The 2017 growing season brought some changes, especially for farmers impacted by herbicide drift. Experts from across the agriculture technology sector are offering growers tips for a better and improved crop year.
Mark Storr serves as technical service representative for BASF. Storr encourages growers choosing Dicamba products to focus on protecting sensitive crops downwind.
?Dicamba is a synthetic auxin herbicide which mimics natural growth hormones in plants. We have a propensity for dicot, or broadleaf crops in plants,? Storr said. ?They?re very sensitive to Dicamba drift on them. Those of us that make applications – to apply what we call on-target applications – (should) make sure the environment is protected in areas where want the herbicide to control weeds in our crop, but not negatively affect crops or plants nearby.?
Storr reminds growers – those wanting to use brands of Dicamba this year are required to take a special, auxin training. He adds preventing herbicide drift starts at the training, where farmers learn about label requirements and how to effectively make an on-target application
?The keys are monitoring wind speed. The label allows applications between three and 10 miles per hour. If they?re above that, we?re worried about particle movement, or drift. If they?re below that three mile per hour minimum, we?re worried about inversions. Boom height and nozzle selection are important. For example, if you use the wrong size or type of nozzle, you can increase your drift potential by 66 times,? Storr said.
