{"id":2016,"date":"2026-04-06T09:59:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T13:59:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/tattnall\/?p=2016"},"modified":"2026-04-06T10:00:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:00:04","slug":"calibrating-counter-thimet-and-aglogic-insecticide-hoppers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/tattnall\/2026\/04\/calibrating-counter-thimet-and-aglogic-insecticide-hoppers\/","title":{"rendered":"Calibrating Counter, Thimet, and AgLogic Insecticide Hoppers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Will Brown (UGA Extension Agent, Appling County), Savannah Tanner (UGA Extension Agent, Emanual County) Jennifer Miller (UGA Extension Agent, Jeff Davis County), and Wesley Porter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Now is the time to ensure that your insecticide hoppers on the back of the row units are calibrated. Depending on which crop you are planting the chances are high that you will be applying one of these products. While input costs are at an all-time high, we need to ensure products, such as these insecticides, are properly calibrated so that we are hitting our target rates to ensure adequate efficacy. We want products to work so we must eliminate under applications and ensure we are not wasting product by overapplying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click Here for AgLogic<\/strong> Calibration Video<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When performing any calibrations, it is important to follow all labeled PPE suggestions. It is especially important when working with these types of products as they can cause extreme illness and potentially death if mishandled. Make sure you are wearing gloves, a mask, and proper eye protection during the calibration procedure. Ensure that you thoroughly wash your hands after calibration and handling any of these products, especially before eating or drinking anything or even touching your face or using the restroom etc. We cannot stress enough how dangerous secondary contact of these products is. Additionally, the SW and SE Extension district offices do offer blank products for you to use during calibration. However, remember that the actual product has been in the insecticide hoppers, thus there will be some cross contamination so do not let your guard down and not use PPE or wash properly afterward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Calibration Options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When performing insecticide calibrations, there are many options on how to complete the calibration procedure. The next few sections will outline those. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dynamic Calibration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This type or calibration, as it implies, involves the equipment moving through the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Catch the product:\n
      \n
    • Flag off a known distance (and since most of the charts use 200 ft that is suggested!!) and attach some sort of catch device on either the tube or the outlet on the insecticide hopper and have the operator drive the flagged distance at their normal operating speed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Determine rate applied:\n
        \n
      • Once the distance is completed take the material from the tube and weigh it or pour it into the appropriate calibration tube. If you are using product specific catch tubes, be sure you are using the correct tubes for the product you are calibrating for. As a side note here, Counter and Thimet 20-G use the same tube, but AgLogic does not.\n
          \n
        • The amount of product applied from each hopper box should be weighed individually, not cumulatively, to ensure each hopper box is applying product evenly across the planter. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Use the calibration sheets at the end of this newsletter to determine the appropriate rate applied for each material. There are separate calibration sheets depending on which product you are applying.\n
            \n
          • Note: The AgLogic calibration chart and catch tubes uses a lettering system that correlates to the lbs\/A of product applied. The Counter\/Thimet calibration chart and catch tubes uses a weight (oz.) system that correlates to the lbs\/A of product applied. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Note:  While the AgLogic 15GG is most common now, verify which product the producer is using and make sure that you use the appropriate chart at the end of this post. There is a a major different between AgLogic 15G and 15GG.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • \"\"<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Adjust the gate opening accordingly:\n
              \n
            • The opening is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of the gauge setting on the hopper. Most products have an initial setting recommendation, so if you are starting with a completely new calibration this is a good starting point. Increasing the number increases the amount of product applied and decreasing the number reduces the amount of product applied. It is not uncommon for hoppers to be set on different gauge settings. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Repeat this process until you achieve the targeted rate. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              \n\n\n\n

              Static Calibration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              In most cases static or sitting still calibration is much easier than moving for many reasons. There are two ways to complete a static calibration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              • Static calibration utilizing an external drive motor<\/strong>: This type of calibration seems to be one of the most popular at the time. Both UGA and some industry representatives have external drive motors that can be attached to the drive shaft on the planter. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                  \n
                1. Disconnect the drive train on the planter and connect the motor to the drive bar as shown in the figure below:\n
                    \n
                  • The operator must disconnect the drive train on the planter so that the motor can turn only the row units and insecticide boxes. This is especially true on hydraulically driven planters, you need to remove the drive chain from the sprocket attached to the motor and the main drive shaft on the planter. Ensure that when you attach the drive motor to the drive shaft on the planter that it is spinning in the correct direction for the planter to operate in forward, the drive shaft should spin clockwise, but can vary based on model, so check this before attaching the motor. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                    2. Catch the product:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      \n
                    • Have your catch tubes in place and run the motor for the appropriate catch time, which is determined by the desired travel speed and calibration distance. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Each of these motors has an associated chart that lets you know the corresponding ground speed to the motor RPM. Below are two charts that provide the time required to catch the product for corresponding speeds for both a 200 and a 400 ft calibration distance. (Chart at the end of this post) <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                      3. Determine the rate applied:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        \n
                      • Once you have caught the product, determine the applied rate by using the same steps listed in the step for Determine rate applied in the Dynamic Calibration section.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                        4. Adjust the gate opening accordingly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          \n
                        • See this step in Dynamic Calibration for specific instructions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                          5. Repeat this process until you achieve the targeting rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            \n
                          • Static calibration utilizing SmartBoxes or other control systems: The John Deere SmartBoxes provides the user with the capabilities to do a static calibration without the need for an external drive motor.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                            Static Calibration Utilizing SmartBoxes or Similar Control System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                              \n
                            1. Go into the controller in the tractor cab and set up the test speed, chemical type, and target application rate.  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            2. From SMARTBOX Calibration Guide:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                \n
                              • Number the calibration tubes to correspond with the number of planter rows. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • Confirm that the scale used for weighing the catches is set to ounces and placed on a flat surface out of the wind. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • System Calibration<\/strong>:\n
                                  \n
                                • From the Main Menu, select\u202fSYSTEM CALIBRATION<\/strong>., Using the arrow keys, enter the test speed equal to the expected planting speed (e.g., 5.5 mph). Press\u202fENTER<\/strong>\u202fto continue. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Meter Calibration<\/strong>:\n
                                    \n
                                  • Select\u202fMETER CALIBRATION<\/strong>. Using the arrow keys, scroll to select the chemical being used during operation. Press\u202fENTER<\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • Choose the desired calibration distance (options are 500\u2019 or 1000\u2019). <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • Using the arrow keys, enter the target catch amount corresponding to the desired application rate. The controller will be preset at 42.5 grams\/500\u2019 and will allow values between 5.0 to 300.0 grams\/500\u2019. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • Press\u202fENTER<\/strong>\u202fto continue. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • Catch Test<\/strong>: Install a catch tube under each meter and discharge opening.\n
                                      \n
                                    • Press\u202fSTART<\/strong>\u202fto begin the catch test. The TIME REMAINING value will indicate the seconds required to plant 500 or 1000 feet of a row at the selected ground speed. The catch test will end automatically once the TIME REMAINING value counts down to zero. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Weigh the amount caught for each row (excluding the tare weight). Enter the caught amount for each row using the arrows and press\u202fNEXT ROW<\/strong>\u202fto move to the next row. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • If all catch amounts are within 5% of the target weight, press\u202fMAIN MENU<\/strong>\u202fto return to the SYSTEM CALIBRATION SET screen. If any catch weight is outside the 5% calibration variance, conduct another catch test by returning to the previous steps and repeating the process. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Final Steps<\/strong>: Recalibrate after the first set of transfer containers are empty, when application rates are not accurate, or if a different chemical will be used. Keep a record of all calibration data for future reference. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                      \n\n\n\n

                                      Here are three charts that provide the time required to catch the product for corresponding speeds for both a 200, 400, and 500 ft calibration distance:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                      Ground Speed in MPH for Catch Time in Seconds per 200<\/strong> ft (Click arrow for drop down)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      Speed (MPH)<\/strong><\/td>Speed (ft\/s)<\/strong><\/td>Catch Time (sec)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
                                      1.0<\/td>1.5<\/td>136.3<\/td><\/tr>
                                      1.5<\/td>2.2<\/td>90.9<\/td><\/tr>
                                      2.0<\/td>2.9<\/td>68.2<\/td><\/tr>
                                      2.5<\/td>3.7<\/td>54.5<\/td><\/tr>
                                      3.0<\/td>4.4<\/td>45.4<\/td><\/tr>
                                      3.5<\/td>5.1<\/td>39.0<\/td><\/tr>
                                      4.0<\/td>5.9<\/td>34.1<\/td><\/tr>
                                      4.5<\/td>6.6<\/td>30.3<\/td><\/tr>
                                      5.0<\/td>7.3<\/td>27.3<\/td><\/tr>
                                      5.5<\/td>8.1<\/td>24.8<\/td><\/tr>
                                      6.0<\/td>8.8<\/td>22.7<\/td><\/tr>
                                      6.5<\/td>9.5<\/td>21.0<\/td><\/tr>
                                      7.0<\/td>10.3<\/td>19.5<\/td><\/tr>
                                      7.5<\/td>11.0<\/td>18.2<\/td><\/tr>
                                      8.0<\/td>11.7<\/td>17.0<\/td><\/tr>
                                      8.5<\/td>12.5<\/td>16.0<\/td><\/tr>
                                      9.0<\/td>13.2<\/td>15.1<\/td><\/tr>
                                      9.5<\/td>13.9<\/td>14.4<\/td><\/tr>
                                      10.0<\/td>14.7<\/td>13.6<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                                      Ground Speed in MPH for Catch Time in Seconds per 400<\/strong> ft (Click arrow for drop down)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      Speed (MPH)<\/strong><\/td>Speed (ft\/s)<\/strong><\/td>Catch Time (sec)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
                                      1.0<\/td>1.5<\/td>272.7<\/td><\/tr>
                                      1.5<\/td>2.2<\/td>181.8<\/td><\/tr>
                                      2.0<\/td>2.9<\/td>136.3<\/td><\/tr>
                                      2.5<\/td>3.7<\/td>109.1<\/td><\/tr>
                                      3.0<\/td>4.4<\/td>90.9<\/td><\/tr>
                                      3.5<\/td>5.1<\/td>77.9<\/td><\/tr>
                                      4.0<\/td>5.9<\/td>68.2<\/td><\/tr>
                                      4.5<\/td>6.6<\/td>60.6<\/td><\/tr>
                                      5.0<\/td>7.3<\/td>54.5<\/td><\/tr>
                                      5.5<\/td>8.1<\/td>49.6<\/td><\/tr>
                                      6.0<\/td>8.8<\/td>45.4<\/td><\/tr>
                                      6.5<\/td>9.5<\/td>41.9<\/td><\/tr>
                                      7.0<\/td>10.3<\/td>39.0<\/td><\/tr>
                                      7.5<\/td>11.0<\/td>36.4<\/td><\/tr>
                                      8.0<\/td>11.7<\/td>34.1<\/td><\/tr>
                                      8.5<\/td>12.5<\/td>32.1<\/td><\/tr>
                                      9.0<\/td>13.2<\/td>30.3<\/td><\/tr>
                                      9.5<\/td>13.9<\/td>28.7<\/td><\/tr>
                                      10.0<\/td>14.7<\/td>27.3<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                                      Ground Speed in MPH for Catch Time in Seconds per 500<\/strong> ft (Click arrow for drop down)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      Speed (MPH)<\/strong><\/td>Speed (ft\/s)<\/strong><\/td>Catch Time (sec)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
                                      1.0<\/td>1.5<\/td>340.8<\/td><\/tr>
                                      1.5<\/td>2.2<\/td>227.2<\/td><\/tr>
                                      2.0<\/td>2.9<\/td>170.4<\/td><\/tr>
                                      2.5<\/td>3.7<\/td>136.3<\/td><\/tr>
                                      3.0<\/td>4.4<\/td>113.6<\/td><\/tr>
                                      3.5<\/td>5.1<\/td>97.4<\/td><\/tr>
                                      4.0<\/td>5.9<\/td>85.2<\/td><\/tr>
                                      4.5<\/td>6.6<\/td>75.7<\/td><\/tr>
                                      5.0<\/td>7.3<\/td>68.2<\/td><\/tr>
                                      5.5<\/td>8.1<\/td>62.0<\/td><\/tr>
                                      6.0<\/td>8.8<\/td>56.8<\/td><\/tr>
                                      6.5<\/td>9.5<\/td>52.8<\/td><\/tr>
                                      7.0<\/td>10.3<\/td>48.7<\/td><\/tr>
                                      7.5<\/td>11.0<\/td>45.4<\/td><\/tr>
                                      8.0<\/td>11.7<\/td>42.6<\/td><\/tr>
                                      8.5<\/td>12.5<\/td>40.1<\/td><\/tr>
                                      9.0<\/td>13.2<\/td>37.9<\/td><\/tr>
                                      9.5<\/td>13.9<\/td>35.9<\/td><\/tr>
                                      10.0<\/td>14.7<\/td>34.1<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
                                      \n\n\n\n
                                      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
                                      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
                                      \n\n\n\n
                                      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
                                      \n\n\n\n

                                      Calibration Distance = 200 Feet for Rates: 10-20 lbs\/Acre<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                                      Pounds\/Acr<\/strong>e<\/td>22\u2033<\/strong><\/td>30\u2033<\/strong><\/td>36\u2033<\/strong><\/td>38\u2033<\/strong><\/td>40\u2033<\/strong><\/td>48\u2033<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
                                      20<\/td><\/td>Q<\/td>T<\/td>U<\/td>U+<\/td>Y+<\/td><\/tr>
                                      17<\/td><\/td>N+<\/td>Q+<\/td>R<\/td>S<\/td>V<\/td><\/tr>
                                      14<\/td><\/td>L+<\/td>N+<\/td>O+<\/td>P<\/td>S<\/td><\/tr>
                                      10<\/td><\/td>I+<\/td>K<\/td>K+<\/td>L<\/td>N<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                                      Calibration Distance = 300 Feet for Rates: 7 lbs.\/Acre or less<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                                      Pounds\/Acre<\/strong><\/td>30\u2033<\/strong><\/td>36\u2033<\/strong><\/td>38\u2033<\/strong><\/td>40\u2033<\/strong><\/td>48\u2033<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
                                      7.0<\/td>I+<\/td>K+<\/td>L<\/td>L+<\/td>N+<\/td><\/tr>
                                      6.5<\/td>I<\/td>J+<\/td>K<\/td>K+<\/td>M+<\/td><\/tr>
                                      6.0<\/td>H+<\/td>J<\/td>J+<\/td>K<\/td>L+<\/td><\/tr>
                                      5.5<\/td>G+<\/td>I<\/td>I+<\/td>J<\/td>L<\/td><\/tr>
                                      5.0<\/td>G<\/td>H+<\/td>I<\/td>I+<\/td>K<\/td><\/tr>
                                      4.5<\/td>F+<\/td>G+<\/td>H<\/td>H+<\/td>J<\/td><\/tr>
                                      4.0<\/td>E+<\/td>G<\/td>G+<\/td>H<\/td>I<\/td><\/tr>
                                      3.5<\/td>E<\/td>F<\/td>F+<\/td>G<\/td>H<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                      By Will Brown (UGA Extension Agent, Appling County), Savannah Tanner (UGA Extension Agent, Emanual County) Jennifer Miller (UGA Extension Agent, Jeff Davis County), and Wesley Porter Now is the time to ensure that your insecticide hoppers on the back of the row units are calibrated. Depending on which crop you are planting the chances are high that you will be applying one of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":244,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2016","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cotton","category-peanuts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/tattnall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2016","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/tattnall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/tattnall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/tattnall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/244"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/tattnall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2016"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/tattnall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2016\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2018,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/tattnall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2016\/revisions\/2018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/tattnall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2016"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/tattnall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2016"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/tattnall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}