Suggestions are presented on environmental safety and on proper procedures for handling, storing, transporting, and applying herbicides. Although there are references to herbicides used in forest management, this information is applicable to any herbicide. Mists from sprays and volatilized herbicides on hot days can drift for miles in high winds and may damage nearby crops. Careless flushing of equipment can contaminate soil, wells, and surface water, killing desirable plants and trees. Because of potential environmental damage when using herbicides, the applicator must understand the potential hazards and ways of avoiding problems.
Drift depends on the wind conditions.
You can avoid drift problems by knowing your product, your application equipment, and the degree that wind speed affects the herbicide's distribution. For instance, a granular formulation is less affected than a liquid spray. For your equipment and for the product you are using, develop wind speed guidelines that cause you to shut down. For liquid application that could be 5 mph. If you held a job for 3 days because of the weather, the conditions you will accept should be the same as the first day on the job.