Orchard Protection Work Underway: Why Treatments Are Carried Out After Sunset

Our team is currently carrying out regular plant protection treatments across the orchards. These treatments are an important part of maintaining healthy tree development and responding to the pest and disease risks identified by our agronomy team.

The work is performed using tractors equipped with atomizer sprayers. These machines use a powerful airflow to distribute the treatment throughout the tree canopy, helping the solution reach both the outer and inner parts of the foliage.

Why we work after sunset

The timing of each treatment is carefully selected. Whenever the treatment plan and product instructions require it, spraying begins after sunset, once temperatures have fallen and wind conditions are suitable.

During hot and dry daytime conditions, water can evaporate rapidly from spray droplets. This can make the droplets smaller, reduce the amount of solution that reaches the trees and increase the risk of spray drift. Cooler evening temperatures allow the treatment to settle more evenly across the canopy.

Strong sunlight, particularly ultraviolet radiation, can also accelerate the breakdown of certain active ingredients. This process, known as photodegradation, may shorten the period during which some products remain effective. This does not apply equally to every product, which is why each treatment is planned according to its specific instructions.

High temperatures are another important consideration. Applying certain products during intense heat may increase the risk of phytotoxicity, meaning temporary or permanent damage to leaves and other plant tissue. Performing the work in cooler conditions helps reduce this risk.

Working after sunset also limits the potential exposure of bees, pollinators and other beneficial insects, which are generally much less active during the evening and nighttime hours.

Wind conditions are monitored throughout the process. Excessive or gusty wind can carry droplets outside the targeted area, while unsuitable nighttime atmospheric conditions can also affect spray movement. Treatments are therefore carried out only when the complete set of weather conditions is appropriate.

Our custom-built atomizer filling station

To make this work more efficient, our team designed and built a dedicated atomizer filling station specifically for the needs of our orchards.

Plant protection treatments often have to be completed within a relatively narrow window of suitable temperature and wind conditions. On a large plantation, the time needed to refill equipment can significantly affect how much work can be completed during that window.

The new filling station provides a central and organized location where atomizers can be refilled before returning to the orchard. This shortens turnaround time, reduces unnecessary equipment movement and allows our tractors to resume work more quickly.

The station was developed internally and adapted to our equipment and operational workflow. It is a practical example of how we continue to improve the infrastructure surrounding the orchards, not only by investing in machinery, but also by creating our own solutions when existing options do not fully meet our needs.

A carefully controlled process

Every treatment is planned by our agronomy team according to the current condition of the trees, identified risks, weather conditions and the instructions for each product being used.

The objective is not simply to complete a treatment, but to apply it at the right time, under the right conditions and with the appropriate equipment. This helps provide effective protection for the trees while reducing unnecessary exposure outside the targeted area.

The combination of trained personnel, tractor-mounted atomizers, careful weather monitoring and our new filling station enables us to carry out these operations more efficiently and responsibly across the orchards.