What is the Spray Journal?
The Spray Journal is mandatory documentation of every plant protection treatment. It is required by law - you must record what you apply, when, and how much.
The good news: VineyardElf does it for you! Just log a spray in the calendar and the system fills in the journal automatically.
What do I need to document?
For each spray treatment, regulations require you to record:
- Date of the treatment
- Product name (trade name)
- Dose per hectare
- Treated area
- Crop and growth stage
- Reason for use (disease/pest)
VineyardElf also adds:
- Weather conditions (automatically!)
- Who performed the treatment
- Product batch number (optional)
How do I add a journal entry?
Easiest way: through the calendar
- Go to Calendar
- Click the day of the spray
- Choose “Spray”
- Fill in:
- Product (select from the list or add a new one)
- Dose
- Blocks/area
- Save
Done! The entry is added to the Spray Journal automatically.
Through the dedicated form
- Go to Protection > Spray Journal > New entry
- Fill in all fields
- Save
Product database
So you don’t have to enter the same data every time, you have a product database:
How do I add a product?
- Go to Protection > Products > Add
- Enter:
- Trade name
- Active substance
- Authorization/registration number
- Recommended dosage
- Pre-harvest interval (days before harvest)
- Save
Now, when adding a spray, you simply pick the product from the list!
Import from a register
You can also scan the QR code on the product or search an official plant protection register - the system fills in the data automatically.
Pre-harvest interval - we keep track for you!
The pre-harvest interval is the minimum time between the last spray and harvest. The system:
- Calculates the date the interval ends
- Warns you when you plan to harvest too early
- Blocks a harvest entry before the interval has passed
Example: You apply a product with a 21-day interval on 1 September. The system will show: “Harvest possible from 22 September”.
Limit control
Some products have restrictions:
- No more than 3 treatments per season
- No more than X kg of active substance per year
The system tracks this and warns you as you approach the limit.
Exporting the official journal
Go to Protection > Spray Journal > Export:
- Choose a year/season
- Choose a format (PDF or Excel)
- Download
The journal is generated in a format accepted by plant protection inspection authorities and other regulators.
Integration with certification
Do you run an organic vineyard or hold a QWINE/GlobalGAP certificate?
In Settings > Protection > Certification you can:
- Flag products allowed in organic production
- Set additional restrictions
- Generate reports for your auditor
Tips
- Document right away - don’t put it off!
- Check the pre-harvest interval before planning any harvest
- Keep your invoices - the batch number may be needed
- Photograph the labels - handy during inspections