UC offers spray application training Sept. 22-23 in Davis

Farmers, pest control advisers, pesticide applicators and others who use agricultural spray equipment are invited to attend an agricultural spray application workshop on Sept. 22 and 23. The two-day workshop, hosted by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, will be held at the Western Center for Agricultural Equipment at 154 Hills Drive in Davis.

The intensive, hands-on workshop will be led by Ken Giles, professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at UC Davis; Franz Niederholzer, UC ANR Cooperative Extension advisor for Colusa, Sutter and Yuba counties; and Lynn Wunderlich, UC  ANR Cooperative Extension advisor for the Central Sierra region.

The UC ANR instructors will train participants to identify the appropriate spray equipment components, practices and conditions necessary to deliver safe and effective agricultural pest control to a particular location, timing and crop.

The workshop will cover nozzles and atomization, the dynamics of drift and how spray droplets move, factors affecting spray deposition, hydraulic nozzle alternatives (electrostatic, air shear, etc.), measuring spray coverage, pumps, sprayer selection, air-assisted spraying and more.

Before the class, to fully prepare, registrants should view a short, online PowerPoint presentation about basic sprayer calibration. A link to the PowerPoint will be sent in the registration confirmation email. A brief quiz on the material will be given at the beginning of class on Sept. 22. 

The training is set to begin at 12 noon on Sept. 22, resuming at 8 a.m. on Sept. 23 and end at 2 p.m.

Registration for the training costs $150 until Sept. 12 and $175 after Sept. 12 and can be paid online at the registration website. Onsite registration will cost $200. The organizers have applied for CDPR Continuing Education units.

To register or to get more information, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/Spray_Application_Training.

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