Pesticides are important tools for plant protection on many farms. Without regular calibration, sprayers may not achieve intended pesticide rates and coverage within your crop, leading to inefficient applications. Join CCE specialists for a hands-on demonstration of boom and backpack sprayer calibration and a discussion of nozzle types, pesticide labels, personal protective equipment, recordkeeping, and spray formulation tips for pesticide application success. Any farm with a boom or backpack sprayer is welcome to attend, including conventional and organic, beginning and experienced crop growers.

2 core DEC credits are offered for certified pesticide applicators. Participants will also receive water sensitive paper and complimentary water pH testing with registration. Participants are encouraged to bring a water sample to the workshop.

AGENDA

10:00 to 11:00 Sprayer Calibration and Nozzle Selection- Mike Hunter, CCE NCRAT and Ethan Grundberg, CCE ENYCHP
Discussion of the proper setup, maintenance, and use of boom and backpack sprayers.  This course will also have a hands-on demonstration of a pesticide sprayer calibration.  Choosing the proper nozzle for specific pesticide applications will also be discussed.

11:00 to 11:30 Pesticide Labels, PPE and Recordkeeping- Mike Hunter, CCE NCRAT
This session will be a review of the importance of reading and understanding the parts of the pesticide label.  The proper use of personal protective equipment and private applicator recordkeeping will also be discussed.

11:30 to 12:00 Maximizing Pesticide Performance- Ethan Grundberg, CCE ENYCHP
This session will be a review of the importance of using the proper rate of pesticides, selecting the appropriate spray adjuvant and other factors that can improve pesticide performance in the field.

Bring your pesticide applicator license with you to the workshop. You must also arrive on time and stay for an entire 2 hours to receive these credits. For more information about this program, contact Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program, at eh528@cornell.edu or (518) 650-5323.

Cost:    $20 per farm