Spraying through an inversion layer is a sure way to end up with off-target spray drift.
A new tool, marketed through John Deere, allows farmers to easily test for inversion conditions in the paddock and ensure their agricultural pesticides stay on target.
Vanderfield Toowoomba parts manager Andrew Winterbottom was on hand at CRT FarmFest to showcase a series of tools aimed at reducing spray drift, including the SpotOn hand held inversion tester.
"Reducing spray drift has been a key topic of discussion with farmers," he said.
"You can use the SpotOn hand held inversion tester in different parts of the paddock and at different heights, to tell you whether you have an inversion layer present."
Reducing spray drift has been a key topic of discussion with farmers
- Andrew Winterbottom
The SpotOn works by measuring air temperature at one and three metre heights, and uses a radiation shield around the temperature sensor to limit errors due to solar or ground thermal radiation.
Once the SpotOn registers a stable reading a simple display lets the operator know whether or not there is a current inversion layer.
Mr Winterbottom said another easy tool available from John Deere was the automatic spray calibrator.
"You place it under the nozzle and it measures how many litres a minute is being sprayed," he said.
"You then go back to your nozzle label and find the actual specification for your working pressure.
"If the nozzle is out by more than 10 per cent then you know it is time to change the nozzle."