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Generic Verification Protocol for Testing Pesticide Application Spray Drift Reduction Technologies for Row and Field Crops (Version 1.4)
Citation:
Kosusko, M. AND J. Thornburg. Generic Verification Protocol for Testing Pesticide Application Spray Drift Reduction Technologies for Row and Field Crops (Version 1.4). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
The Office of Pesticide Programs intends to use this test protocol as part of a program to accelerate acceptance and use of improved and cost-effective application technologies which can significantly reduce spray drift and thereby provide benefits to applicators, the public, and the environment. Applications of most if not all sprays result in some amount of drift from the application site and can cause adverse effects and other undesirable consequences. For this reason, the agricultural sector, government, and the general public seek ways to significantly reduce spray drift.
Description:
This generic verification protocol provides a detailed method for conducting and reporting results from verification testing of pesticide application technologies. It can be used to evaluate technologies for their potential to reduce spray drift, hence the term “drift reduction technologies” (DRTs). EPA, through its Environmental and Sustainable Technology Evaluations (ESTE) program, developed this protocol with input by external experts to provide the pesticide application technology industry with a standard method to voluntarily test their technologies. This protocol describes the testing approach used to generate high-quality, peer-reviewed data for DRTs, including test design and quality assurance aspects.