Auburn University’s Integrated Food Production System

May 8th, 2012

The Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture at Auburn University in Alabama has been working on an integrated food production system for the Orphanage Emmanuel in Honduras.

Orphanage Emmanuel was founded in 1989 and currently houses around 600 children. It includes a farm with pigs, chickens, and cows that provide food, eggs, and milk for the kitchens. They also have a greenhouse which was donated in 2005.

Auburn University has successfully integrated hydroponic vegetable production with fish production to improve the water quality for the fish and to provide nutrients for the plants while significantly reducing the environmental impact. The University’s goal is to expand the farm at Orphanage Emmanuel to include an integrated hydroponic and fish production facility.

Dosatron International, Inc. has donated two DM11F Diaphragm Medicators that will be built into the system developed at Auburn and will provide supplemental nutrients. The Dosatron DM11F is a low maintenance injector that works under the toughest conditions and has a wide flow range of .02 GPM up to 11 GPM.

The Auburn team will be assembling this new facility over the summer. Stay tuned for more information and pictures!

Dosatron International at The Car Wash Show, Booth 1307

May 7th, 2012

DOSATRON INTERNATIONAL INTRODUCES THE

D14 SERIES CHEMICAL METERING DISPENSERS FOR CAR WASH

Dosatron International, Inc. is introducing a new line of chemical metering dispensers into the car wash market. The D14MZ-D Series is perfect for presoaks, detergents, and acidic products.

The D14MZ-D Series consists of the D14MZ2-D (500:1 to 50:1 ratio), D14MZ5-D (200:1 to 20:1 ratio), and D14MZ10-D (100:1 to 10:1 ratio). The series is designed to be used in the car wash industry for presoaks, detergents/soaps, drying agents, bug remover, and waxes. Also available are easy-to-install pre-plumbed systems for triple foam, single, and self-service.

Stop by Booth #1307 and let us show you what’s NEW for 2012!

Dosatron Booth #1307

Spring Training

April 2nd, 2012

Dosatron employees were treated to a night out at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL with dinner and a game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time!

Spring Trials: Daniel’s Plant Food and Dosatron

March 23rd, 2012

It’s Spring Trial time in California, so be sure to stop by the Ball Horticultural Company Spring Trial site in Santa Paula. Check out the Daniels Plant Food display and the Dosatron Li’l Bud-D 5-Gallon cart.

Dosatron Supports Project Looking at Reducing Fertilizer Leaching Through Automated Irrigation

February 29th, 2012

Fertilization is essential for greenhouse production and is most commonly achieved using fertilizer injectors.  Since the fertilizer is applied with the irrigation water, excessive irrigation results in excessive fertilizer applications.  Much of the applied fertilizer can be lost by leaching.  Leaching fertilizer results in both an economic loss (the cost of the fertilizer) and potential environmental problems (runoff of nutrient rich water).  A team of researchers and extension personnel at the University of Georgia has been working on more efficient irrigation systems for greenhouses.  The approach is based on the use of wireless sensor networks and soil moisture sensors to determine when a crop needs water.  Findings so far indicate that leaching can be greatly reduced with this approach.  And now they are focusing on related questions: if growers irrigate more efficiently and leach less, can they use less fertilizer and reduce production costs? And if growers leach less, how much does that reduce the amount of fertilizer that gets leached from the pots?  Our previous research growing nursery crops and other greenhouse crops showed we can use 50-70% less water and much less fertility and still have a high quality crop.  The question is, does this technology work in a cost effective way with bedding plant production where EC levels are critical?

To answer these questions, UGA PhD student Alem Peter is working with professors Paul Thomas and Marc van Iersel on a study to quantify nutrient leaching under different irrigation regimes.  In this same study, they also hope to answer the question of whether fertilizer rates can be reduced when irrigation is more efficient.  For this study, the University of Georgia team needed fertilizer injectors that can operate with low flow rates and Dosatron USA donated two D14MZ2 – 14 GPM fertilizer injectors.  The Dosatrons will be used to fertigate a petunia crop with 100 or 200 ppm nitrogen.  These two fertilizer rates will be combined with 4 different irrigation approaches (ranging from no leaching to excessive leaching) to determine optimal practices for the production of high quality bedding plants.  Look for the experimental results by the end of  the 2012 summer season.

Returning Veterans Regaining Their Footing Through Agribusiness

February 23rd, 2012

The other night I was sitting down to watch the evening news when a Dosatron fertilizer injector flashed before my eyes on the TV. That definitely got my attention! It was associated with a piece on VSAT and Archi’s Acres, established by decorated Marine Sergeant Colin Archipley and his wife Karen.

I had just recently read an article on Archi’s Acres and how they were providing training on their six acre farm for returning veterans. As I watched the report I noticed they were using a Dosatron fertilizer injector on a cart. I was so excited to see Dosatron on the evening news I shared the link on Dosatron’s Facebook page.

After Dosatron’s CEO Pam Temko watched the video and saw the well-used Dosatron she contacted Karen Archipley and offered to send a new Dosatron Li’l Bud-D 5-gallon cart with a 14 GPM fertilizer injector and hook-up kit.

Karen provided us a link to a new documentary about them. Click here to view. Dosatron is proud of our veterans and was happy to support such a worthy cause. Let us know what you think about Archi’s Acres.

DOSATRON INTERNATIONAL at the INTERNATIONAL POULTRY EXPO, ATLANTA GA

January 26th, 2012

Dosatron is excited to be at the IPE this year and we invite you to stop by our booth to see what’s new.

Dosatron is located in Booth 5925 – B Hall and Booth 2145 – A Hall.

Booth 2145 - A Hall

Dosatron’s DM11F – 11 GPM diaphragm chemical dispenser and medicator introduces enhanced features that provide longer lasting parts, works under the toughest conditions, and is the highest quality diaphragm medicator on the market.

Dosatron’s D14 – 14 GPM line of injectors have grown into one of the most efficient units Dosatron has ever produced. The remarkable, simplified piston, along with very low maintenance has fulfilled our goals. Minimum down time is the key to efficiency and the D14 certainly fits that criteria.

With a variety of motor sizes and designs, Dosatron can meet almost any medicating need in virtually any type of livestock operation – from the largest of poultry houses to the low flow needed to medicate day-old chicks, from growers using feeder tanks to those operating in hard-water environments. Dosatrons are easy to install and maintain, so you can spend less time worrying about your equipment and more time tending to your business.

Booth 5925 - B Hall

Dosatron also goes beyond medicating to help with water line cleaning, water treatment, egg washing and sanitation of animal containment areas. We also have solutions for boot washing and sanitizing foaming applications. If you’re looking for a versatile solution that will help you get the most out of your equipment investment, then Dosatron is the perfect choice!

Pinning Dosatron to Pinterest

January 16th, 2012

Social media isn’t new to Dosatron, in fact it fits right in with Dosatron’s commitment to our customers. Facebook and Twitter have allowed for instant communication. We are able to ascertain what our customers’ needs are and implement the engineering necessary. We share contacts and products through Linkedin, photos on Flickr and videos on YouTube.

So when I read about Pinterest I did some research and was immediately drawn to the clean images posted neatly on bulletin boards. It’s a visual person’s dream website, so yesterday I decided to sign up and discovered one of the categories was Gardening. I thought this could be a perfect fit. I love to garden and working in the marketing department at Dosatron allows me to see firsthand how Dosatron’s fertilizer injectors have contributed so much to the garden and greenhouse industries. Pinterest would be a good way to share that information.

So far I have posted a picture of the 14 GPM, D14MZ2 fertilizer injector and Repinned two garden related items.

I would love to hear about your experiences with Pinterest or other social sites.

Lela’s Tales from the Road: 2012 MANTS

January 12th, 2012

When it comes to Green Industry Trade Shows, we know where Lela will be – the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show!

Lela Kelly, VP-Horticulture Specialist of Dosatron International and Scott Baker of Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies, in Griffin’s booth #630, during the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Baltimore, MD, on January 11th.

Dosatron International is exhibiting at Booth 1123, Section I, of the Baltimore Convention Center through tomorrow, January 13th. If you are in the area, stop in and see us!

Lela is ready for the 2012 season, and is full of helpful hints on how to keep the Dosatrons in good working order, and she’s promoting the new Dosa-Klean injector cleanser.

Dosa-Klean is an exciting, new solution designed specifically to help maintain the performance of injector’s. Dosa-Klean is a water soluble concentrate with Aqua Lube that removes rust, calcifications, and mineral sediments. The solution also lubricates the injector’s interior seals and all moving components to help maintain the performance of the injector. Dosa-Klean is a fast and easy way to restore your Dosatron to like new!

BioWorks Special Offer – Free Dosatron

January 10th, 2012

BioWorks is offering a FREE 20 GPM Dosatron with qualifying purchases. Click here for more information.