has long provided the most advanced and gentle handling potato equipment available, and has long been known on the European market as an innovation leader. With its recent takeover by ROPA Machinenbau and the future rebranding and technologies intrigration from ROPA's world leading sugar beet systems, the potato equipment market will benefit from this merger.

Northern Equipment Solutions is proud to represent the new line from ROPA Potato Equipment's full line of rotary tillage equipment, Folding Planters, Harvesters.

Northern Equipment Solutions provides advanced agricultural solutions from industry leaders Trimble AgGPS, Double L-Potato Equipment, Standen Pearson Co. UK Potato Equipment, Ropa Potato Equipment, Veris Technologies, Surefire Ag Systems , AgCam Cameras, Krohne Flow Meters, and High Accuracy Fumigant Rate Control Systems. www.northernequipment.ca or sales@northernequipment.ca

TurboDrop® Asymmetric Dual Fan Nozzle for AG (TADF)
The new TurboDrop® Asymmetric Dual Fan Nozzle (TADF) is designed to improve coverage on vertical and angular targets with contact chemicals. With single flat fan nozzles, the force from the travel speed of the sprayer deflects the downward oriented droplets forward in the driving direction. Coverage on the backside of the plant is minimized. The 50° rearward spray of the TADF is designed to overcome this effect and improve backside coverage. The 10° forward spray will provide a combination of penetration and frontside coverage.

Additionally, the rearward spray has a higher flow rate to further assist backside coverage. Smaller drops are produced by the forward spray to provide a wider droplet size range overall. In most sizes, the droplet spectrum is Medium-Course below 80 psi and Medium-Fine above 80 psi. The TADF nozzle should be ideal for fungicide spraying in wheat and other crops, and can also be used for general herbicide applications. Higher pressures are recommended for contact chemicals.

TurboDrop® Nozzles Produce large, air-filled drops that give extraordinary drift reduction and excellent penetration. Upon impact with the target, the drops shatter into very small droplets, providing exceptional spray coverage.

1. Long-wearing polyacetal or ceramic orifice in venturi determines flow rate.

2. The pressure drop created by the venturi draws in air through the hole in the venturi.

3. In the mixing chamber, the air and spray solution are blended and compressed.

4. The pattern tip forms large, drift resistant spray drops, filled with tiny air bubbles.

5. The air included in the spray liquid expands as it exits the pattern nozzle, additionally accelerating the drops. 6. The air bubbles cause the drops to explode when they hit the target. Large drops become small droplets that provide optimum coverage for chemical efficacy.  

Shop Greenleaf TurboDrop Nozzles @ Agrimart.net

As promised, AgTalk will undergo a much-needed upgrade soon. At present we expect the changes to start Wednesday morning, December 19. The process requires that we take the site offline and move all data to another server. This should take 3 or 4 hours, though it could last longer. When AgTalk returns, it should look exactly as it does now. Your registration and password will be unchanged. What you should notice is an increase in speed, especially during the peak evening hours. Our current server was one of the fastest on the market two years ago; we are moving to a dual server setup, each of which is considerably more capable than our single server now. We are also changing Web hosts, so there has been a lot going on behind the scenes. Many thanks to Don Glenn and the entire AgTalk team. And thanks to you, the AgTalk user, for making these periodic upgrades necessary.   :-)

Hypro’s newly designed 9307 Series Centrifugal Pumps with ForceField^™ Seal Technology, a 2013 AE50 Award winner, will protect against today’s harshest chemical and application environments.  “The ForceField^™ Seal Technology is a maintenance-free design that automatically adjusts seal chamber pressures, ensuring mechanical seal life in all conditions,” states Jared Krueger, product manager at Hypro.  “Elimination of dry run and chemical bonding failures prevents costly in-season downtime.  Hypro backs this pump with an industry first one-year warranty on pump, motor, and seals.”

The 9307 series pump handles high volume spraying applications at increased field speeds, allowing applicators to spray more acres faster.  This results in timely weed and pest control, driving increased profits for growers.  These pumps are designed for agricultural and industrial spraying and transfer of a variety of fluids such as water, insecticides, herbicides, wettable powders, emulsives, and liquid fertilizers.

To receive more information on the new 9307 Series Centrifugal Pumps with ForceField^™ Seal Technology, please contact Hypro at 1-800-424-9776, or visit Hypro Pumps - Series 9307 with ForceField^™ Technology - Features.

 MP PUMPS Inc. has been providing high quality centrifugal pumps for 70 years to the Industrial, Marine, Agricultural, Military and Transportation markets. Our brands include Flomax® self priming pumps; Chemflo® stainless steel end suction pumps; and Tempuflo hot oil pumps. We also provide a wide range of other products to meet your fluid handling needs.

Shop MP Pumps

Come by the "Summit Gold" and introduce yourself. We will be in Ag Building 2. As a Summit Gold dealer, we specialize in soil and plant fertility consultation, education, and specialized crop inputs. We will have the Collect-N-GO soil collection power kit for you to try it out. Many people have purchased the Collect-N-GO to tackle hard soil conditions this year. Priced as a low-end soil probe, out performs high-end probes. Hope to see ya'll in Moultrie, GA this week (Oct 16th-18th)! Ask for Expo special free shipping code.

Shop Continental NH3 products with Agrimart!

Continental NH3 Products has been manufacturing anhydrous ammonia application equipment for over 50 years. NH3, or anhydrous ammonia, is commonly used in agricultural applications, the focus of Continental NH3 Products. We carry a full line of NH3 valves, fittings, manifolds and flow control devices. You won't find a better source for your ammonia equipment needs with Agrimart. With our commitment to quality and customer service you can rest assured that when you buy Continental you're buying the best.

Shop NH3 Products with Agrimart.

The Express Nozzle Body End Cap from Hypro was presented with the Innovations Award at the recent Canada’s Farm Progress Show, June 20-22, 2012 in Regina, Saskatchewan, which was attended by nearly 50,000 people. It was one of two products selected for the prestigious Gold Standard award, with ten other products winning the Sterling Standard award. This is the second innovation award for the Express Nozzle Body End Cap, which also won the AE50 award sponsored by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers in February 2012.

“The Express Nozzle Body End Cap solves a critical problem for today’s applicator—shutoff lag”, states John Lang, inventor and global sales engineer at Hypro. “As spray distribution systems grow wider, applicators see unacceptable increases in the amount of time it takes for nozzles to stop emitting spray after the boom section valves are closed. This lag can be 5 to 10 seconds, or more. A delay of just 5 seconds on a sprayer moving at a moderate speed through the field can cause overspray of more than 70 feet beyond the intended stop point.” The Express Nozzle Body End Cap solves this problem by eliminating the air trapped inside conventional boom designs. When the boom is completely filled with liquid, the nozzle body’s diaphragm check valve activation time is greatly improved, by as much as 85%.

The Express Nozzle Body End Cap is currently available for 1” nominal pipe (1.315”OD). To receive more information on the new Express Nozzle Body End Cap, please contact Hypro at 1-800-424-9776, or visit www.hypropumps.com.

New Brighton, MN, May 15, 2012 – The Express nozzle body end cap from Hypro, 2012 AE50 award winner, supports today’s practice of Precision Agriculture. It enables standard nozzle bodies to have much quicker reaction times in response to GPS boom shut-off control signals, turning off spray quickly and decisively on overlaps, end rows, and boundary areas. This is achieved by eliminating the air that gets trapped in conventional boom designs. When the boom is completely filled with liquid, the nozzle body’s diaphragm check valve (DCV) activation time is greatly improved, by as much as 85%.

The Express nozzle body end caps also create a much cleaner look by terminating the pipe at the last nozzle body, while reducing pipe material by as much as 10%. Using Express nozzle body end caps will contribute to better boom hygiene by eliminating the ‘dead-end’ termination of pipe that allows chemical residue to buildup and air to accumulate. The additional option of a removable end plug allows easy access for boom cleanout to flush debris from boom pipe.

The Express nozzle body end cap is currently available for 1” nominal pipe (1.315”OD). To receive more information on the new Express nozzle body end cap, please contact Hypro at 1-800-424-9776, or visit www.hypropumps.com.

Hypro is the leading provider of the highest quality fluid handling products, systems and accessories.  Hypro’s line of products includes roller, centrifugal, diaphragm, turbine, piston, and plunger pumps, as well as spray tips, nozzles and accessories.  Hypro is a brand of Pentair, Inc. and is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Lankota has tow cable kits for 9X30 and 9X60R series John Deere 4- Wheel Drive tractors and 385, 435, 485, and 535 Case IH 4-wheel drives with any prefix. Simple to install! The front guide keeps the cable off the tires when pulling from the side. Have the factory tow cable on already? We do sell just the front guide. Call Lankota for more information at 1(866) 526-5682 or stop by your local dealer to order today!