Farmers and custom applicators can do their part to protect bees from exposure to pesticides by fitting their booms with hose drops.

Research conducted on oilseed rape crops at the University of Hohenheim in Germany found that using the spray nozzle attachments, also known as dropleg devices, can nearly eliminate spray drift. Researchers also found that by spraying below the crop canopy some destructive insects are more likely to come in contact with pesticides.

The findings are not conclusive and additional research is planned by German plant breeder DSV with the University of Soest.

TeeJet Technologies manufactures nylon hose drops designed to connect to standard and Quick TeeJet nozzle bodies. The drops also can be used with swivels. The 15- and 24-inch drops, with maximum operating pressure of 125 psi, are available through SpraySmarter.com.

A TeeJet hose drop

Bees play an important role in agriculture by pollinating many crops. A rise in bee deaths, including the loss of complete colonies, has been attributed to several factors, including exposure to pesticides on treated seed and during spray application.

The University of Hohenheim research began in 2013 through a partnership that includes the agricultural companies Syngenta, Bayer and Lechler. Scientists discovered that by applying pesticide lower on oilseed rape plants and not on plant flowers spray drift was reduced 98 percent. About 90 percent of German oilseed rape crops are sprayed with fungicide during flowering – a time when bees are most active in the field.

Researchers also noted that hose drops caused minimal damage to oilseed rape crops as sprayers moved through fields.

“This is an interesting technology that has so far impressed in trials,” said Alexander Doring, product manager at DSV, in the British magazine Farmers Weekly . “However, there are still plenty of open questions to see what other benefits we might be able to get, and also if there are any limiting factors.”

By Steve Leer

Google