Black Gold Farms

Video Overview

Using the MagrowTec system, Blake was able to:

1. Achieve Superior Coverage with Less Water: One of the standout benefits was the system’s ability to maintain better coverage while using significantly less water. By reducing application rates from 10 gallons to 7.5 gallons per acre, and even achieving effective coverage at 5 gallons per acre for fungicide applications, the system demonstrated remarkable efficiency while maintaining superior plant coverage.

2. Generate Substantial Chemical Savings: The farmer observed significant cost savings through reduced chemical usage. Roundup applications could be reduced from 32 ounces to 22 ounces per acre while achieving better results than conventional spraying. With Roundup prices reaching $50-55 per gallon, these reductions translated into substantial cost savings.

3. Improve Operational Efficiency: The MagrowTec system enabled covering 33 more acres per fill-up at the 7.5-gallon rate, leading to completing a third more acres per day compared to conventional spraying. This increased efficiency resulted in significant savings in equipment time and fuel costs.

Maximizing Efficiency in Modern Farming: A Success Story with MagrowTec

Operating across 5,000 acres of commodity crops and 1,200 acres of potatoes, this farming operation has embraced innovative technology to enhance their spraying operations. Through their experience with the MagrowTec system, they’ve discovered significant improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and environmental stewardship.

Optimizing Application Rates and Coverage

The journey with MagrowTec began with careful trials comparing different application rates. Initial burndown trials compared 10-gallon and 7.5-gallon water rates per acre, with the reduced rate actually outperforming conventional applications. Even more impressive were the fungicide trials in soybeans, where the system achieved better coverage than conventional sprayers at rates as low as 5 gallons per acre, with proven penetration a foot down into the canopy and under-leaf coverage.

Substantial Cost Savings through Reduced Chemical Usage

The farm documented significant reductions in chemical usage while maintaining or improving effectiveness:

• Reduced Roundup applications from 32 to 22 ounces per acre
• Achieved better coverage on challenging weeds like foot-tall mustard
• Eliminated the need for second pass applications during burndown
• Potential savings of up to $6,000 per 100 acres when accounting for reduced respraying needs

Enhanced Operational Efficiency

The MagrowTec system has transformed daily operations by:

• Enabling coverage of 33 additional acres per tank fill
• Increasing daily spraying capacity by approximately 33%
• Reducing equipment time and fuel consumption
• Minimizing downtime with simple maintenance requirements

Performance in Challenging Conditions

In an area characterized by persistent winds and few windbreaks, the MagrowTec system has proven particularly valuable. The technology maintains consistent spray patterns even in higher winds, reducing drift concerns compared to conventional sprayers. This improved accuracy has enabled the operation to maintain effectiveness while reducing chemical rates.

Environmental Stewardship

As stewards of the land, the operation has appreciated MagrowTec’s contribution to their sustainability goals:

• Reduced overall chemical usage
• Decreased water consumption
• Lower toxicity through optimized application rates
• Minimized waste and drift

Return on Investment

The combination of reduced chemical usage, improved coverage, and increased operational efficiency has delivered a clear return on investment. The system’s simple maintenance requirements and reliable performance have made it a valuable addition to their farming operation.

The success with MagrowTec demonstrates how innovative technology can help modern farming operations achieve their goals of efficiency, sustainability, and profitability. Through reduced input costs, improved coverage, and enhanced operational capacity, the system has proven to be a worthwhile investment for this large-scale farming operation.