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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Application Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #215435

Title: DRIFTSIM, A Computer Program for Estimating Spray Drift Distances

Author
item Zhu, Heping

Submitted to: Internet Web Page
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2007
Publication Date: 7/18/2007
Citation: Zhu, H. 2007. Driftsim, a computer program for estimating spray drift distances [abstract]. Internet Web Page.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: One of the severe problems with spraying pesticides is the spray drift. Drift is a problem if chemicals are sprayed too close to residential areas, livestock facilities, bodies of water, or sensitive crops. Complaints regarding spray drift are routinely brought to state departments of agriculture, and some cases even wind up in court. This presentation showed American Pesticide Safety Educators how to operate a user-friendly computer program (DRIFTSIM) to rapidly estimate the mean drift distances of water droplets discharged from field boom sprayers; how the program will help farmers and crop applicators minimize pesticide drift by choosing the best timing, equipment, nozzles and boom height settings for spraying; and how the program will assist applicators to make decision if they should spray - and how far away from the buffer zone they should spray.