The new crop season is here, and all applicators need to be aware of the impact that herbicide drift can cause to off-target plants and crops. That's the caution from Dennis Epplin, University of Illinois Extension crop systems educator.

Herbicide drift continues to be the most common complaint received by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. There were 115 formal complaints recorded by the Department last year. The Illinois Pesticide Misuse Case Summary for 2008 can be found in the January/February issue of the Illinois Pesticide Review, http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/ipr/i5774_829.html.

"With more and more specialty crop farms producing vegetables, grapes and other fruits, good pesticide application management is critical," says Epplin. "While these specialty crop growers are aware that corn and soybean fields will be sprayed at this time of the season, it is the responsibility of those making applications to ag crops to prevent off-target pesticide movement."

Before making a pesticide application, remember to check the current and forecasted weather conditions. Wind speed and direction are major considerations. Also, check your application equipment. Do you have the correct nozzle type, size, orientation, pressure and boom height? Check your intended pesticide or tank mix. Have you obtained the correct product formulations for both efficacy and minimizing drift? Are you using the proper adjuvants and drift control additives, if needed? An excellent publication on adjuvants by Bryan Young, SIU Carbondale, can be found at http://www.herbicide-adjuvants.com/.

"We will probably never eliminate drift or have ideal spraying conditions, but everyone can continue to improve," says Epplin. "A little extra caution is appropriate when neighbors have sensitive plants or when high-value specialty crops are nearby."