What is a recommended practice to mitigate pesticide drift?

Applying pesticides during calm winds is a highly recommended practice to mitigate pesticide drift. When wind speeds are low, the potential for pesticide particles being carried away from the target area is significantly reduced. Wind can cause a misdirection in the application, leading to unintended contamination of non-target areas, including residential zones, water bodies, or other crops. By choosing to apply pesticides on days when the wind is calm, aerial applicators can enhance the precision of their applications and minimize environmental impact.

While factors such as application speed, altitude, and time of day can play roles in the effectiveness of pesticide applications, they do not directly address the issue of drift in the same way that wind conditions do. High speeds could increase the likelihood of drift if the application is not properly calibrated, spraying at elevated altitudes may expose the pesticide to higher winds, and applying at night does not guarantee that drift will be minimized, as other environmental factors may still come into play. Therefore, prioritizing calm wind conditions is one of the most effective ways to control drift and ensure responsible pesticide use.