Blog posts tagged with 'agriculture'

With the big shift in application products and techniques taking place in 2017, many of the foundational principles still remain in 2021. The biggest principle is to ensure that you "stay on label" when applying Dicamba products. Strict adherence to label instructions will help reduce liability greatly. We know that wind and humidity are major factors when selecting application day(s) and time(s). Now that the country has a few solid seasons of good spraying data, we can look back and use the data to help us continue to progress forward and improve applications.

One major change to the market place since this blog was posted back in October of 2017 is the Bayer-Monsanto merger. This merger has brought together two titans in the ag-chemical world and has further consolidated the marketplace. In the write up below there is some good information regarding application and snapshot in time of where we started out when not much was yet known with these products.

One thing is for certain - Dicamba is here to stay and we, as an industry, need to continue to stress the importance of training and proper application techniques. Firsthand experience tells us that these products, when applied correctly, smoke RoundUp Ready resistant weeds. Our farm on the Nebraska/Kansas border has much cleaner fields after having made the switch two seasons ago. But, Mother Nature always finds a way to survive....That begs the question - how long before we start to see Dicamba-resistant weeds?

Dicamba Leading up to 2017 and In-Season 2017

Herbicide-resistant weeds have been expanding across the country for the better part of the past decade.  Crop protection product companies such as Monsanto and Dow Chemical along with seed companies such as Syngenta have come up with multiple options to help combat these pestering weeds.  The most promising solution appears to be within the Dicamba-resistant strains that were first made available for the 2017 season.  Even before these seeds began appearing in fields in early 2017 there was a significant amount of skepticism.

Many people shared the sentiment that Dr. Kevin Bradley expressed at the Wisconsin Crop Production Association annual meeting in January 2017.  Dr. Bradley stated, "There is no question the Dicamba option is coming, there's no question about it.  But it's another question altogether whether we can steward this technology, and time will tell if that's true or not."  He also pointed out the volatility of Dicamba and how finite amounts of this product could damage crops.

By the middle of 2017 states such as Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee had already received multiple complaints from growers of suspected Dicamba damage.  It is estimated that more than 3.1 million U.S. acres have suffered from Dicamba-related crop damage (Crop Life: Special Report Managing Weed Resistance).  Arkansas is actually on the verge of banning the application of Dicamba products - completely.

Even if it doesn't get banned it has been voiced that application restrictions will make it virtually impossible to actually apply the product.  For example, if you can only spray the product with winds between 3-10 mph you don't have much of a window in the Midwest.  We don't have too many days during spray season with winds between 3-10 mph.  By the time you're able to actually spray (within regulations), it's too late because the weed plant is too far along to actually kill.  This scenario is speculation, but is certainly a real possibility.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Monsanto actually sued the Arkansas State Plant Board in October.  This came after the board's decision to ban Monsanto's new herbicide.  Monsanto claims its herbicide is being held to an unfair standard.  Arkansas has been the focal point of complaints with almost 900,000 acres of crop damage reported.  It is noted that farmers in 25 states have submitted more than 2,700 claims to state agricultural agencies.  The complaints share the common theme of neighbors' Dicamba spray drift and account for 3.6 million acres of total reported crop damage.

Dultmeier Insight from In-Field Observations

Our traveling sales representatives found evidence of Dicamba-related damage in a widespread area of our travels.  The conventional beans that were affected appeared to be "cupped".  The plants didn't canopy until later in the season - much later than normal.  We will start to know how much of an impact this chemical had on yields as the combines get in the fields and begin to report yields.  Some actually thought it could have a positive impact on yields since 2,4-D is a growth killer.

Some of the Dicamba products are derived from the chemical 2,4-D which basically grows a plant to death by oversupplying it with hormones.  The thought process behind this theory is that if the plant pulls through the "cupping" stage and comes out of it, the farmer could actually see a yield bump.  Again, that theory is yet to be proven...Below is an image of soybeans cupping due to Dicamba damage.

Even though many conventional fields were harmed there were much cleaner soybean fields this summer versus 2016 - at least in the areas we traveled.  The conclusion being, it worked - for those fields that were Dicamba-resistant seeds.  But we did see a number of conventional fields that looked awful.  They looked awful from the perspective that the soybean plants were small and sickly looking.  That being said - weeds were not present - so you can make the argument that the Dicamba did kill the weeds.

Drift is a major topic when the phrase "Dicamba" is brought up.  We even had one customer in the Polk, NE area that mentioned they witnessed product from an applied field actually lift up and move to an adjacent field a week after it had been applied - an entire week later!  You can ask the chemical companies and they will say that's not possible.  The proof is in the pudding, folks - there are many instances similar to this over the past year.  If we have learned any lesson, it's that these Dicamba products are extremely volatile and we must continue to educate, educate, educate.

Training and How Crucial It Is

There is a simple and basic rule to follow: The Label is the Law.  If you are applying a product with a spray tip that is not on the label and you damage a neighbor's crops - you're liable.  If you are running a spray tip that is on-label, but operating out of the required pressure range or spraying in too heavy of wind and damages a neighbor's crop - you're liable.  The days of using one tip for every chemical applied are long gone.  An applicator must be 100% certain they are operating within parameters specified on the product label.

Always consult your label if you have questions about what application products or techniques you should be using.  For instance, a common theme is wind speed.  Labels limit wind speeds between 3-10 mph on many of the Dicamba products.

It has been mentioned that during periods of high temperatures and high humidity vapor drift can readily be witnessed up to three days after application.  Recall our example from Polk, NE and know that vapor drift from inversion has been documented outside that three-day window.  What is inversion?  Inversion takes place generally from 3 pm to 8 am the following day.

Generally, air near the ground is warmer while the air higher up away from the earth's surface is cooler.  When an inversion takes place the opposite happens.  Colder air is closer to the earth's surface and the warmer air is higher up - away from the earth's surface.  This phenomenon can commonly be seen in the fall around harvest time - when soybeans are cut and the dust hangs in the air it can be reasonably assumed that an inversion is taking place.  Tiny spray droplets will "hang" in the colder air and can float around on slight breezes.

Driftable fines of these Dicamba-based products have been found to drift miles from the application site.  Due to this fact, the spray tips that are approved are those that create a larger and coarser droplet through air induction.  Such as Teejet's Turbo Teejet Induction Nozzle.

There is a wide selection of approved tips from various manufacturers such as Wilger, Hypro, Teejet, and Greenleaf.  Remember, always consult your specific product label to ensure the tips you are choosing from are actually approved - you need to be on-label to safely and responsibly apply these products.  Furthermore, you can visit these chemical websites as additional resources: BASF - Engenia & Monsanto - XtendiMax.

As of mid-October 2017, Monsanto has voluntarily proposed to offer further educational programs to ensure farmers have success with the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System for the 2018 season.  These updates include mandatory training, new recordkeeping requirements, and a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) designation.  This will limit the sale and use to certified applicators or those acting under their supervision. All of these steps are supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).   The new recordkeeping requirements will better track label compliance and help protect farmers using the Xtendimax system - as long as they follow the product accordingly - adhering to all label instructions.

Equipment Rinsing & Maintenance

Thorough clean-out is a must for any equipment used in Dicamba application.  Applicators must keep the sprayer completely clean after Dicamba applications.  Due to the volatility of the product if there is any residual left in the plumbing system of a sprayer it will be applied at the next application site and drift from there.  Triple rinse with fresh water has become the industry standard.  Check out this other blog post for rinse-out techniques and tips.

This triple rinse process includes the entire plumbing system - strainers, screens, dead spots in the booms, nozzles, valves, pumps, etc.  Hypro has designed their Express Boom End Cap to aid in flushing booms.  Similarly, Wilger has come up with their own design to fit CASE IH Patriot sprayers.  Both of these products help eliminate dead space in the boom where residual chemical builds up and can cause headaches - major headaches when dealing with Dicamba products.

Furthermore, we have had a small handful of customers actually install chemical weighing systems solely for the dispensing and selling of Dicamba-products.  This keeps the product completely and totally isolated from any others in their inventory to avoid contamination.  Here is an example of Junge Control's Chemical Weighing System.

Moving Forward and What that Means for Dicamba

So what does all of this mean for the future of Dicamba-products and how widely used they will or will not become in the near future?  One side can make the case that due to the number of claims and issues that were found this past season, more farmers will plant the Dicamba-resistant seeds in 2018 as nothing more than an insurance policy.  After all, we did hear, in a number of instances, that growers actually planted the Dicamba-resistant seeds in 2017 solely as an insurance policy.  They knew their neighbors would be spraying Dicamba and chose to use this method as an insurance policy.

The other side could argue that due to the widespread damage created by the conventional seed vs. Dicamba-resistant seed issues this past year we might not have any Dicamba-resistant seeds available for 2018 planting.  Arkansas is leading the regulation wave here.  They are about one step away from banning Dicamba-based products altogether, at the time of this writing.  There are a handful of other states that are leaning in this same direction.  However, there are times when the market will actually overtake regulation.  Demand is a powerful force and we could see that process take effect very soon.

In my travels as a territory sales representative over the past four years, I have seen glyphosate-resistant weeds migrating north from central Kansas to central Nebraska - over 300 miles.  Each year the soybean fields get dirtier and dirtier - and the number of dirty fields has been increasing - at an alarming pace.  2017 was the first year I actually noticed a number of fields that were "clean".

Weeds raise hell not only on crops, but on equipment as well.  Some fields have gotten so bad that one cannot run a combine through them.  They were just cut for silage.  We heard of many instances where growers spent twice their normal budgeted amount on combating/controlling weeds in 2017.

When it gets to the point where you spray a field five times (I heard this nightmare more than once) and still cannot get a kill on the weeds - you need to do something different.  A wise old man by the name of Albert Einstein once said, "Doing something over and over while expecting different results is the definition of insanity."

"The vast majority of farmers using our low-volatility Dicamba product have had tremendous success in 2017, both with on-target applications and good weed control," says Ty Vaughn, Monsanto's Global Regulatory Lead.  "The product was extensively tested for volatility and other forms of off-target movement before it was made available to farmers this season.  We are confident XtendiMax can continue to be used successfully in the System next season."

Mother Nature is forcing our hand and we need to adopt alternative methods to combat weeds.  Say that Dicamba-based products are outlawed.  It doesn't mean it will keep growers and producers in this country from finding a way to improve their yields and solve this weed issue.  The market creates the demand and demand is a powerful force.

Xtendimax Label (pdf)

Changes in Dicamba Application for 2018

The long-standing USDA/EPA requirements for Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) application is as follows:

• Product Name
• EPA Registration Number
• Total Amount Applied to the Field
• Date of Application (M/D/Y)
• Location of Application (legal descriptions, longitude/latitude, etc.)
• Crop Name (Xtend soybeans, NOT just 'soybeans')
• Size of Area Treated (in acres)
• Name of Certified Applicator
• Applicator Certification License Number

The additional requirements for 2018 are as follows:

• Proof of Dicamba - Specific Training (NDA website is OK)
• Receipt(s) of Purchase of RUP Dicamba used
• Product Label (Not Required to be On Person at Time of Application)
• Buffer Distanced Maintained - Consult Product Label
• Evidence of Susceptible Crops Nearby (Date that this Review was Conducted)
• Start and Finish Time of Application (include AM or PM)
• Pre or Post Emergence Application - if Post Emergence Notate How Many Days After Planting
• Air Temperature at Boom Height at Start and Stop Times
• Wind Speed and Direction at Boom Height at Start and Stop Time
• Tank Mix Partners - Including all Non-Pesticide Products.  If Other Pesticides are Included, Records Must Show EPA Regulation Numbers for Each Product
• Spray System Cleanout Procedure.  At a Minimum, Records Must Indicate Spray System Was Clean Before Application was Made and What Cleanout Procedure was Used.  Date of Cleanout is Required

Furthermore, each state may go above and beyond the requirements listed here so be sure to check your local state regulations BEFORE applying RUP products.

If you enjoyed this read, please, feel free to share with family, friends, and/or associates.  Be safe out there.

Step-by-Step of How to Properly Winterize a Spray Unit

In order to begin you need to ensure that your entire system has been evacuated of the solution(s) you were spraying with the unit.  That means you need to evacuate the pump housing, hoses, strainers, tank(s), spray wands, etc.  Start at the tank and run through the entire plumbing system - no component of the system that comes in contact with liquid should be left out of this process.  If something is neglected, odds are good that you will have issues when you go to start up next season.  Let's avoid that at all costs.  Here's how....

Any system should be thoroughly flushed with clean water.  Industry standards recommend a triple rinse.  Add one-half tank of fresh water and flush all tanks, lines, booms, nozzles, wands, etc. for no less than fifteen minutes.  Do this using a combination of agitation and spraying.  Remember that rinsates (solution you create while flushing your system) does contain residual from your system.  Therefore, any pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc. that you were spraying will be flushed from the system out of your orifice(s).  Do not allow rinsates to flow into streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, floor drains, sewers, or sinks.

It's best practice to use containment pads such as these to collect rinsates and then apply them to labeled sites at or below labeled rates.  If possible, consider rinsing the system at the application site.  Furthermore, the product label should specify best rinse practices - always consult the product label.  Lastly, proper protective clothing should be worn to avoid chemical contact with any exposed skin.

Remember, many of the chemicals out there are designed to kill living organisms - that means it's not good to get it into your blood stream.  If you do get any product on exposed skin make sure to wash the contaminated area with soap and water immediately, for no less than 15 minutes.

This is also a good time to clean strainers of any debris that was picked up during the past season.  By performing this task you will help ensure that you don't starve your pump and blow out seals when you start up next season.  Here is another post on pump cavitation to further explain how detrimental this can be.  Sloppy clean up practices are a main cause of equipment failure or malfunctions.  You're here to prevent that and avoid expensive down time.

You can create a cleaning solution by doing the following:

1. Fill the tank with fresh water and the recommended cleaning solutions or tank cleaner.
2. Agitate this solution for no less than 15 minutes.
3. Add one of the following to 50 gallons of fresh water.
   1. Two quarts of household ammonia (let sit in sprayer overnight for herbicides such as 2,4-D or Dicamba. It's recommended to consult your label for recommended cleaning agents*)
   2. Or add four pounds of trisodium phosphate cleaner detergent. (It's recommended to consult your label for recommended cleaning agents*)
4. Operate spray booms or wands long enough to ensure all lines and orifices are filled with the cleaning solution.
5. Let the solution stand in the system for no less than three hours.
6. Agitate and spray the solution onto suitable areas for rinsate solution.
7. Add more fresh water and rinse the system again by using a combination of agitation and spraying.
8. Remove strainers, screens, regulators, etc. and clean in a separate bucket of your cleaning solution.
9. Rinse and flush the system again with fresh water.

Don't neglect the fact that, any product left in the plumbing system, that is allowed to dry, is much more difficult to remove and will eventually build up enough to plug lines and orifices.  Plugged lines and orifices not only decrease the overall efficiency of your plumbing system, but will bring about a slough of other headaches.  Always wash down the external portion of the spray unit at the wash site, as well.  This helps to remove any external residue that the unit collected via spills or drift.

Repairs

Next, let's move on to the pump itself.  Remove the pump from the drive unit - generally on most skid sprayers this will be a gas engine.  It's always best practice to take the pump completely apart BEFORE you order repair parts.  For instance, you may order a complete overhaul kit and find that you really only needed to replace some gaskets.  We strongly recommend to get the pump opened up and thoroughly inspect it.

Once you have completed this and have drawn up your parts list - only then should you order repair components.  We have an extensive parts breakdown file, to help you identify the correct parts you need.  In order to use this resource you need to know the manufacturer, pump type, and model number. Click here for access to our Parts Resources.   For additional resource videos see below.  The first video is for a Hypro 7560 roller pump.  The second video is for a Hypro D403 diaphragm pump.

If you absolutely need to store your unit outdoors over the winter make sure to remove all hose and any polymer (plastic fittings, connections, etc.)  Some companies recommend adding lightweight oil such as diesel fuel or kerosene to a system for off-season storage.  We don't recommend this as oil-based products don't like EPDM elastomers.  For this reason, we suggest using a 50/50 mix of RV antifreeze and water.  We recommend this treatment for your entire plumbing system - whether you store your unit indoors or outdoors.  The reason we recommend this treatment is based upon experience.  We have had customers store units in temperature controlled environments, during the off-season, only to have their heat source fail.  This resulted in the pump housing cracking due to their own negligence.  If they would have charged the system with a solution that would not freeze they could have avoided an expensive surprise come spring.

Here is another post on chemical compatibility and how it's worthwhile to perform due diligence.  Run this solution throughout the entire plumbing system for a minute or two in order to ensure that your total system is winterized and safe from freezing.

It's also recommended to remove all gauges and store indoors if possible.  Change out your oil if you are running a diaphragm pump unit - this ensures you are ready to rock-n-roll come go-time next spring.  Remember, the main reason for failure or malfunction in any spray system is neglect and improper maintenance.  Lastly, make sure to replace air/oil filters on your gas engine.  Don't forget to add a fuel stabilizer treatment to your engine and run it for a few minutes to ensure the treatment reaches all internals of the engine.

If you can ensure following these steps in your post season shut down process we know you will be in much better shape come next season.  All of your equipment should be good to go and ready when you - and more importantly - your customers need it to be.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great off-season.

Sources:

1. Some of the information in this post was found through The University of Nebraska-Lincoln the Cleaning Pesticide Application Equipment publication from August 2013.
2. Hypro - Pentair

The fall/spring application of the fertilizer Anhydrous Ammonia, also known as NH3, is always a hectic time for those in the agricultural industry.  The race to get the precious fertilizer in the ground is fast-paced and everyone is running like gang busters.  Every season fall/spring we field phone calls that stem from concern due to the reliability and service of ammonia hoses.  This post should clear up many questions and will provide some valuable education to you and your team.  Below you will find a listing of common questions we run across throughout a season.  As always, we are happy to help share our wealth of technical knowledge and experience.

Residue on Hose Exteriors

Question: At times a residue forms rings or cones all over the cover of my anhydrous ammonia hose.  This residue resembles or looks like white spots.

What causes this residue to appear and what is it?

Answer: Goodall anhydrous ammonia hoses have a minimum of eight rows of evenly spaced pinpricks.  The pin pricking is a safety requirement.  These pinpricks allow trace amounts of NH3, to permeate through the tube.  The pinpricks allow minute amounts of anhydrous ammonia to easily escape into the atmosphere through the hose cover. There is such a trace amount of anhydrous ammonia being released that it is not harmful.

A hose that has been improperly pricked will cause the cover to blister and eventually blow out - this is the same for a hose that has not been pricked at all.  A hose blows out when NH3 becomes trapped between the layers in the hose, heats up, and vaporizes - thus causing rapid expansion and bursting through the hose cover.

The single drawback to pin pricking is the residue that is left on the hose and the resulting appearance that the hose is somehow defective, after use.  Remember, as the anhydrous ammonia escapes through the pinpricks it comes in contact with the atmosphere and forms the white residue that many operators commonly see throughout the season.  The color and consistency of the residue are affected by the amount of dust and relative humidity present in the atmosphere.  This residue does not indicate a defective hose and is no way identifying a problem or unsafe situation for operators.  Furthermore, it is a reminder of this built-in safety feature to the anhydrous ammonia hose and that it is, in fact, working as intended.

Basketing

Question: My stainless steel braided anhydrous ammonia hose has ballooned out behind the coupling.

Why is this happening?

Answer: The symptom described above is referred to as "basketing".  Basketing is the result of the thermal expansion of trapped anhydrous ammonia in the hose.  By design, the hose is intended to expand in a controlled fashion when this over-pressurization occurs.  Most commonly, a user will see basketing form behind the coupling - this intended consequence is meant to keep the NH3 hose from a catastrophic blowout.

Thermal expansion generally occurs when anhydrous ammonia remains or leaks out of a shut-in hose assembly and is allowed to heat up or "cook" in the sun.  Extremely high pressures occur, internally, as the black hose is exposed to sunlight for extended periods.

It is highly recommended that all hose assemblies be emptied before storage and downstream valves checked for compliance and acceptable operation regularly.  Furthermore, hydrostatic relief valves should also be check for correct operation and compliance pressures depending on state and local fire marshal requirements.

Goodall New Hose Expected Service Life - When Coupled by Authorized Goodall Locations

N1446 - Super Long Life - 10 Year

N2595 - Rifleman - 8 Year

N2000 - Century 2000 - 6 Year

Maintenance and Care

Maintenance and Care of Your Goodall Anhydrous Ammonia Hose:

New Hose

1. Ensure you have the correct hose. All Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) hose will be strip branded, stating that the hose is for Anhydrous Ammonia, the working pressure, the name of the manufacturer, and the month and year the hose was made.
2. Make sure the couplings are properly put on.  After the hose is charged with anhydrous ammonia, check that the couplings are secure and that they have not moved.
3. Ensure that the new hose is free from cuts, gouges, and imperfections. Perform a visual check of each hose in service. Run your hand down the length of the anhydrous ammonia hose, checking for soft spots.
4. Never secure the coupling in a vise when attaching valves.
5. Goodall highly recommends that all relief valves are replaced at the same time a new hose is installed.
6. If any of the above imperfections are found to be existent, remove the hose from service immediately.

Used Hose

An anhydrous ammonia hose that is currently in service or has been carried over from the previous year:

1. Applicators should remove anhydrous ammonia hoses from the nurse tank(s) before winter and stored in a cool, dry place.  Keep away from direct heat and any motors that are operating.  The best place to store an anhydrous ammonia hose is to hang the hose in a vertical position from the shoulder of the coupling. By doing this one relieves stress on the hose. The hose will be out of the way so as not to be damaged by individuals walking on it, trucks driving over it, or anything being piled on top of it. Furthermore, the storage of anhydrous ammonia hoses indoors prevents damaging UV rays from the sun ruining the hose.
2. NH3 hoses should be checked in the spring in the same manner as a new hose is inspected - this way the user ensures that Anhydrous Ammonia hose is, in fact, Anhydrous Ammonia hose.
3. Each hose should be checked at least daily, if not each time the hose is used, to ensure proper function.  Make sure to check for: movement of couplings, cuts, gouges or cracks in the cover.  Check for any soft spots - this is done by running your hand down the entire length of the hose.
4. Should any of the above imperfections in an anhydrous ammonia hose be found, immediately remove the hose from service.

Always remember - visual and manual inspection SHOULD BE DONE DAILY

Don't hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.  Be safe out there...

What is Anhydrous Ammonia?

Anhydrous Ammonia or more commonly known as Nh3 is a common fertilizer that provides a wonderful supply of Nitrogen to crops.  First and foremost, let's get some basics down on this fertilizer.  In its natural state, Nh3 is a gas.  When pressurized, the anhydrous ammonia converts to liquid form.  By pressurizing a vessel such as a nurse tank we can transport the nitrogen rich fertilizer from a bulk storage facility to the field.  Because anhydrous ammonia is a gas, in its natural state, it wants to return to that state.  Therefore, any pressure drop in a plumbing system allows the liquid to vaporize.

Once Nh3 vaporizes the plumbing system becomes exponentially less efficient and, therefore, you as an applicator become less efficient.  Bottom line - if you have a poor or inefficient plumbing system you will spend more time in the field.  Because you have to run your tractor at slower speeds in order to apply the same amount of Nh3.  The longer we are able to keep the anhydrous ammonia in liquid form, the less product we lose to the atmosphere as it exits a knife orifice.

Nurse Tank Valves

Now that we have covered a little background information on Nh3 let's discuss liquid withdrawal nurse tank valves.  Nurse tank valves may be rated the same, but they are NOT built the same.  Take it from Judd Stretcher with Continental Nh3 Products.  Judd insists on nothing but top notch quality for the products that Continental turns out.  If you could achieve 20% greater tractor speeds by simply changing out your nurse tank valves, would you?  Let's look at a scenario from a recent field test that Continental Nh3 Products performed.

Continental lined up their B-1206E, B1206-F, A1406-F, A1406-FBV and A1507-F against some of the top names in industry.  What Continental found was staggering.  Through standard plumbing equipment, 1-1/4" hose, break away and 1-3/4" acme fittings and a single Continental 30GPM Heat Exchanger Judd was able to prove that quality and efficiency really do pay off.

Flow Ratings Explained

Before we continue, let's clarify ratings on valves.  If a liquid withdrawal valve is rated to 42 gallons per minute (GPM), like the B-1206-E or F you MUST understand that this is not the product flow rate of the valve.  A valve "rating" in the Nh3 world actually identifies the flow rate at which the excess flow check will engage.  This is another safety feature mandated in the anhydrous ammonia world.  A valve rated to 42 GPM will close and not allow product to flow from the nurse vessel if the flow rate EXCEEDS 42 GPM.

This is designed to protect the operator if there is a catastrophic release - such as a hose failure.  The nurse vessel will remain sealed due to the excess flow check.  By having this excess flow check in place we don't allow the tank to completely evacuate - thus protecting the operator.  So, a valve that is rated to 42 GPM, by industry standards, will actually flow around 24 GPM of product through standard plumbing equipment listed above.  In regards to this specific field test, we are concerned with product flow rates.

Continental was able to find that their valves actually outperformed the competition by 10-20 percent.  Their valves are able to achieve this due to design and quality.  Even a one to two PSI drop at the nurse tank valve can allow for a drastic expansion of product which then allows the Nh3 to vaporize.

The more vapor you put into a heat exchanger the less efficient the heat exchanger, or cooler,  is and that ultimately leads to less product going in the ground.  Which finally boils down to you spending more time in the field.  I will ask the question again, if you can increase your tractor speed by 10-20%, because you have improved the efficiency of your plumbing system, would you?

Money in Your Pocket

Let's look at a basic calculation for Nh3 application: If you are applying 200lbs/acre of Nh3 running 5 mph across a tool bar 55 feet wide you will need a system that can flow 27 GPM as you will be applying 1620 gallons per hour.  So if the price of anhydrous ammonia is projected to retail for $350/ton in eastern Nebraska this fall.  An application rate of 27 GPM. Means that you are spending $1560/hr (math calculations below).  You could theoretically save $312/hr from increasing your plumbing efficiency by 20%.   And that, you can take to the bank - calculate that over a 10 hour day and you're looking at savings of roughly $3,118/day.  Put that number across an entire season and think what you could do with those savings! If you have further questions check us out at here or give us a shout at 1-800-228-9666.

Math Calculations:

8910lbs/2000lbs = 4.455 tons*$350 = $1559.25/hr - total expenditure on Nh3/hr

(Nh3 weighs 5.5lbs/gal so 1620 gallons = 8910lbs; then 8910lbs * .20 = 1782lbs/hr saved which = $312/hr.

*Nh3 projections for fall in eastern Nebraska are around $350 retail.  Nationwide average is approximately $300/ton

If you found this post useful feel free to share with friends, family, and colleagues.  We are here to help and share our knowledge.  If you have further questions don't hesitate to contact us.  Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Properly sizing a centrifugal pump is a crucial step in any plumbing system.  There are some important variables and qualifiers you need to first identify in order to ensure that your plumbing system(s) reaches the desired output flow rates.  Centrifugal pumps fall into a category of their own and need to be sized for various applications in a different manner than other pump families.  In this post you will learn some basic steps to help you properly size a centrifugal pump for your application.

The Basics

Many pump users mistakenly think that a centrifugal pump will provide its maximum published flow rate in all applications.

However, unlike positive displacement pumps (gear, roller, diaphragm and others), the flow rate from a centrifugal pump will vary significantly depending upon the details of the suction and discharge piping and other “head losses” in the user’s system (restrictions to flow such as elbows, tees, reducers, strainers, meters, valves, etc) and the vertical rise (or drop) from the supply source to the discharge point.

Total Static Head

The total vertical rise in the system is commonly referred to as Total Static Head.  Total Static Head consists of both Static Suction Head and Static Discharge Head, and each of these can be positive or negative, depending if the supply source and discharge point are located above or below the pump elevation.  Also note that some systems have a pressurized supply and/or discharge point (pressure vessel or pressurized pipe); these will also add to the Total Static Head.

Once calculated, static head doesn't change for a system - unless a plumbing change is made.

If that sounded a little technical it's because it is!  Long story short - your centrifugal pump doesn't dictate your flow rate - your plumbing system does.

Think of it this way - the speedometer on your car may say 160mph, but is your car capable of that speed?  What if you put on larger mud tires or constrict the exhaust? The car certainly will not reach 160mph - and a centrifugal pump operates under this same premise.  Now, back to today's lesson:

Total Dynamic Head

In addition, each system has a Total Dynamic Head (TDH) which is the sum of head losses due to friction through each foot of pipe, all fittings, valves, meters, strainers, etc.  The reason these frictional head losses are called “dynamic” is that they vary with the flow rate moving through the system.  As the desired flow rate goes up, the Total Dynamic Head goes up, and usually quite quickly.

The Total Head in a pumping/piping system is the sum of Total Static Head and Total Dynamic Head.  A “System Curve” can be computed, for a variety of desired flow rates, and plotted against the particular “Pump Curve”.  The Centrifugal Pump Curve is published by the pump manufacturer.

The “Operating Point” (Gallons Per Minute Flow rate) of the pump, in a particular system, is at the intersection of the Centrifugal Pump Curve and the Plumbing System Curve.

If this sounds complicated, do not be concerned.  Dultmeier Sales has experienced engineers on staff, along with pump flow computer programs, to properly compute and size centrifugal pumps for your applications.

Simply give our engineering department a call with your flow rate requirements and some basic details on your piping system, and we will properly size your centrifugal pump to meet your requirements.  You may wish to check out our Technical Library, as well.  Let us know if there is any other way we can be of service.

Looking for that perfect fuel transfer pump unit?  Look no further.  We assemble these units in Omaha, Nebraska in our production facility.  These fuel transfer pump units are available in either 1" transfer or 1.5" transfer capacity - flow characteristics vary drastically between the two versions.

The Dilemma & Our Solution for You

The 1" fuel transfer pump unit (DUFPU1P) will produce a flow rate of 32 GPM - at the nozzle. This is a true representation of the flow rate that the end user can expect - at the end of the plumbing system.  While competitive systems will notate "max flow rate", many of them are portraying the flow rate the fuel transfer pump outputs at an open discharge.  Open discharge means unrestricted flow and isn't an accurate representation of what an end user will experience, in terms of flow rate at the nozzle, once the fuel transfer pump is installed into a plumbing system.  Here is a quick example of how friction loss is calculated through a plumbing system to determine flow rate - at the nozzle.

Our 1.5" fuel transfer pump unit will produce a flow rate of 60 GPM - at the nozzle.  Most 12V diesel fuel transfer pumps will produce a flow rate of approximately 18-20 GPM at the nozzle.  This is making the assumption the plumbing system consists of approximately 30 feet of 1" fuel transfer hose.

By making the transition from lower volume 12 Volt or 115 Volt fuel transfer pumps to the 1" DUFPU1P, end users can effectively decrease their fill times by 78%.  If you choose to bump up to the, larger, DUFPU1.5P you can decrease fill times by 233%.

That is a serious cost savings when looking at the operational expenses of paying operators to wait around while large equipment fuel tanks are being filled.  If you are able to save 15 minutes of fill time, per fill, how much money does that save you in a week?  How about a month or a year?

Reduce waste, reduce cost, and increase efficiencies of your operation.  Bigger, faster, stronger is the name of the game and these Dultmeier fuel transfer pump units will help you achieve that status.

Either fuel pump transfer unit option, that we manufacture, is fitted with the MP Pumps PetrolMaxx 2" self priming diesel fuel transfer pump.  These fuel pump transfer units are designed to safely handle diesel or bio-diesel fuels and significantly reduce operating expenses and improve the efficiency of your operation.

Product Demonstration

Our, larger volume, DUFPU1.5P boasts the following features:

• PowerPro 6.5 HP manual start engine with C.A.R.B. rating.
• MP PetrolMaxx 2" self-priming cast iron pump with Type 21 Viton® mechanical seal designed for diesel fuel
• Hannay spring rewind hose reel
• Husky high flow automatic nozzle with swivel.
• Cimtek 1-1/2" 60 GPM fuel filter with 2-30 micron Hydrosorb elements,
• 38' of 1-1/2" fuel transfer hose and Husky 1690 1-1/2" high flow automatic nozzle.
• Mounted on steel base plate (powder-coat finish)

Here is a video to help further display the unit.  Enjoy!

How do I match my pump rotation?  This is a commonality that we address on almost a daily basis but many people do not understand how to accomplish this task.  At Dultmeier Sales we are glad to help out and explain over the phone or you can get your answer right here:

First off, let's address how we look at a pump - the direction of rotation is always determined when FACING THE SHAFT.  Centrifugal pumps are available in two options, either Counter Clockwise (CCW) or Clockwise (CW).  To match the pump shaft with a drive shaft we always MATCH THE OPPOSITE ROTATION.

A gasoline engine will match up to a CW drive centrifugal pump.  A front tractor crankshaft PTO rotates in CCW direction and therefore must be mated to a CW centrifugal pump.  While a rear PTO shaft drive (CW rotation) application must be mated to a CCW pump.  This is somewhat counter intuitive to those new to the concept but a "standard drive" centrifugal pump will actually be CCW rotation. Therefore, a "reverse" drive pump is actually CW.

Confused yet?  Check out Ace Pumps description for further clarification along with pictures.  A common symptom of not properly matching shaft rotation is no pressure generation by the pump.  We receive calls from people describing that their brand new pump won't create any pressure and immediately point at the pump as the culprit.  More often than not, it's not the pump's fault - generally there is an application error or human error causing the issue.  In the scenario described above the first thing to confirm is that we have the correct pump shaft rotation matched with drive shaft choice.  More often than not, this is the root of the headache.  If you are still struggling give us a buzz and we will be happy to lend a hand.

Let us know if this was useful content.  We certainly hope so.  If there are other topics you would like addressed in future posts, by all means, let us know!

Be good out there.