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March 31, 2015 • Page 7
Pesticide Drift during Spraying Season
PIERRE, SD – The South
Dakota Department of
Agriculture (SDDA) would
like to remind pesticide
applicators of drift risk
during this spraying season.
Applicators should prevent
risk of drift to non-target
areas or susceptible crops
and should evaluate factors
such as wind speed, wind
direction, temperature,
spray pressure, nozzle
height and surrounding
properties before they begin
spraying a field.
Product labels give
applicators information
about safe handling,
rates, personal protective
equipment, labeled crops,
susceptible crops, tank
mixes, avoiding drift,
weeds controlled and
more. Reading the label
of a pesticide is one of the
most important things an
applicator can do to get
a job done correctly and
safely.
Although pesticide
applicators are trained to
apply pesticides safely and
products are labeled with
instructions to prevent drift,
occasionally damage occurs.
SDDA receives complaint
calls on pesticide drift,
damage and a variety of
other related incidents.
When is it appropriate to file
a complaint? Below are a few
suggestions:
• If damage has been
done to the environment
(trees, bushes etc.) or a
non-target field because
of spray drift
• If you notice pesticide
drift occurring while an
applicator is spraying
• A spill of over 25
gallons of liquid material
or 500 lbs. dry material
occurs
A complaint must be filed
within 30 days after the
date the damage occurs. If
a growing crop is allegedly
damaged, the complaint
must be filed before 25
percent of the crop has been
harvested.
For those who want to be
proactive in preventing drift
from happening, SDDA has
developed the South Dakota
Sensitive Sites Registry at
http://arcgis.sd.gov/server/
ag/sensitivesites/default.
aspx.
This is an online mapping
tool which can be used
to help prevent adverse
drift effects as a result
of pesticide or fertilizer
applications.
The registry allows
producers of crops such
as vineyards and organic
production areas that are
sensitive to pesticides
to register by entering
their contact information,
field data and crops
grown. Apiary sites are
automatically included on
the site through the Apiary
Program. Applicators
can register their service
areas too; this allows the
applicator to be informed
via email about whatever
sensitive sites are in his/her
service area, whether old or
new.
Registry of gardens of a
half-acre or more will also be
allowed on the site this year.
“The allowance of garden
registry is due to the recent
increase of pesticide drift
incidences on gardens,” says
Nick Wuebben, the registry’s
administrator.
The Sensitive Sites
Registry’s success
depends on participation
from both producers and
applicators. Both are
strongly encouraged to sign
up. For more information,
contact Nick Wuebben at
605.773.4432.
Agriculture is South
Dakota›s No. 1 industry,
generating $25.6 billion in
annual economic activity
and employing over 115,000
South Dakotans. The South
Dakota Department of
Agriculture›s mission is to
promote, protect, preserve
and improve this industry
for today and tomorrow.
Visit us online at http://
sdda.sd.gov or find us on
Facebook and Twitter.
nSDDA
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