My name is Andres Donoso Tagle, Agronomist engineer. I work in a family company called Agricola Pacifico SA. It is located in central-south of Chile, at 200 km from Santiago (the capital). The company owns 180 Hectares of orchard in full production and also gives the service of electrostatic spraying to other growers.
When did you start using On Target Electrostatic sprayers?
Experience with table grapes?
In the electrostatic spraying service area, we’ve been using On Target machines for 2 seasons. We own 4 ATV sprayers and 2 Orchard sprayers. For table grapes we spray 2200 hectares with the 4 ATV machines each season, we spray growing regulators and pest controller products before harvest with excellent results.
Why do you use On Target?
With On Target sprayers we can achieve an excellent charge in the drops, very homogeneous size of drops, easy calibration of water amount sprayed for hectare, homogeneity water flow in the nozzles sprayed and an excellent blower system. Also adding the excellent posterior sales service.
How is the coverage and the results?
In Table grapes, we have achieved a 50% increase of sizing in the size curve. It will depend in the variety sprayed. In the case of spraying fungicide before harvest for the control of Botrytis Cineria, we have achieved a control over 120 days in varieties as Crimson Seedless and Red Globe. For Thompson Seedless variety, last season a grower could control for over 100 days. If we would’ve sprayed with a regular machine the time for the two first varieties would not be longer than 90 days and for the last variety 80 days.
Blueberries, in O’Neal variety, we achieved an excellent coverage of the pest control products sprayed, in all the fenological states. In the case of fungicide spraying for the control of Botrytis Cineria, we have achieved a control for over 50 days. This is an excellent result for a variety that at more than 32 days start with problems.
Japanese plums, Angelenno variety, we achieved an excellent result in pest control for all the fenological states, the fruit was free of pest and diseases. In the case of fungicide spraying for Botrytis Cineria control, we achieved 10 weeks of control. Excellent for this variety that is normally under 7 weeks.
Do you save time?
For Table grapes in pest control spraying, with a regular machine you spray 4 hectares in a regular labor day. With On Target, you are able to spray 12 hectares in the same time of work.
Spraying pest control products in Blueberries, with a regular machine you are able to spray 3.2 Hectares in a regular labor day. With an On Target ATV machine, you are able to spray 9.2 Hectares in the same time.
For European plum, in pest control spraying, with a conventional machine, you are able to spray 4.5 Hectares in regular labor day. With an On Target Orchard sprayer, you can spray 18 Hectares in the same time.
Do you use less water?
For spraying growth regulators and fungicides in table grapes with a conventional machine, you use 1500 liters of water (395 gal) for hectare. With On Target ATV machines we use 70 to 100 liters (18.5 to 26 gal). for pest control spraying, with a conventional machine you use 1500 liter for hectare. With On Target ATV machines we use 200 to 300 liters for hectare (52.6 to 79 gal)
For spraying pest control products in European plums, Japanese plums, Cherries, chess nuts, apples and pears, with a conventional machine we use 1800 to 2400 liters of water for hectare. With On Target Orchard machine we use 250 to 350 liters for hectare.
How is the service of On Target?
Excellent. Very serious and with a lot of knowledge. They see the client in a long term relation.
Is this the future of Spraying in Chile?
For table grape in Chile, to achieve a fruit with high quality and condition for export to the US, Med East and Europe, it is done with electrostatic spraying. We are working so this technology is used in blueberries and orchard varieties with the same objective, Best quality and fruit condition.
Why should people consider switching to ON Target Spray Technology?
Between the different companies that offers electrostatic technologies, On Target offers the best homogeneity in drop size, charge, air flow and water flow. Allows me to do an easy calibration, so I get an excellent coverage with the spraying.
Who is the King of Electrostatic spraying in Chile? 🙂
The king of electrostatics in Chile is Agricola Pacifico SA, with their great team Osvaldo Gonzalez (Area chief) and their trained operator with more than 6 years of experience in electrostatic spraying.