Potato Grower

July 2021

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26 POTATO GROWER | JULY 2021 Optimizing chemigation technology in the field Potatoes are sensitive. Sensitive to over-watering. Sensitive to under- watering. Sensitive to over-fertilization. Sensitive to countless disease and pest pressures. Given this sensitivity, it is wise to implement best practices to optimize irrigation and chemigation applications. Whether you are new to chemigation or are a seasoned pro, there are opportunities to further utilize tools already in your irrigated field. From applying pre-emergent chemicals for weed germination prevention to spoon-feeding fertilizer throughout the growing season, the potential for savings and in- field benefits with chemigation and fertigation are vast. BUGS, FUNGUS & BEYOND As soon as you begin to notice pests, the time bomb starts ticking. What do you do? What is your knee-jerk reaction? Instead of outsourcing the chemical application, keeping that control within the farm saves time and money. When combating Mother Nature, implementing chemigation in your operation is one of the most effective ways to respond to those threats. Many potato growers rely on smaller chemigation units (20- to 30-gallon tanks) for the application of low- volume insecticides and fungicides, such as the Insectigator from Agri- Inject. When comparing application costs versus commercial applicators, most chemigation units pay off in less than four applications. John Scheuring, senior agronomist with CSS Farms, notes another advantage: "The benefit of chemigation is the instantaneous incorporation of whatever product we're using," he says. Timing is also critical in applying what you need at precisely the point in time it is needed. Insects that migrate from nearby fields are a specific area of concern. CSS Farms implements preventative applications by routinely applying a field edge pass by a ground sprayer. This year, however, they are changing up the routine. "We're running Boundary Riders on fields, which is something new for us," Scheuring says. "We're excited about how we're going to be able to incorporate it into treating certain sections of fields instead of having to treat entire fields." Engineered to ride on a pivot's next-to-last tower, the Boundary Rider creates a boundary of control around the entire field, eliminating the threat of migrating insects without treating the entire field. CONSISTENCY WINS Nutrient availability is another topic heavily connected to potato sensitivity. If the potato plant receives too much fertilizer at one time, this accelerated growth leaves growers with numerous problems. Fertigation allows farmers to apply smaller doses of nutrients throughout the growing season. The consistent application of nutrients maintains a consistent growth to develop the desired size and shape for the customer. Additionally, spoon-feeding nutrients keeps them readily available for uptake when the potato plant acquires them. Reflex: For Proportion and Precision Knowing not every field and every situation is the same, there should be flexibility in the equipment you use. To assist with the needs of varied situations, Reflex injection systems manage chemical or fertilizer output in proportion to the current water flow. This ensures the chemical application is consistently applied at the desired rate throughout the entire field. The chemical application should change accordingly to prevent over- or under- application of fertilizer or pesticide. Variable rate irrigation and fertigation applications are also compatible with Reflex. The proportional injection system can apply flat rate fertilizers during a variable rate irrigation pass. The Reflex system provides seamless variable rate fertigation to add precision to crop growth. EQUIPMENT SUPPORT: SERVICE & SAFETY Conducting routine preventive maintenance enhances opportunities for success. In season, simple things, like flushing the system to prevent buildup, keep things flowing and performing at peak efficiency. In MAKING THE MOST OF IT MAKING THE MOST OF IT

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