Drift management and nozzle selection resources
by Brent Pringnitz

Updated April 30, 2002 - Drift management is the responsibility of everyone involved with pesticide applications.  While drift cannot be completely eliminated it can be managed.  Nozzle selection, equipment setup, and applicator attitudes are all a part of a drift reduction program.

This reference page contains materials used by ISU Extension and other organizations to educate applicators about drift and how to manage it.  There are also links to manufacturer's information and other educational resources used throughout the county.

ISU drift-related articles

• Drif-reduction nozzle and herbicide efficacy, by Brent Pringnitz, April 29, 2002
• Windy days and herbicide drift, by Todd Vagts, April 29, 2002
• Most-manageable practice to reduce drift involves sprayer, Iowa Farmer Today article, March 20, 2002
• Dealing with drift, Iowa Farmer Today article, March 20, 2002
• Selecting the Correct Nozzle to Reduce Spray Drift -  IPM 68, July 2001
• Drift reduction checklist for applicators - by Brent Pringnitz, May 2000
• Research minimizes drift - Iowa Farmer Today article, April 2001
• Strategies for reducing herbicide drift, by Brent Pringnitz, June 14, 1999
• Trees and herbicide drift, by Bob Hartzler, May 26, 1999
• Factors influencing drift potential with glyphosate, by Bob Hartzler, December 12, 1997
• Pesticide drift complaints in 1998 on a record pace, by Micheal D. K. Owen, May 22, 1998
• Drift injury to corn and soybeans, ICM Newsletter, June 16, 1997
• Drift of Sulfonylurea Herbicides, Organic Gardening, Dec. 1996
• Crop Responses to Herbicides from ICM Conference, Bob Hartzler, Nov. 22, 1996
• Herbicide drift problems must be resolved, ICM Newsletter, May 26, 1997

Other ISU resources

• Sprayer Nozzle Selection for Pesticide Performance and Drift Reduction, B. Pringnitz, 1999 ICM Conference - Online presentation  and Abstract (pdf format)
• Nozzle Tip Selection and Other Considerations to Reduce Spray Drift, Pringnitz and Hanna, 1998 Agronomy Day handout
• Nozzle selection and drift poster, 1998 Agronomy Day, (8x11 Acrobat format) 
• Wind gauge handout, 1998 Agronomy Day

Nozzle and spray equipment manufacturers

• Capstan Ag Systems
• Delavan
• Greenleaf Technologies
• Hypro
• TeeJet Ag Catalog
• Wilger, Inc.
• WeedSeeker - selective spray systems from Patchen

Internet resources

• ISU Weed Science Online
• National Coalition on Drift Minimization
• Succussful Farming article on Venturi nozzles
• "Making sense of Nozzle Choices" T. Wolf, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research Centre
• Kansas State University drift resources - Bob Wolf has put together an excellent collection of application and drift related resources.  Many Powerpoint presentations and links.
• spraytec.com
• EPA Drift Fact Sheet
• Clemson University drift page
• New nozzles for spray drift reduction - Ohio State University
• Effectiveness of Turbodrop and TurboTeeJet Nozzles in Drift Reduction - Ohio State University
• Effect of Major Variables on Drift Distances of Spray Droplets - Ohio State University
• Reducing Spray Drift - Ohio State University
• Strategies to Reduce Spray Drift - Kansas State University
• Equipment to Reduce Spray Drift - Kansas State University
• Spray Drift of Pesticides - University of Nebraska
• Herbicide Spray Drift - North Dakota State University
• Tips to Help Minimize Pesticide Spray Drift - IPM Almanac
• Airborne Spray Drift with Venturi Nozzles - Alberta Farm Machinery Research Centre

Prepared by Brent Pringnitz, extension program specialist, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University