Background New spray technologies are introduced into Canada on a regular basis. Once introduced, questions arise whether these technologies are safe, work as advertised, whether testing data exist, etc.
Applicators usually implement new technologies at their own initiative and risk.
Products are applied in a manner that was not tested during registration, and when problems arise, chemical companies have little basis on which to make a service decision. The research community conducts only ad hoc testing to provide some answers, but the mandate for such work is diminishing and results are not comprehensive. Nozzle manufacturers receive little guidance from the crop protection industry on desired features of new nozzles. Participants used a common protocol that compared the performance of three nozzles in field trials. Results were compiled and summarized for a large number of herbicide products over a three year period.