During application you notice drift onto a neighboring field. What immediate and follow-up actions should you take?

• A. Continue spraying but adjust nozzle height.
• B. Do nothing and report later.
• C. Stop the application if safe; assess wind and drift risk; document incident; notify supervisor or landowner; review label requirements and possibly implement drift reduction measures.
• D. Move equipment to adjacent field and resume.

Answer: (C)

When drift is observed, the immediate goal is to prevent further off-target movement. Stop the application if it can be done safely to minimize additional drift. Then quickly assess the wind and drift risk—consider wind direction and speed, air stability, and whether conditions are still conducive to drift. If continuing would likely cause more drift, pause and wait for conditions to improve or for drift-reduction measures to be effective.

Document the incident with practical details: what product and rate were used, the time, weather conditions (wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity), and the location and extent of drift, plus any affected crops or fields. Notify the supervisor or landowner so they’re informed and can take any necessary actions.

Review the label requirements and, if you resume, implement drift reduction measures. These can include lowering the boom height, adjusting spray pressure, using drift-reduction nozzles, and selecting spray settings that produce larger droplets, all in consideration of label directions. This combination of stopping, assessing, documenting, notifying, and applying drift reduction helps protect non-target crops and stay compliant.