South Dakota Department of Agriculture officials are reminding pesticide applicators of the risk of drift during the spraying season. Applicators can prevent drift to non-target areas or susceptible crops by evaluating wind speed and direction, temperature, spray pressure, nozzle height and surrounding properties. Agricultural Service Assistant Director Tom Gere says reading the pesticide label is also one of the most important things an applicator can do to ensure safety.

Gere says complaints should be filed with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture if damage has been done to the environment or a non-target field due to spray drift. He says there is a time limit for when complaints must be filed.

For additional questions contact Gere at the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.