Farmers spend a great deal of time choosing between products and almost none checking the machine that delivers them. That is backwards. An uncalibrated sprayer can put out double the intended rate in one pass and half in the next, and no product performs well under those conditions.

Start with the nozzles. They wear out. A worn nozzle delivers more liquid than a new one at the same pressure, and the spray pattern degrades from an even fan to something patchy. Nozzles are cheap; replacing a worn set is one of the highest-return purchases you can make.

Check your pressure and keep it steady. Pressure changes droplet size — too high and you produce fine droplets that drift off target, too low and coverage suffers. Consistent pumping on a manual knapsack matters more than most operators realise.

Then work out your actual output. Spray clean water over a measured area at your normal walking pace and pumping rate, measure how much you used, and scale it up to a full acre or hectare. That number, not the number on the label, is what your sprayer is really doing. Adjust until the two match.

Rinse the tank properly between products, especially after herbicides. Herbicide residue in a tank that later sprays a vegetable crop will do real damage, and it is a mistake that is entirely avoidable.

We stock knapsack and motorised sprayers along with the nozzles, seals and spare parts to keep them accurate. If your sprayer is not delivering what you think it is, bring it in and let us look at it.