Airport Windsock Corp. Inc., a manufacturer of airport windsocks, recently introduced a new windsock designed specially for the agricultural market.
The Barnesville, Minn.-based company has supplied windsocks for aerospace and industrial applications since 2000. The new ag windsock is the first agricultural windsock in the company's product line.
"We have noticed through the years that many of our airport windsocks have been sold to the agricultural industry for determining wind speed for spray drift," says Chris Stepp, vice president of Airport Windsock Corp. Inc. "Because of the popular demand, we designed a windsock that is specifically designed to indicate at the lower wind speeds required for chemical spraying."
The ag windsock functions similar to the aviation windsocks made by Airport Windsock Corp. but has a specific calibrated wind speed designed for crop sprayers.
"It's the first of its kind from what we've seen," Stepp says. "We kept getting ag related calls about the windsocks so we made one for them."
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Aviation windsocks can aid in the reduction of off-target spray drift but their wind speed calibration tends to be too high for the crop sprayer and chemical applications.
A typical windsock operates at a range of 5 to 15 knots per hour or 6 to 17 miles per hour. The new ag windsocks are designed to indicate lower wind speeds, from 2 to 12 miles per hour. The extended angle and smaller size of the windsock allows the windsock to change with lower wind speeds. Wind speed calibration angles are screen printed on the new ag windsock's side for easy reference.
"We've had quite a bit of interest in the new ag windsock, considering that the product just came onto the market only a few months ago," Stepp says. "Farmers need to be able to know the wind direction and speeds to know the drift liabilities and target their spray area better. I think the new ag windsock fits a market that we know has been there."
The ag windsocks are made from long-life, ultraviolet-protected, urethane-coated nylon and cost $39.95. The windsock kit includes the ag windsock, a fiberglass pole, nylon tie fastener and universal mounting hardware, which fits most crop sprayer handrails.
The windsocks are completely U.S. made and can only be purchased through the Airport Windsock Corp. factory.
Information: www.airportwindsocks.com or (800) 579-5135.
