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8 THE RURAL VOICE
Scrap Book
U. of Guelph developing `intelligent' sprayer
Imagine a sprayer that only sprayed
areas where weeds are a problem
instead of the whole field. That's
exactly what researchers Ken
Bennett and Ralph Brown of the
University of Guelph's School of
Engineering are trying to do.
Particularly on no -till situations,
blanket spraying can apply too little
spray in areas of high weed concen-
tration and waste spray on the rest of
the field. The system Guelph
researchers are trying to develop
makes use of weed mapping, pres-
cription modeling and prescription
delivery. Weed mapping involves
production of a grid model of the
field layout in a computer database.
Weed populations are then overlaid
on the grid, block by block, for
decision analysis. The blocks are
analyzed to see if the level of weed
concentration justifies herbicide
treatment. This information is then
transferred to a computer on the
sprayer that supervises application.
The engineers are developing a
precision sprayer to use with the
system. The sprayer incorporates a
direct injection system that can
deliver a variable rate of active
ingredient directly to the nozzle. The
sprayer tank contains only a water
carrier and requires no premixing of
chemical. During application water
is sprayed constantly. The herbicide
concentrate is introduced from a
separate tank, into the water carrier
only when needed, as indicated by
the map. The metering of a small
amount of fluid makes the system
very responsive, allowing for more
precise delivery of the herbicide. If a
second weed is evenly distributed,
such as grass, a tank mix can be used
while the second chemical is
injected for a weed with variable
population distribution.
Each nozzle is injected from its
own syringe pump allowing for
precise control of the injection ratc.
The system was field-tested on
Ontario farms in 1998 and trials will
continue in 1999.0
—Source: Agrifood Research in
Ontario
Elk antler test results shock researcher
When University of Alberta professor and football coach Brian Fisher
decided to test elk antler velvet as a physical performance enhancer, he was
skeptical.
"Quite frankly, I didn't think anything was going to happen," said Fisher
when he spoke at the Discovery 99 specialty livestock conference in
Saskatchewan in February. He said he often tests chemicals and compounds that
promoters claim make athletes stronger and more fit and he usually discovers the
concoctions have little, if any, effects.
He tried the elk antler velvet capsules on Edmonton city police recruits and
his own Alberta Golden Bears university football team, men chosen because they
undergo vigorous physical training. A fcw weeks into the football team's trial
Fisher had to halt the experiment when urine tests showed levels of plasma -
testosterone had gone "off the scale". The hormone can boost muscle growth and
enhance muscle recovery time but high testosterone levels in athletes can be
interpreted as a sign of use of banned drugs. The police recruits, however,
continued on the test
After nine weeks of tests results showed plasma -testosterone greatly increased
while cortisol, a natural steroid that can inhibit performance, stayed low rather
than increasing as is usual when exercising.
Fisher suspects elk antler velvet works because it contains branch chain
amino acids and beneficial fatty acids. "Elk antler velvet is a symphony of amino
acids," he said, and unlike some synthetic amino acids they are easily digested.
While the football players were only briefly on the test, they reported some
• physical phenomena diminished after they were taken off the substance. "Let's
just say their girlfriends weren't very happy (about the men being taken off the
elk antler velvet)."0
—Source: Western Producer