Stewardship Alert!

Cool Wet Spring Sets Stage For Stewardship Drift Planning!
Industry Task Force II on 2,4-D Research Data

With Spring 2008 running significantly wetter than normal, growers will be pressing to plant crops, and spray weeds in a very narrow window of time.  As everyone prepares for a very busy season, please take time to plan your use of phenoxy herbicides to mitigate drift!

Timing:

PLAN AHEAD: Avoid sensitive crop stages, flowering, leaf emergence, create Crop Calendar, map surrounding sensitive crops.
 

* Check weather forecasts

* Wind direction and speed; temperature, rain
* Avoid hot afternoon applications of volatile active ingredients and esters

* Watch for and avoid inversions.

Application Method/Technique         

* Boom height critical to drift; lower better

* Application speed; slower better

* Equipment calibrated and clean

* Nozzle choice – use low drift types

* Air induction 4 - 10x fine particle reduction

Off-target Vegetation
 

* Susceptible crops

* Trees, Gardens, Ornamentals

* USE Crop Calendar & Spray Maps for sensitive areas & stages

Climatic conditions
 

* Wind moving away from target

* Low humidity will evaporate small droplets

* Temperature affects droplet size and product volatility

* Inversions have potential to keep fine spray particles together

* Use your weather station info.