FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, March 23, 2001
Contact: Kurtis Reitsma 1-800-228-5254

Properly Calibrated Spray Equipment is Essential
(Pierre) --- Each year South Dakota producers spend a significant amount of time and money controlling weeds and pests that can reduce the productivity and profitability of their crops. Pesticides are an important tool in this battle. Insuring that your pesticide spray equipment is properly maintained and calibrated is essential to provide safe and effective pesticide applications.

This year the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service are offering pesticide applicators the opportunity to attend a Sprayer Tune-Up Clinic designed to provide information to applicators on how to maintain and calibrate their application equipment. These clinics will include discussions on topics such as Sprayer Setup and Maintenance, Regulatory Issues, Sprayer Calibration, Drift Reduction Measures, and an introduction to site-specific application equipment. 

The clinics are designed to provide classroom experience and hands-on application as well as provide an opportunity for applicators to interact with state experts. In all, twelve clinics will be offered across the state.

Winner - March 26         Corsica - March 27 
Beresford - March 28      Watertown - April 2
Brookings - April 3         Ipswich - April 4
Britton - April 5              Highmore April 9
Martin - April 10             Renner - April 20
Miller - April 26              Bison - May 22

Pre-registration is required. Anyone wishing to attend can pre-register by contacting their local county extension educator.

There is no cost to attend these clinics. Each person that attends will receive a calibration/safety kit with a retail value of $100. This is made possible from funds obtained from the South Dakota Office of the Attorney General received as settlement of a class action lawsuit. Additional sponsors include South Dakota Agri-Business Association, Raven Industries, AgChem Equipment Inc., and Tee Jet West.

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