Category Archives: Programs
Check out the feature article in Wines and Vines!
Check out the feature article in Wines and Vines on our Recycling Tunnel Retrofit Incentive Program!
First Recycling Tunnel Sprayer Retrofit Conversion
The District applied for a Conservation Innovation Grant in 2012 to demonstrate new recycling tunnel sprayer technology in vineyards in Yamhill County. The grant is providing a $5,000 incentive payment to eligible vineyard producers to retrofit airblast style sprayers to a recycling tunnel system and a 50% cost share of the fabrication up to $1000. This recycling tunnel sprayer technology has been extensively trialed and tested by Dr. Andrew Landers of Cornell University and has been reported to eliminate up to 99% of drift and reduce annual chemical application up to 35%.
The first participant in our program recently finished their retrofit of a Gearmore Venturi P45 to a LIPCO double tunnel recycling system. The fabrication included replacing the existing pump with a higher capacity pump, adding posts for the tunnels, attaching the tunnels, and tying them in to the existing system.
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- Gearmore sprayer before…
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- Removing pump
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- Prepping for pump installation
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- Pump had to be upgraded to a higher capacity pump
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- Posts that needed to be fabricated to hold recycling tunnels
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- 1st tunnel hung
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- Completed retrofit
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- completed retrofit
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- completed retrofit
This technology will be new to the Willamette Valley, but has exciting potential to reduce non-target drift and improve air and water quality. Recycling tunnel sprayers can also provide added health protection to sprayer operators by reducing their exposure to applied chemicals.
The district encourages operators interested in hearing more about the cost-share program to contact the Yamhill SWCD at (503) 472-6403. Individuals may also directly email the SWCD’s project coordinators, Marie Vicksta at marie@yamhillswcd.org, or Mike Crabtree at michael@yamhillswcd.org for more information.
Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation 