OPERATION S.A.F.E. - AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION TEAMS UP WITH THE FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AVIATION ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE CALIBRATION TRAINING FOR AERIAL APPLICATORS
Extension Education
Leslie Baucum
Extension Agent III, MS
HENDRY COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE
LABELLE
Abstract
\r\n "Spray Smart" is a popular large-boom ground-rig sprayer calibration offered by Agricultural Extension Agents from Hendry and Palm Beach Counties. Aerial applicators needing aerial CEUs often attend these sessions. In order to provide more specific aerial calibration training, we coordinated with the Florida Agricultural Aviation Association to provide an Operation S.A.F.E. (Self-Regulating Application and Flight Efficiency) calibration training. Objectives: Following the Operation S.A.F.E. Field Calibration Fly-In and Seminar Workshop, participating pilots representing 40% of the aerially-sprayed sugarcane acreage in Florida will quantify in-flight baseline spray patterns, make recommended calibration adjustments and equipment re-configurations, and repeat with additional flight tests until optimum spray patterns and calibrations are confirmed. Methods: Florida aerial applicators were invited to a 2-day workshop designed to increase spray application accuracy with improved coverage uniformity and reduced drift potential. Day 1 included in-flight spray pattern and swath uniformity testing with calibration measurements using fluorescent dyes, a software-driven fluorometer, and water sensitive media. Day 2 included seminars on drift mitigation, spray droplet control technologies, and web-based calibration software tutorials. Results: The 10 participating aircraft represented 70% of the aerially-sprayed Florida sugarcane acreage and initially tested below optimum calibration and/or exhibited airflow vortexes that compromised droplet patterns. Equipment reconfigurations and re-calibrations led to a 5 to 10% improvement in spray spectrums. Conclusions: The improved spray uniformity profiles resulting from the Operation S.A.F.E. Workshop translate into appreciable savings in flight time and cost of total applied materials. A single large aircraft spraying roughly 150,000 acres/year would save an estimated $112,500/year.
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Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
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Authors: L.E. Baucum, R.W. Rice
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Baucum, L. Regional Agronomic Extension Agent II, NACAA/FACAA, Florida, 33975
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Rice, R. Palm Beach County Sugarcane/Rice Extension Agent III, NACAA/FACAA, Florida, 33430