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11/19/2014 1 Pesticide Education Program

Protect Our Environment Series:

Do You Get My Drift?

Penn State Pesticide Education Program

extension.psu.edu/pesticide-education



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• What is Pesticide Drift?

– Physical movement of a pesticide through the air,

– at the time of or soon after the pesticide application,

– to any site other than the intended site (“off-target” site).

Pesticide Drift



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• Not a new problem

• Increased potential for off-target damage

– More acreage planted with herbicide-resistant crops means more post-emergence spraying

Pesticide Drift



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What is NOT Pesticide Drift? Overspraying via…

Equipment Problems



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What is NOT Pesticide Drift?

Applicator Error

OVERSPRAY

Overspraying via…



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• Spray drift: The off-target movement of a pesticide during a liquid application at the time of application.

• Particle drift: The off-target movement of a pesticide during a dust or granular application at the time of application.

• Vapor drift: When the pesticide changes to a vapor, or gaseous form, then moves away from the treated site.

Types of Pesticide Drift



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• All pesticides can be prone to spray drift.

• This is the most common form of drift.

Spray Drift



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• Occurs during and soon after application.

• Re-volatilization can occur many hours after application.

• More common with certain pesticides.

Vapor Drift



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• It’s the pesticide applicator’s responsibility to avoid drift problems.

• Read the laws and label directions as they are written to limit environmental problems.

• Applicators must understand the consequences of not using pesticides properly:

– In the environment and as well as the serious and long-lasting effects on humans, plants, and animals.

Applicator Responsibilities



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• Damage can be significant – Destruction of an adjacent crop

– Illegal pesticide residue on an adjacent food crop

– Trees and ornamentals can be harmed by just one drift event

– Fish and wildlife kills, including honeybees

• Human health can be adversely affected

• May result in regulatory fines, legal liability, and litigation

Why Be Concerned about Drift?



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• Organic Agriculture

– Organic certification requires pesticide-free for at least 3 years

– Off-target movement of pesticides into organic acreage

Could result in loss of organic certification

Visible damage need not occur for certification loss

Why Be Concerned about Drift?



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• Pesticide must always be applied in a manner consistent with labeling.

• Illegal to make an application of a pesticide resulting in off-target movement.

• Drift is not tolerated in the regulatory or agricultural community.

• Whether or not damage or harm has occurred, drift is illegal!

The Bottom Line about Drift



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• Spray droplet size

– Nozzle selection

– Pressure

• Wind speed and direction

• Boom height

Factors Affecting Spray Drift



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Droplet Micron Size Time to Fall 10 Feet Travel Distance

Very Fine 20 4.2 Minutes 1,100 Feet

Fine 100 10 Seconds 44 Feet

Medium 240 6 Seconds 28 Feet

Coarse 400 2 Seconds 8.5 Feet

How Far Will Drift Go? Distance with a 3 mph wind

Source: Herbicide Spray Drift, North Dakota State University Extension



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• Volatility of the chemical

• Higher temperatures

• Lower humidity

Factors Affecting Vapor Drift



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Factors Affecting Vapor Drift



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• Pesticide Product

• Site Conditions

• Weather Conditions

• Application Equipment

Important Factors Affecting Drift



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• Formulation type

• Read the label for specific warnings

– Maximum temperature

– Soil incorporation requirements

Pesticide Product



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• Identify sensitive areas – Susceptible crops

– Beehives

– Wetlands

– Bodies of water

– Residential dwellings

– Inhabited areas (schools, hospitals)

Site Conditions



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• Topography

– Can create microclimates

– Can develop temperature inversions

– Can channel drift down slope

Site Conditions



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• Application conditions are seldom perfect

• Be aware of current weather conditions and probable future weather conditions

• Wind is a common contributor to pesticide drift – Be aware of wind speed and

wind direction

Weather Conditions



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• Best to apply when between 3 and 8 mph

• Blowing in a direction away from sensitive areas

• Stop application if wind speed is above 8 mph – Increased risk to downwind

areas

Wind Speed



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• 0 mph or no wind

– May indicate a temperature inversion

• What is a temperature inversion?

– Allows a concentrated cloud of very fine droplets to remain suspended and can drift great distances

Wind Speed

Adapted from the University of California. The Safe and Effective Use of Pesticides.



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• Drift management must include equipment management

• Inspect equipment and repair defective parts – Booms straight – Braces and springs

intact – Shields in place – Hoses in good shape – Fittings not cracked – Clamps are tight

Application Equipment



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• Nozzles

– Control the flow rate

– Form droplets

– Disperse droplets into specific patterns




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Droplet Number and Size • Halving the droplet size results in eight times

the number of droplets 500µm 250µm 125µm



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Droplet Number and Size • Each scenario represents the same volume

1 x 500µm

Tennis ball

8 x 250µm

Ping pong balls

64 x 125µm

Marbles



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Droplet Size Issues • Fine droplets (<150 µm)

– Better coverage and penetration throughout canopy

– More prone to drift and evaporation



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Droplet Size Issues • Large droplets (>350 µm)

– Less chance of drift

– Fewer droplets; may miss targets?

– More prone to bounce on leaf surface

• 300 µm droplets will bounce

• 600 µm droplets will bounce 8 times on smooth/waxy leaves

• Adjuvants help to reduce bounce



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Droplet Size Issues • Nozzle choice depends on application

– Turf [anthracnose (ground) vs. dollar spot (leaves)]

– Contact vs. systemic mode of action



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• Pay attention to nozzles

– Uniformity of output and pattern

– Partially plugged nozzles affect calibration




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• Pay attention to nozzles – Nozzle Size: Fine droplets are more likely to drift

– Nozzle Height: The higher off the ground, the more prone to drift




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• Single or multiple rows of trees

• Protect crops from high and damaging winds

• Reduce pesticide drift

– Lowers wind speed

– Physically intercepts drift

– Can also reduce runoff if planted densely and perpendicular to the slope

Using Wind Buffers to Reduce Drift



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• Use when needed

• Increase the average droplet size produced by the nozzles

• Additives must not become your only drift reducing technique

– Additives do not make up for poor spraying practices

Drift-control Additives



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Summary of Techniques for Reducing Drift

Recommended Technique Explanation

Follow label directions for reducing drift. Determine proper nozzle and pressure combinations.

Select a nozzle to increase droplet size. Large droplets are less prone to drift.

Consider using new technologies. Drift-reduction nozzles.

Lower boom height. Lowering the boom height a few inches can reduce off-target drift.

Maintain appropriate travel speed. High travel speeds may result in an unstable boom, high boom positions and increased drift potential.



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Summary of Techniques for Reducing Drift

Recommended Technique Explanation

Avoid applications during times of high wind speeds.

More spray volume moves off-target as wind increases.

Do not spray in the presence of a temperature inversion.

Temperature inversions prevent the dissipation of spray particles.

Consider using buffer zones/no-spray zones near sensitive areas.

Leave a buffer zone/no-spray zone if sensitive areas are downwind.

Use a drift-control additive when needed. Drift-control additives increase the average droplet size produced by the nozzles.



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Use of this presentation or parts of this presentation is encouraged as long as this credit slide is included.

Resources: • Pesticide Environmental Stewardship. Drift section.

http://pesticidestewardship.org/drift

Photo/Graphic Credits: • Penn State Pesticide Education Program, all photos except:

Slide 23, 37-38: Taken from the National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual

Slides 26-27: Sprayer Nozzle Selection PowerPoint by Dwight Lingenfelter, Dept. of Crop and Soil Science, Penn State University with material adapted from Tom Reed, TeeJet Mid-Tech Northeast Inc.



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This presentation was created in partnership with the Pesticide Education Program, Penn State Cooperative Extension;

and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

For more information on this and other resources, please visit:

extension.psu.edu/pesticide-education

Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State Cooperative Extension is implied. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html

© The Pennsylvania State University 2014 October 2014

http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html



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A. 1

B. 2

C. 3-4

D. 5-6

E. 7 or more

How many different types/sizes of nozzles do you use to apply pesticides in a given season?



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A. Yes

B. No

C. Don’t know

Do you use any drift reduction nozzles when you apply pesticides?



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A. Yes

B. No

C. Don’t know

Do you have any type of setbacks or other buffers established to reduce

pesticide spray drift?



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A. Yes

B. No

C. Don’t know

Do you use any type of rate controllers with your pesticide sprayer?



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A. Weather

B. Spray Deposition

C. Sprayer Calibration

D. All of the above

E. None of above

What types of monitoring do you use to manage drift?

get my drift revisions finaldraft 10 13 14

Documents

pesticide application

master text styles

master title style

types of pesticide drift

pesticide changes

drift problems

vapor drift

particle drift