Editor's note: This article is the third in a three-part series explaining how Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements affect pesticide applications in Nebraska. Part 1 introduces the regulatory background and outlines current label requirements for products such as Enlist One® and Liberty® ULTRA. Part 2 focuses on runoff and erosion mitigation strategies. Part 3 addresses ecological spray drift mitigation.
What Growers Should Know
Ecological spray drift buffers are mandatory when required by EPA Bulletins Live! Two (BLT) and are enforceable under the pesticide label.
Follow the product label — not the EPA Mitigation Menu or calculator — for both Enlist One® and Liberty® ULTRA.
Enlist One® buffer requirements are label-based only, with required buffers of 30 ft or 0 ft, depending on label conditions.
Do not apply Enlist One® if wind is blowing toward a sensitive area, even when a 30-foot buffer is present.
Spray drift contacting food, forage, or desirable broadleaf plants can cause injury, even at low or non-visible levels.
Check FieldCheck® (FieldWatch) before spraying to identify nearby specialty or organic crops.
Liberty® ULTRA requires a minimum 10-foot buffer for ground applications using medium or coarser droplets, with boom height no more than 24 in. above the canopy.
Liberty® ULTRA buffers may be reduced to 0 ft only when label-approved drift-reduction practices are used.
When applying Enlist One® or Liberty® ULTRA, applicators must follow mandatory ecological spray drift buffer requirements when directed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Bulletins Live! Two (BLT). These buffers are designed to protect nearby sensitive areas, including habitats of endangered species, and are legally enforceable as part of the pesticide label.
Enlist One® spray drift mitigation options were implemented before the EPA’s official Endangered Species Act (ESA) strategies were finalized. Therefore, no Mitigation Menu or calculator applies; only the label-specified buffer distances (30 feet or 0 feet, as listed) are required.
Similarly, for Liberty® ULTRA, spray drift mitigation options are defined exclusively on the product label. The EPA Mitigation Menu should not be used, as doing so may result in inaccurate or non-compliant calculations.
For Enlist One® (manufacturer label), an important notice on qualified nozzles and operating pressures and tank-mix products is also included on the label. The listed products and nozzle configurations were tested as part of the registration requirements for Enlist One® and confirmed not to affect the spray drift properties of Enlist One® adversely.
Applicators must follow these specifications exactly as listed to ensure compliant and effective applications. If applicable, the applicator must leave a 30-foot downwind buffer between the spray swath and any sensitive area, unless that area is a road, a planted crop field (excluding crops labeled as susceptible), a field prepared for planting, or a permanent structure. Spraying is not permitted if wind is blowing toward a sensitive area, even when a 30-foot buffer is established.
According to the product label, applications must not occur under conditions where spray drift could contact food, forage or other desirable plantings, as even small, non-visible amounts may cause injury to susceptible broadleaf species. Applicators should review their state’s sensitive crop registry (FieldCheck® by FieldWatch) before spraying to identify nearby specialty or organic crops. At the time of application, wind must not be blowing toward adjacent crops, such as tomatoes, other fruiting vegetables, cucurbits (including pumpkins, melons and cucumbers), grapes, tobacco, or non-Enlist cotton. In such cases, delaying the application is necessary to prevent off-target movement and ensure the safe and compliant use of applications.
For Liberty® ULTRA (manufacturer label and supplemental label – expires March 19, 2027), the standard spray drift buffer is a minimum of 10 feet when using medium or coarser droplets for ground applications, and boom height must not exceed 24 inches above the target canopy.
The buffer distance may be reduced to 0 feet when specific drift-reducing practices are used (2.5% v v-1 on the product label; amended to 0.3% v v-1 on the supplemental label), hooded (over-the-top or row-middle) or drop-nozzle systems, or a qualified windbreak or shelterbelt that meets label criteria.
To the best of our knowledge and based on information available, this summary reflects current regulations, mitigation requirements, and product label guidance as of Nov. 10, 2025. Regulations and label instructions continue to evolve, and amendments will be made as necessary to incorporate the most up-to-date information as it becomes available.
