For corn producers in Nebraska, getting crops off to a successful start is a critical component of overall yield. For example, data shows that if weeds are allowed to take hold, they can impact yield anywhere from 20% to 40%.
Spraying via broadcast application — defined as uniform application to an entire field or series of acres — remains a tried-and-true approach for growers year-round to control weeds, efficiently apply fertilizer and keep pests at bay.
“If you truly want to hit that 300-bushel threshold, which a lot of our customers are aiming for year after year, corn can never have a bad day. So the sprayer plays a pretty big role in getting the crop off to a great start and keeping it healthy,” says Quentin Cooksley, commercial and application business director at AKRS Equipment.
For a broadcast application of any kind — including herbicide, insecticide and fungicide — timing is everything. Some herbicides, for example, are labeled for direct sunlight conditions and need to be applied when the wind speed is low, ideally 10 miles an hour or less. With Nebraska’s prevalent gusts, optimal opportunities to apply these herbicides are few and far between. The right sprayer can make the most of these narrow windows of opportunity.
“Whether it's a burndown pass in the fall after harvest to clean up any weeds that escaped throughout the year, or making a fertilizer pass in wintertime, the sprayer is running almost year round in some cases, especially as you go west,” says Cooksley.
Come spring, sprayers kick into high gear for pre-emergent herbicide and fertilizer applications. Once a crop is up, the sprayer delivers post-emergence applications to control weeds, bugs and disease.
“Having a machine out there that can be productive and cover a lot of acres in a short amount of time is really critical for the customer,” says Cooksley. “When you finally have that window — where the sunlight and humidity conditions are correct, and the wind is blowing in the right direction at the right speeds — growers have to make the most of it.”
On average, Cooksley said, just 30% of the spray hours in a given season are done in the correct conditions. Good-quality equipment and the right support team give growers a competitive advantage in reaching their goal: “to get that application made, exactly when it’s needed.”
Looking for real-time support in the field? A dedicated team of over 30 AKRS pros is ready to help your crop rise to the occasion and reach its fullest potential this season. Call 402.347.AKRS for expert help with all things precision ag and application or visit AKRS.com.
