What is a recommended action to reduce pesticide drift?

Discontinuing spraying when wind speeds exceed a certain threshold is a highly recommended action to reduce pesticide drift. Pesticide drift occurs when atomized droplets of pesticides are carried away from the target application site by wind. Higher wind speeds can exacerbate this issue, leading to unintended pesticide deposition on non-target areas, which can impact human health, beneficial organisms, and the environment.

When wind speeds are high, even small droplets can be easily moved from the intended area, increasing the likelihood of drift. Therefore, monitoring wind conditions and stopping applications when they exceed a safe limit is a crucial practice for ensuring effective pest control while minimizing risk.

While some other practices, such as choosing specific nozzles or spray techniques, can contribute to minimizing drift, pausing spraying during high winds directly addresses the environmental conditions that contribute most to drift.

Applying pesticides during calmer times, such as dawn or dusk, is also beneficial, but it must be paired with considerations of wind speed to be fully effective in reducing drift.