Education For Environmental Responsibility

Funds Aim at Cleaner Spraying

Smart Sprayer Technology Being Funded by NRCS

This article appeared in California Fresh Fruit and Raisin News on January 14, 2008

News from the NRCS Office

Federal Government Will Pay Fruit Growers to Up the Precision in Pesticide Application Machinery that can zap weeds and apply pesticides more efficiently is at the center of an effort to help fruit growers do their part for clean air.

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is spending nearly half a million dollars over the next three years to make use of precision spray equipment available to producers.

“It should help keep agriculture competitive and productive while providing environmental benefits,” says Johnnie Siliznoff, NRCS acting state air quality director. Not keeping agriculture competitive could bring urbanization and still more threats to air quality, he says.

Welcoming the assistance is Pete Weber, a member of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley. “We know there is no silver bullet to clean up the air,” he says, “but this is a beautiful example of a convergence of economic benefits and environmental benefits.”

The central San Joaquin Valley is known for poor air quality. The NRCS wants to help growers reduce emissions from pesticides and herbicides, which are a source of volatile organic compounds, a precursor to ozone formation.

The state’s Department of Pesticide Regulation and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District now require growers to reduce such emissions.

The NRCS assistance combines technical and cost-share help through the agency’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Program funds to acquire the spray technology are available in all San Joaquin Valley counties. Growers who plan to adopt the technology elsewhere should check with their local NRCS office to see if cost-share funds to acquire sprayers are available in their county. Those who enroll in the program would share half the costs.

The types of sprayers included in the program include those that eliminate weeds through steam desiccation and others that come mounted with photo identification sensors.

The one that would give specific benefit to fruit orchards is sonar-based. It will only spray when there are objects to hit and automatically shuts off when the sprayer exits the orchard.

Siliznoff says that in young orchards, a grower may reduce spray material by 40 to 50 percent. “In more mature orchards, the savings may be 10 to 15 percent.”

In addition to orchards and vineyards, the precision sprayers can be used on row crops, such as vegetables. Reedley, Calif. machinery dealer Sam Judah says he sells equipment that can pinpoint just where and when to spray. The federal government, he says, helped foster its use. “The equipment saves farmers money,” Judah adds.

“There’s a real need for this, and it has a real value,” says Gabrielle Kirkland, director of environmental and regulatory affairs for the California Grape and Tree Fruit League.

NRCS will likely continue offering cost-share funds to make the sprayers available during its next funding cycle in late 2008. “While we cannot make guarantees as to future funding and program availability,” Siliznoff says, “we do not foresee any material changes since landowners will still require technical and financial assistance in managing their natural resources.”

For more information contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Office.

On the Net: http://www.myfreshfruit.com/articles/?cat=18