Catch their drift?

Agricultural Research, May, 2006 by Heping Zhu

The first user-friendly computer software for estimating how far droplets of pesticide sprays from ground sprayers will drift has been developed, in cooperation with Ohio State University (OSU). Aided by the FLUENT computational fluid dynamics program, DRIFTSIM extrapolates from its large database of drift distances calculated for single droplets of sprayed pesticide. It can estimate drift distances for controlled variables, unlike outdoor tests in which the weather and other factors often confound experimental outcomes.

DRIFTSIM allows users to specify windspeed, droplet size and speed, nozzle height, operating pressure, air temperature, and relative humidity. It can help extension educators and farmers choose equipment, settings, and techniques to minimize pesticide drift and aid manufacturers in formulating pesticides and selecting spray equipment to minimize their products' drift potential. The Windows-based software may be obtained for $10 plus shipping and handling from OSU Media Distribution, 385 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Rd., Columbus, OH 43210-1044; phone (614) 292-1248. Heping Zhu, USDA-ARS Application Technology Research Unit, Wooster, Ohio; phone (330) 263-3871, e-mail zhu.16@osu.edu.