Flow sensor apparatus for monitoring a directed stream of an agricultural product

A method for monitoring a directed stream of an agricultural product from an application port at an end of a supply tube, said directed stream having a target directed portion and an off-target portion, the method comprising:

• a) providing a flow sensor apparatus, comprising:
• a sensor housing, comprising:
• i. a conical flow receiving element having an inlet orifice at a first end and a receiving element outlet at a second end, said first end being smaller than said second end, said inlet orifice being sized by selected operational characteristics of the directed stream and by a target area;
• and,
• ii. a sensor body having a sensor inlet end positioned to receive a target directed portion of the directed stream from said receiving element outlet of said conical flow receiving element, wherein the off-target portion of the directed stream is not sensed;
• and,
• a sensor element positioned within said sensor housing;
• and,
• b) directing the directed stream toward said flow sensor apparatus, wherein said sensor housing and said sensor element are positioned external to said application port and thus positioned to provide measurement, targeting, and timing of the agricultural product.