WABA Programs - Open for Business 15th Annual Custom Applicator Program After a long absence from holding in-person events, WABA proudly returned to normal programming on March 17-19 with our 15th Annual Custom Applicator Program. As usual, this outstanding program was held at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton. Despite social distancing, face masks, sterilizing classroom tables, chairs, and spray rigs, the 2021 version of the program went off without a single issue or concern. Topics covered as a part of the program included: • • • • • • • • • •
Making an application from start to finish Top mistakes to avoid as a custom applicator Sprayer overview / Wetloading Pesticide mixing and tank cleanout Pesticide calculations Task computers Pulse width modulation Spray table demonstration Crop staging and weed identification Several hours of behind the wheel training in the rig and mock spraying
20 SUMMER 2021
Special thanks go out to Dan Heider (UW-Madison), Nick Schneider (Fox Valley Technical College) and Mary Fronek (Fox Valley Technical College) for helping to plan and instruct the program. Also thank you to this year’s “Master Applicators” that conduct all of the in-rig training. They are: Dean Ebert (Helena), Matt McHugh (Larsen Co-op), Adam Buchholtz (Insight FS), Scott Ringelstetter (Landmark Co-op), and Jeremy Hanson (Fox Valley Technical College). Also, this program would not be possible without the great support of our sponsors that supply the spray rigs. They are Heartland AG Systems, Ziegler Ag, and Larsen Co-op. In 15 years of the program, we have now helped to train over 460 spray rig operators! Thank you everyone for making the Custom Applicator Program another huge success.
