Sprayer calibration can save you money and pesticides

May 20, 2026

Are you part of the 66–77% of growers who spray more or less pesticide than needed, leading to either money wasted or crop losses? If you're not sure, there's one thing you can do about it right now: calibrate your sprayer.

Why Sprayer Calibration Matters

Erdal Ozkan, an Ohio State University Extension agricultural engineer, says there's no better time than early spring for growers to check their sprayers and confirm they are delivering the correct gallons-per-acre application rate.

"If you don't calibrate your sprayer frequently, it's as if you were driving your car with a speedometer that doesn't work. You assume you know what speed you are traveling at from habit, but you are not really sure."

— Erdal Ozkan, OSU Extension Agricultural Engineer

The problem with sprayers is that nozzles wear out with use, application rates change with different field conditions, and traveling speeds also vary. Many growers don't account for these factors.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Data from Ohio and other states indicates that only 1 out of every 3–4 applicators applies chemicals within 5% (plus or minus) of the intended rate — the accuracy level recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Surveys also show that 67% of applicators who calibrated before every spray application had errors below 5%. Conversely, only 5% of those who calibrated less than once a year achieved the same accuracy.

When Should You Calibrate?

Ozkan recommends calibrating your sprayer:

In early spring before the season begins
Every time operating conditions change (e.g., different ground surfaces)
When switching to a different type of chemical
After replacing or cleaning nozzles

The Cost of Not Calibrating

Frequent calibration is especially important with liquid applications because nozzles wear out with use, increasing flow rate and leading to overuse of chemicals. This impacts your budget and can cause crop damage and contamination of groundwater and the environment.

Use a Well-Maintained Sprayer

Accurate calibration starts with a reliable sprayer. Explore HYMATIC's range of agricultural sprayers built for consistent, precise performance in the field: