Sprayers
An example chart illustrating smart spray technology for weed management.
Kelsey Larson, an assitant professor in MSU ' s Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics. MSU photo by Kelly Gorham.
An example calculation in the online tool estimates that for a 1,000-acre farm applying 10 gallons of herbicide per acre three times per year, savings could total nearly $ 60,000 per year. Those savings could cover the cost of a $ 75,000 smart spray system in less than a year and a half.
There is also potential, Pinto said, for increased yield when herbicides are applied more sparingly, because plants don’ t have to metabolize chemicals that are broadcast across an entire field. Exploring that question is part of his future research plan.
“ In pulse crops, for example, we have a really important disease called root rot that is associated with the level of stress
of the plant,” Pinto said.“ If the plant is more stressed because of herbicide application, it would be more susceptible to that disease. This is one thing that we are advancing, to better understand the impact of those products in terms of yield and plant fitness in general.”
The calculator, Larson said, is designed to be“ a living tool.” More metrics will be added over time to further tailor the information producers can get from it, and both she and Pinto welcome feedback from MSU Extension agents and farmers who have made use of it. The two wrote a guide on how to use the tool, and since its unveiling in May, the calculator has had users in not only several U. S. states, but also in Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and China.
Pinto himself is originally from Brazil and did part of his graduate studies at MSU. Returning to Montana and doing work that can tangibly help growers is extremely rewarding, he said.
“ I always had Montana in my heart, so when the position opened in Havre, it was a perfect opportunity for me to continue my effort to help producers understand how they can take advantage of different technologies that we have in the market and, most importantly, how we can optimize the use of our inputs,” he said.
Source Contact Information
Ricardo Pinto, Northern Agricultural Research Center: ricardo. pinto @ montana. edu or 406-994-6374, or Kelsey Larson, Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics: kelsey. larson4 @ montana. edu or 406-994-7262
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