Join the Be Drift Aware Campaign

Apr 04, 2024

New resources for farmers to combat spray drift and protect crops.

As spring arrives, Ontario's farmers are encouraged to adopt new stewardship practices to protect their crops and the environment.

The Be Drift Aware campaign provides essential resources aimed at combating the issue of spray drift - the unwanted aerial movement of plant protection products.

The Be Drift Aware campaign is a collaborative effort by the following leading farm organizations: Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and CropLife Canada.

Spray drift is a significant concern for farmers, affecting crop yield, quality, and increasing input costs. It also poses a risk to neighboring fields, residences, livestock, and sensitive natural areas, potentially leading to disputes with neighbors.

Recognizing the importance of addressing this issue, organizations like the Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and CropLife Canada have come together to create a central hub for information and best practices.

The campaign's website serves as a one-stop resource for growers and spray operators. It features an online quiz and materials focused on three critical areas: understanding the importance of droplet size, spray height, and wind conditions.

By adhering to these best practices, farmers can significantly reduce the risk of drifting and its associated problems.

Marty Vermey, a Senior Agronomist, highlights the collective effort to pool information into a single, easily accessible location. This initiative represents a crucial step towards educating growers on everything from the basics of spray drift to advanced techniques in sprayer settings and nozzle selection.

The Be Drift Aware campaign aims to reduce spray drift across Ontario by making information readily available to those who need it, when and where they need it.

Visit the Be Drift Aware website for more information.

Video: Our Own On-Farm Research Is the Best Source - Managing White Mold in Northeast Nebraska

If you assumed Nebraska was too hot and dry for white mold to be a problem in soybeans, think again.

This week we're featuring Galen Samuelson, a farmer and dealer from Wakefield, Nebraska, who knows all too well how devastating white mold can be.

"We don't have it consistently every year, but with our temperature and humidity, it can hurt us quite bad," Samuelson says. Looking for alternatives, he explains, "What I like about Heads Up is that it's non-harmful to the beneficial fungal colonies in the soil." Galen has been using Heads Up for several years now, after first hearing about it through a small ad in a regional newspaper. Watch below to hear about his journey.

When asked to write about Samuelson Seed, Galen said the following:

"Samuelson Seed is a 4th-generation, family-based company. It started with my grandfather, and I'm now starting to pass the torch to my son, Caleb."

"In the early 1990s, I started working with a company whose focus was on plant and soil health before those benefits were widely known. I've continued to keep plant and soil health the main focus in our farming operation decisions."