Join pesticide spray applicators from across the nation on March 15 for a webinar on "Strategies for Managing Pesticide Spray Drift" being presented by Nebraska Extension Weed Scientist and Application Technology Specialist Greg Kruger. The webinar is tailored to growers, pesticide applicators and other interested stakeholders who use pesticides and pesticide application equipment. It will be held from 10:30 to noon CT on that Thursday.

Pesticide spray drift is the movement of pesticide dust or droplets through the air — at the time of application or soon after — to any site other than the area intended. Spray drift can affect people’s health, damage nearby crops, and pose a risk to non-target organisms.

Kruger manages the Pesticide Application Technology Laboratory at the university's West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte, where he uses a wind tunnel to test pesticides and spray adjuvants for drift. Kruger has a BS from the Ohio State University, where he studied agribusiness and applied economics, and an MS in plant pathology and a PhD in weed science from Purdue University.

This EPA program is geared toward reducing spray drift from pesticide applications to crops, fruits and vegetables, and aerial applications. It will cover general pesticide applications with a focus on agricultural applications.

The EPA program is free, but participants are asked to register in advance.

Pesticide Sprayer Clinics March 6 & 7

Kruger will also be conducting a more advanced sprayer clinic for agricultural applications Tuesday, March 6 in Syracuse and Wednesday, March 7 in Crete.