Drift and chemistry maximizes spraying efforts

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

From left: Donald Kelm, McLennan County Extension agent; Matt Matocha, Extension assistant; and Dr. Paul Baumann, Extension weed specialist, discuss drift management. Photo by Mindy Poehl

May 12, 2005 - When spraying crops, farmers must be careful to avoid herbicide drift problems. Drifting is the movement of herbicides/pesticides away from the targeted area that is sprayed.

On Friday, April 29, the McLennan County Extension Crops Committee sponsored a Corn Herbicide and Drift Management Clinic at the Jeff Davis farm in Speegleville.

Drift occurs when there is an inefficient use of equipment and time, explained Extension weed specialist from Texas A&M University, Dr. Paul Baumann. Drifting herbicides results in the unintentional contamination of food, air and water pollution and effects livestock and human safety.

"When dealing with drift, examine the spray droplet size. The bigger the drops, the less drift there is," Baumann explained. "You can change the nozzle tips to decrease the spray pressure. Also look at the distance between the nozzle and the target. The closer you are to the target, the less drift there will be."

As far as herbicides, Dr. Baumann said, "You need to ask yourself, 'Will they control weeds? Will they not hurt the bermudagrass?,' You must answer those two questions. If you want to take a grass out of a grass, you'll have to deal with some set back."

Some attendees had questions about specific problems.

"Put a little bit of Plateau in Maverick to take care of sandbur and johnsongrass. Maverick is outstanding with johnsongrass, but doesn't take care of sandbur," Baumann said. "Don't go putting Atrazine on pastures. It's not legal and you won't get away with it."