Drift now vs 5 years ago

[Ronski]

Why is drift such an issue this year? Have the chemicals changed? Formulations of the old chems? Is it because pulse acres are higher? Windy as **** so take a chance before the stage is to late? Or are guys getting so many acres that they have to spray each day regardless of the risk?

And whose fault is it if the spray is within the label but it warms up later and the fumes burn the neighbors field? Farmer, custom sprayer, or manufacturer (okay, that's a joke, we all know its never the manufacturers fault)

[Ache4Acres]

There is a lot more spraying happening now in conditions that were never sprayable before. A 30kmh wind now is just considered a nice breeze for spraying, 10 years ago that was too windy.

[Daylate]

Might not be the acres as much as it is being spread out. 2 weeks ago on wheat, I did 2 passes on 2 sides of any fields that the wind was favourable for non target crops. Went through 260ac. Took 6 hrs by the time I drove around to all the fields, and wind was less than ideal for spraying entire fields anyways, so low and behold ,2 days later, very calm and wind blowing in unfavourable direction and I waked off a lot of acres that day. Doesn't work all the time like that, but man is it nice to leave all those fields knowing there won't be an issue.

[MBgrower]

Same with me daylate. Some guys just to lazy to do it the correct way.

[SASKFARMER3]

W I N D !
W I N D!

[tweety]

Because more farmers today are willing to be ***** and don't care about their neighbours. They just spray anyway. One sees one do it, so more and more until it becomes a culture of stupidity.

Sprayers going 30 mph with booms 10 feet off the ground in a 30 k wind. They don't give a shit about anything or anyone.

[oneoff]

Correct. Do two or more passes under most ideal condition beside any susceptible crops and road allowances (especially including neighbors and anything that won't benefit from setback distances).

Then if absolutely anyone absolutely does have to spray in less than ideal wind, temperature or what ever; you've got hundreds of feet to minimize drift disasters.

Now the same principles should apply to not deliberately sowing noxious weeds just because there is cheaper seed that is otherwise unsaleable; letting the thistles etc sow down adjacent quarters and providing the seed bank to introduce additional or really serious weed problems for neighbors. No one should be exempt because they refuse to use all the approved tools that are available.

At one time these issues were a part of tolerance, decency and respect for others ....but now with hardly enough hours and no budgeting for fit hours...it seems like the hired help is the one expected to take the fallout.

[hobbyfrmr]

More than ever, farmers have no regard for any neighbors. They blame the employees for the stupidity.
Its funny how the employer calls his employees "the boys" . Grown men being called boys! That is so strange.
Remember , when you send "the boys" out spraying, its got to land somewhere!

[furrowtickler]

What about a spray licence ?
Like a drivers test , you must learn about chemistry and plant growth and the effects of weather and growing conditions . Pass the test you get your licence to spray.
But also when found guilty of negligence - your fined , sprayer parked and licence revoked for one year.

[furrowtickler]

No different than a custom operator, but new teeth need to be in place to punish negligent operators and Chem companies if their product causes issues outside the operators control.
Farmers need more protection from this

[furrowtickler]

There are too many guys with high clearance sprayers , and hired men now who don't even know the cause and affects of the herbicides they are using or what conditions can cause problems .
Between that and simple common sense is the real issue the past few years as new chemistry is available and sprayers get bigger and faster

[furrowtickler]

There should also be some responsibility on retailers selling certain herbicides that can cause issues without letting the customer know potential problems .
That goes for pre burn chemicals as well.

[bucket]

Retailer responsibility. ...stop it....my sides are hurting.

[Oliver88]

Never been involved in a spray drift issue but farm next to a lot of bush, pastures, lakes and always seed one crop per field.

Lack of respect and carelessness is likely the root cause for most of these issues. This will continue to get worse with investors instead of farmers controlling farms and as they continue to remove treelines with track hoes.......

[farming101]

Wind has blown strong from one or another quadrant in the south for
over a week. Bad for spraying.