Spray Tips Don’t Last Forever

Spray tips may be the most neglected component in farming today, yet they are among the most critical of items in proper pesticide application. For example, a 10% over-application on 1000 acres of beans sprayed twice with glyphosate and once with an insecticde can represent a loss of $2000. A 10% over-application on 1000 acres of corn sprayed once with a pre-emerge herbicide and once with glyphosate can also represent a loss of $2000. This does not take into account potential crop damage or poor week control.

The easiest way to determine if a spray tip is excessively worn is to compare the flow rate from a used tip to that of a new tip. You can use a chart to determine the flow rate of a new tip. Use a graduated container (preferably in ounces) and a watch to collect a sample from 10 random tips on your sprayer. If the average flow rate is more than 10% higher than a new tip, then you should replace your spray tips. If you replace your tips, you should replace the entire set. Mixing worn tips with new tips will create erratic coverage.