Objective and target audience
The major objective of this newsletter is to provide a summary of major developments in agricultural chemical (fertilizer and pesticide) application technology research and developments. Although the primary target audience of the newsletter is the Extension educators who provide county-based training programs for pesticide applicators in Ohio, most of the content of this newsletter is general in nature, and can be used by anyone is interested in this topic.
Why now?
We finally have many NEW things to talk about. We have relied on basically the same technology for application of agricultural chemicals for a long time. Recently, we have seen an increase in research and development for designing better equipment and application techniques to improve application efficiency while reducing potential health and environmental risks associated with pesticides. Several revolutionary nozzle designs have been introduced during the past few years. Site-specific application of chemicals was not in our vocabulary until two years ago. Now, there is a huge market for equipment associated with site-specific application of chemicals. The information you need to address these topics adequately in your training sessions may be absolute by the time you attend inservices we offer you on an annual or bi-annual basis. Hopefully this newsletter will keep you informed of such technological advances in a timely fashion.
Content
We intend to keep the length of the articles in this newsletter as short as possible. Most items will be about new equipment developments taking place in industry. In one section of the newsletter we will highlight findings from research conducted at OSU and elsewhere. Site-specific application section will highlight some of the technical developments related mostly to the equipment used. Under the Back to Basics section, you will find technical information that is not new, but important enough to take a good look at again. For example, in this issue you will find information on general principles of site-specific application technology. In the next issue, you will read why one nozzle is better than another one for application of a specific type of a pesticide. Under the section titled This & That, you will read things that do not fit in any other section.
Contributors
Although I will serve as the overall "editor" of the newsletter, you will see names of many other individuals contributing to it. Although some will contribute frequently to the newsletter, we need everyone's participation to make this newsletter interesting. I encourage you all to submit news items and/or write articles to be included in the newsletter. One of the best contributions you can make is in the form of a question or a comment you want to be addressed in future issues.
Frequency of distribution
No specific time period is set for sending out a new issue
of this newsletter. My goal is to send you a new one every
two months. Hopefully it will be more frequent than that.
(Erdal Ozkan)
Please send questions, comments, as well as items to be included in the newsletter to:
Dr. Erdal Ozkan
Professor and Extension Agricultural Engineer
Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering Dept.
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH 43210
FAX: (614)292-9448
Email:ozkan.2@osu.edu
Acknowledgments: Many thanks to J. Lemon, L. Gerondeau and L. Farr from the Section of Communications & Technology at OSU and C. Roush-Kopczewski from the office of Pesticide Applicator Training for providing technical and/or editorial assistance for this newsletter.
Disclaimer
Information presented above and where trade names are used, they are supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension is implied. Although every attempt is made to produce information that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticide user bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.