Making the decision about spraying

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

Making the decision about whether or not to spray your crops is not an easy decision, and making the wrong choice could have serious financial consequences.
Trying to determine the economic threshold and when it’s best to spray may not be as simple as figuring out the insect count, the severity of infection rate, or just the weather forecast.
“Farmers must evaluate a threat a pest poses to their crop and determine if the cost outweighs the benefit of treatment. The cost of treatment can be substantial, so this is an important analysis,” said Darren Tiede with Target Airspray Ltd.
“Next, selecting the method of control, if hiring an applicator, are they properly licensed and insured and do they comply with product labelling requirements and are committed to applying a product so the full benefit can be realized.”
The cost to spray is usually $7 to $10 per acre depending on the product being applied, said Tiede.
“Understanding that your field is a complex ecosystem, that, when shocked with a fungicide or insecticide, may have unintended consequences on beneficial insects or fungi and subsequent infestation levels, is key,” said Nevin Rosaasen, research economist, ARD, Edmonton said in an Agri-News report.
“When infestation rates and benefits of spraying outweigh the costs, producers need to act to protect their profitability. However, when you find that deciding to spray or not to spray is based on costs and benefits being nearly even, letting nature run its course may have longer-term net benefits for your integrated pest management and ultimately, your longer-term profitability.”
It’s important to plan ahead if you’re considering spraying; factor in the different things that could affect the spray, and really consider if it is the right choice for you and your crops. Some of the benefits to spraying also include yield savings, and the price of the crop you are protecting.
“You may also want to net off the crop lost from compaction and tramping – roughly two per cent crop loss on 100-foot booms. The net of these gives insight into the ‘direct’ profitability of spraying pests. If it is negative, here is where you stop. If you have defined a threshold, you would know where you would start,” said Rosaasen.
If you do decide to spray remember that the PH level of the soil can also play a factor when it comes to the type of pests affecting a crop.
“Things like the types of weed species or plant disease or greatly affected by the general health of the soil,” said Tiede.
“Between spring weed control, fungal disease, insects, and possibly a harvest aid, a grower may be applying a crop protection product as many as four times per growing season.”