An easy way to reduce pesticide drift is to discontinue spraying when wind speeds exceed

• A. 7 mph
• B. 12 mph
• C. 20 mph
• D. 3 mph

Answer: (A)

Pesticide drift happens when droplets are carried away from the target area by air movement. The quicker and more uneven the wind, the farther droplets can travel, which risks off-target deposition and potential harm to nearby crops, people, or sensitive sites. A simple, practical rule to reduce drift is to stop spraying when wind speeds reach a level where droplets are likely to travel far enough to cause problems. Seven miles per hour is the threshold chosen here because it represents a cautious limit: at or above this speed, the chance of drift increases enough to justify stopping, while still allowing spraying under relatively calm conditions. Winds at higher speeds, like twelve or twenty mph, would markedly increase drift and make control of the spray unreliable. Very light winds, such as three mph, are preferable for minimizing drift, but the guideline uses seven mph as a workable safety cutoff in routine practice.