A new reference manual published from cooperative research initiated by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce-Bureau of Plant Industry and an agricultural engineering professor at Mississippi State gives aerial applicators specific information to minimize drift.
Pesticide drift is a major concern of aerial applicators.
Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas collectively report from 300 to 400 drift claims each year. Information published on drift has been general in nature. Applicators need information that identifies the most influential factors affecting drift and recommends a specific management practice minimizing such influence. We have needed someone to do the research and do it properly. The bureau commissioned a study by Dr. David Smith, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, to identify these factors and compile the information in a manual.