Looking at spray tanks

[grandview]

http://www.lesco.com/ProdCatalog/ProdCatalogNav.aspx?ProdGroupID=48&SKUGroupID=299

I'am looking at this one any opinions or other companies that you know of?

Should go through.

[jrservices]

http://www.lesco.com/ProdCatalog/Pro...SKUGroupID=299

I'am looking at this one any opinions or other companies that you know of?

Should go through.

I have looked at their systems, as I am looking for one also myself. They seem rather expensive though.

[grandview]

Theres a place in LeRoy and their about 100.00 more.

[grandview]

Around here a lot of the companies still spray.I was doing lawns for 17yrs spraying took the last 4 yrs off when i started my own company. I picked up my permit to do lawns again.Also i'am meeting with the DEC next week to go over everythingwith them. they were happy as can be because i wanted to have a meeting with them.

[jrservices]

With the NYS 48 hour pre-application neighbor notification law in place you guys need a sprayer like you need a hole in your head.

If you knew NY pesticide regulations, you would know that the neighbour notification law is enforced in only certain counties, & the ones I work in have not opted in .

[Ric]

Professor Stone

Since I don't follow NY state pesticide law, I can't commend on it. However it is recognized fact that the N. E. is full of Tree Hugger and they have many laws in place that other parts of the country don't have to deal with.

Granular Vs Liquid and current trends.

Modern Chemistry has made vast improvements over the old pesticides and Fertilizers of yester years. Slow release granules are more effective than fast release spray in most cases. Fast release Liquid will give a quicker response but doesn't have the long term residual of the slow release products. If the program with the proper timing is set up, (or Best Management practices (BMP)) then a quick response is not needed. IMP is part of BMP and spot applications can be made with a backpack in most cases. On turf the need to have a tanker truck or large skid sprayer has become passe in modern technology. Herbicides have always worked better when sprayed in a low volume higher AI. Fungicide has been one of the exception for not dragging hose, However Mancozeb based products which require high rate application are slated to come off the market in the next couple of years and low volume fungicides are becoming more popular.

Bottom Line. As I look out my window I see two cab over trucks set up to spray. They are paid for a long time ago and are not brand new. But I am now looking into converting this equipment into granular friend set ups or even replacing them. The fact is one Power spreader-sprayer can do as much production as two spray trucks with less labor. The down side is Granular application can cost more in product cost. However less product is need in my sandy soil because of lack of leaching by slow releases. Labor saving can mean higher margin because labor is the true expense.

Spreader Sprayers.

Power spreaders with Boom sprayers can be home made from older mowers at a faction of the cost of the fancy new production models. Professor Stone has posted pictures here of his STONE-A-GREEN which I believe he has very little money in by comparison. I have the Ric-A-Green which is not unlike the Stone-A-Green except they are on Walker mowers. With a Reese hitch type receiver you can in fact set up your primary mowing machine to convert rather quickly to a Spread-N-Spray for far less than a $ 1,000.

One Exception

If you are doing a lot of shrubs or trees pesticide work you will need a Power sprayer. How big of a tank depends on your volume of business. But I find my 50 gal tank which is on a trailer with a second 50 gallon tank has served me well for spraying citrus trees. BTW I will pull that trailer with My Grocery getter for better fuel economy and my Grocery Getter is a 4 cylinder Ford Ranger with a step side small bed. To tank up a small 50 gallon tank at a customer house is no big deal in my mind and I don't do it a lot.

As a guy with Large tanker trucks I think if I were to start from scratch today I wouldn't be looking at a big tanked skid sprayer. Just MHO.

[grandview]

Just a couples of things o.k.
In our county we Have the 48hr notice for lawn spraying if there is any weed control only.As for the tank it's only 200gals. not a tanker truck and we won't be doing and tree or shrubs.I'am not against dry appls. did them all the time but for me I liked spraying better.In this area it's still about 75%spraying.The few guys that use the permagreen there causing more problems now with ripping up the lawns burning them dry fert all over the drives and street. Yes i know thats more from lack of training.I'am meeting with the DEC on 1/23/06 to go over the laws with them.