CROPPING

On line videos to help with spray drift management

THE Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has produced a new series of videos on spray application and spray drift management.

Staff writer
 Spraying expert Bill Gordon imparts advice in a new video series from the GRDC. Picture courtesy GRDC.

Spraying expert Bill Gordon imparts advice in a new video series from the GRDC. Picture courtesy GRDC.

The videos, available on-line, have been produced to support growers and advisers to adhere to best practice to reduce the risk of off-target spray drift and to enhance awareness of the new label instructions to the use of the chemical 2,4-D.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) suspended the labels of all products containing the active ingredient 2,4-D from October 4, 2018, replacing them with a permit which is available at http://permits.apvma.gov.au/PER87174.PDF.

Key changes for using 2,4-D under the permit include: applicators must now use at least a Very Coarse (VC) spray quality; when using a boom sprayer, boom heights must be 0.5 metres (or lower) above the target canopy; and downwind buffers now apply (typically less than 50 metres, subject to rate and product being applied) between application sites, and downwind of sensitive crops and environmentally sensitive aquatic areas.

Presented by respected spray consultant Bill Gordon, the new series of six videos cover the topics of 2,4-D label changes, a spray contractor's experience, nozzle selection for larger droplets, weather conditions and the 2,4-D label, maximising spray coverage and maximising spray efficiency.

The link to the video series can be found at:
https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/resources/spray-drift  

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