Anhydrous Ammonia Safety
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Whenever dealing with anhydrous, it is important to have the PPE on. This includes long neoprene gloves, a full respirator mask or ventless googles and a respirator, a long sleeved shirt, and pants. Gloves should be rolled up on the edge to prevent drips running into the gloves.
Whenever dealing with anhydrous, it is important to have the PPE on. This includes long neoprene gloves, a full respirator mask or ventless googles and a respirator, a long sleeved shirt, and pants. Gloves should be rolled up on the edge to prevent drips running into the gloves.
Do not wear contact lenses as the gas can become trapped behind the lenses and fuse to the eye. Other safety equipment to always have on hand is a charged cell phone in case of emergency and 5 gallons of water to flush any area of the body that may be exposed to gas. Having a squeezable water bottle with clean water on hand is also suggested.
Connecting to the applicator
Before connecting, always check the wind direction. Whichever way the wind is blowing, face upwind in case of an accidental release and have proper PPE on.
Before connecting, always check the wind direction. Whichever way the wind is blowing, face upwind in case of an accidental release and have proper PPE on.
- Make sure the flow control valve is in the off position and close the bleeder valves on either side of the quick coupler.
- Check the nurse tank supply hose, both the liquid withdrawal valve and the hose and valve must be closed before connecting to the breakaway coupler. Always handle the hose and valve by the valve body and hose, never by the handwheel – this will prevent from opening a valve accidentally.
- Connect the hose to the quick coupler fitting and then open the hose and the valve.
- Open the withdrawal valve up on the nurse tank slowly. Watch for leaks if there are none the valve can be opened completely. By opening the withdrawal valve last, it positions you away from the applicator and at the source valve. If there were a leak in the system, you would be able to close the valve immediately.
In the Field
When not applying NH3, close the liquid withdrawal valve on the nurse tank completely. This includes daily tasks such as quitting for the day, meal breaks, moving to another field, etc.
When not applying NH3, close the liquid withdrawal valve on the nurse tank completely. This includes daily tasks such as quitting for the day, meal breaks, moving to another field, etc.
Steps to Take in Case of an Accident
- Get upwind and away from the product immediately
- Call Horizon Fertilizers and 911 if the situation warrants
- If clothing becomes crystallized or frozen to the body, flush the clothing with water for at least 15min before removing.
- If using a pressurized hose, add a towel or cloth overtop of the burn area to reduce the pressure of the water onto the injured surface. When transporting someone with a burn, keep a moist towel on the exposed area.
- If you inhale or ingest vapor, drink lots of water. Do NOT induce vomiting.
- If a person is vomiting, ensure the head is below the waist line to prevent the liquid from going into the lungs
- Do not apply oils, creams, or ointments to the burn area and get immediate medical attention.
At the end of the day, we want everyone to have a safe and successful season! If you have any questions or concerns regards anhydrous ammonia, please do not hesitate to call Gary at our Humboldt office (306)-682-2574.
Spring Pre-Seed Spraying Temperatures
When determining the temperature for spraying, go by the ambient temperature and not the wind chill (if there is one present). When daytime temperatures are projected to reach a minimum 8-10°C, you can go spray once the temp reaches 5°C. Aim to spray in the morning or afternoon as the temperatures rise throughout the day and the plants will be actively growing then. If the evening is forecast to drop below 10°C, it’s best to stop spraying 1.5-2 hours before sunset or before the temperature drops below the 10°C threshold. Stopping ahead of time allows the plants to fully take in the chemical. For systemic chemicals such as glyphosate, this means moving it from the leaves to the growing points.
How long to wait before seeding?
Under good growing conditions, seeding may resume after 6 hours of an application of glyphosate if there was only annual weeds present. If tank mixing with other products or spraying under more stressful conditions (ex) cooler temperatures) wait a day before beginning to seed or starting other field work.
For perennial weeds, wait 72 hours after spraying in good growing conditions. If the weather is cool and cloudy, wait another day to allow sufficient time for the chemical to move to the roots of the weeds.
Spraying after frost
If the nighttime temperatures dip in the range of 0 to -4°C, it’s ok to spray the next day go as long as day time temps reach 8-10°C. If the temperatures are colder than -5°C, wait 1-2 days to assess the frost damage and see if the plants are beginning to actively grow again. A good rule of thumb is to look for at least 60% green material on a plant after a hard frost before going out and spraying.
How long to wait before seeding?
Under good growing conditions, seeding may resume after 6 hours of an application of glyphosate if there was only annual weeds present. If tank mixing with other products or spraying under more stressful conditions (ex) cooler temperatures) wait a day before beginning to seed or starting other field work.
For perennial weeds, wait 72 hours after spraying in good growing conditions. If the weather is cool and cloudy, wait another day to allow sufficient time for the chemical to move to the roots of the weeds.
Spraying after frost
If the nighttime temperatures dip in the range of 0 to -4°C, it’s ok to spray the next day go as long as day time temps reach 8-10°C. If the temperatures are colder than -5°C, wait 1-2 days to assess the frost damage and see if the plants are beginning to actively grow again. A good rule of thumb is to look for at least 60% green material on a plant after a hard frost before going out and spraying.
Spring Seeding Temperatures
The following chart shows the lowest average temperature that various crops will germinate at. While the crops will germinate at these temperatures, something to keep in mind is frost risk. For example, canola will germinate in cooler soil but once it emerges it is very susceptible to frost and may be damaged if low temperatures are in the forecast.
These are the soil temperatures that our agronomist's have been finding over the past week. These were all taken on canola stubble around 9am at a 1.5 inch depth. In terms of soil temperatures, it's safe to say most crops are good to go with the exception of some large pulses!
April 29th - Bruno = 4.6°C, Leroy = 5°C
April 30th - Cudworth = 7°C, Leroy = 6.6°C
May 1st - Leroy = 8°C, Bruno = 7.1°C
May 4th - Bruno = 6.3°C
April 29th - Bruno = 4.6°C, Leroy = 5°C
April 30th - Cudworth = 7°C, Leroy = 6.6°C
May 1st - Leroy = 8°C, Bruno = 7.1°C
May 4th - Bruno = 6.3°C
Weed ID: Dandelion vs Narrow-leaved Hawk's Beard
Spring 2020 is gearing up for a great pre-burn season! Both soil and air temps are rising as are the weeds. As our agronomists are out scouting fields, they've been reminded of how similar looking a number of weeds are at the seedling stage. Specifically, Narrow-leaved Hawk’s Beard (NLHB) and Dandelion.
Here are some simple tips for correctly identifying these commonly mistaken weed seedlings:
It is difficult to ID either plant based on cotyledon alone. The first true leaves tend to be the first indication there is a difference. A dandelion seedlings first true leaves will have sparse, irregular toothing on the edges of the leaves. These “spiked” margins tend to point back towards the middle of the plant.
Here are some simple tips for correctly identifying these commonly mistaken weed seedlings:
It is difficult to ID either plant based on cotyledon alone. The first true leaves tend to be the first indication there is a difference. A dandelion seedlings first true leaves will have sparse, irregular toothing on the edges of the leaves. These “spiked” margins tend to point back towards the middle of the plant.
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While NLHB first true leaves will initially have quite a smooth, narrow appearance but will quickly develop leaves with variable margins ranging from sparsely toothed to deeply lobed. These margins tend to point up and away from the middle of the plant. A NLHB rosette will often lay quite flat against the ground then have leaves that point upwards (pictured below on the left).
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It is important to correctly ID these seedlings as the preburn options are quite different depending on the crops you will be growing. Aside from glyphosate having some activity on both, a second mode of action added to your preburn glyphosate will improve the control of these weeds immensely.
For cereals there are many options that will effectively control both weed seedlings. Select a preburn option that includes one of more of the following actives, Florasulam, Tribenuron, Pyraflufen-ethyl and/or Halauxifen (Arylex).
For canola, the preburn options are much smaller and therefore you will have to rely on your glyphosate rates for control of these weed seedlings. Fortunately, there is a new Gr. 4 active, Halauxifen (Arylex) which has exceptionally good activity on both NLHB and Dandelion seedlings.
For pulses, several actives such as Tribenuron and Pyraflufen-ethyl can be added to your preburn glyphosate and control these seedlings very well.
NLHB and Dandelion remains a challenge to control in any cropping system. Both species thrive in late fall/ early spring, so it is key to control them early in the growing season. Fortunately, there are now many effective preburn options available and the need to rely on glyphosate alone for control is now much less.
For cereals there are many options that will effectively control both weed seedlings. Select a preburn option that includes one of more of the following actives, Florasulam, Tribenuron, Pyraflufen-ethyl and/or Halauxifen (Arylex).
For canola, the preburn options are much smaller and therefore you will have to rely on your glyphosate rates for control of these weed seedlings. Fortunately, there is a new Gr. 4 active, Halauxifen (Arylex) which has exceptionally good activity on both NLHB and Dandelion seedlings.
For pulses, several actives such as Tribenuron and Pyraflufen-ethyl can be added to your preburn glyphosate and control these seedlings very well.
NLHB and Dandelion remains a challenge to control in any cropping system. Both species thrive in late fall/ early spring, so it is key to control them early in the growing season. Fortunately, there are now many effective preburn options available and the need to rely on glyphosate alone for control is now much less.
We hope this has been informative for you! If there's anything that comes up, please don't hesitate to give any of us at Horizon Fertilizers a call - we're more than willing to give a hand. Later on in May we'll be posting the second portion of our blog so be sure to stay tuned for that!
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