What weather conditions increase pesticide drift risk and what practices minimize drift in turf applications?

• A. Light winds, temperature inversions, and high application heights increase drift risk; minimize by applying under appropriate conditions, using drift-control nozzles, and maintaining buffer zones.
• B. Steady winds and low heights increase drift.
• C. Drift is not affected by weather.
• D. Drift is only a concern for insecticides.

Answer: (A)

Pesticide drift risk is driven by how weather and spray height affect where droplets go after release. Light winds don’t carry droplets far from the target, so even small air movements can push them onto nearby surfaces. Temperature inversions create a stable air layer near the ground that limits vertical mixing, allowing droplets to stay near the surface and travel unpredictably with any air movement. Spraying from a higher boom gives droplets more time to be carried by wind before they settle, increasing off-target movement.

To minimize drift, apply only under conditions and practices that reduce off-target movement: choose appropriate weather conditions for turf applications, use drift-control nozzles to produce larger droplets and curb drift potential, and maintain buffer zones to protect adjacent areas.