The Land spoke to spray application expert Bill Gordon. A summary of his 10 tips are:
- Choose products carefully, this includes the choice of active ingredient, the formulation type and the adjuvant used.
- Understand the products mode of action and coverage requirements on the target.
- Select the coarsest spray quality that will provide an acceptable level of control.
- Always expect surface temperature inversions will form later in the day, as sunset approaches, and they are likely to persist overnight and beyond sunrise on many occasions.
- Use weather forecasting information to plan the application.
- Only start spraying after the sun has risen more than 20 degrees above the horizon and the wind speed has been above 4 to 5 km/h for more than 20 to 30 minutes, with a clear direction that is away from adjacent sensitive areas.
- Set the boom height to achieve double overlap of the spray patterns.
- Avoid high spraying speeds, particularly when ground cover is minimal.
- Be prepared to leave unsprayed buffers when the label requires, or when the wind direction is towards sensitive areas.
- Continually monitor the weather conditions at the site of application.
