Spraying Wind Speed

[Hanslope]

How much is too much, I tend to use 8 mph as my cut-off point.

But how come some operators keep going despite the wind?

Is there a legal maximum wind speed, where do you draw the line then. I'm looking to get on with some T3 fungicides today, but the forecast looks like it will be this evening until we see wind speeds in single figures.

 

[Against_the_grain]

I use 12mph as my cut off. Have been known to go in more! Depends on the location, product, urgency etc...
Using low drift nozzles makes a huge difference.

 

[Andy26]

Using low drift nozzles makes a huge difference.

Drop your forward speed, this in its self cuts drift, plus you can maintain a lower boom height which cuts drift.

Increase water volume and drop your pressure, yes there'll be some compromise on droplet size, but better to have a medium/coarse spray in good timeliness than a perfect medium/fine on a week late.

 

[yorkie]

Sun hat blows off to windy for herbicide,empty drums blow over pack in,unless just mangenese

 

[tw15]

Just poped in for a sandwich am in the middle of putting T3 sprays on a bit windy at times but as others have already said dropped forward speed and keep boom as low as possible and going on nicely.

 

[yellow belly]

any wind over 10 mph is illegal and if spotted prosecution is likely

 

[Brisel]

Too windy when you can see visible distortion of the spray pattern or the cars on the road alongside the field put their windscreen wipers on as they drive past...

 

[Tractor Boy]

any wind over 10 mph is illegal and if spotted prosecution is likely

Who told you this? It's all about drift! Low boom, low drift nozzles, low speed, canopy intercepting the spray. It's only illegal for spray to fall on a non target area! You can spray the middle of a 100 acre field in a hurricane if you want to waste your money, as long as the spray doesn't get picked up drifting out of the field!

 

[Andy26]

Who told you this? It's all about drift! Low boom, low drift nozzles, low speed, canopy intercepting the spray. It's only illegal for spray to fall on a non target area! You can spray the middle of a 100 acre field in a hurricane if you want to waste your money, as long as the spray doesn't get picked up drifting out of the field!

Yes I would think its a subjective value allowing all variables to be considered, certainly the code of practice and your PA training gives reference to the Beaufort scale and using trees as a yard stick.

 

[Andy26]

http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/topics/using-pesticides/spray-drift

 

[Woodlander]

See page 88 onwards of the Code of practice attached. It has a special place in law - i.e. if you follow the guidance then you know you are keeping within the law. You can do something different but would then have to prove that you are compliant with relevant legislation. The wind speed table (pg 90) states 'do not spray' at wind speeds of force 4 - but note this is for a conventional nozzle!

 

[Chae1]

I ve sprayed in an absolute gale once for a farmer in a panic to get it done. Told him I didn't want to do it. It was herbicide on spring barley. I was certain there would be missed bits but worked fine. Killed all weeds. Scorched hell out of crop though.

 

[Andy26]

Force 4 is approximately 13-18mph

 

[rob1]

Yes I would think its a subjective value allowing all variables to be considered, certainly the code of practice and your PA training gives reference to the Beaufort scale and using trees as a yard stick.

Surely everyone has a wind meter to check wind speed at boom height Its surprising how breezy it feels at 4M/S but with low drift nozzles at 50 cm no drift, and anyway as long as it hits its target is legal, stuff is too dear to allow it to do the neighbours for free

 

[binbusy]

There isn't a speed limit. But what you have to be aware of is public arseholes spotting you, videoing you on there phone and then parking near the headland with there window open in hope they can get a claim. When they persue a claim they go on the met offices forecast history not what you have written on your sheet. If the data says you were spraying in high winds, and the wind was in the right direction for the person to have been contaminated, you will most likely lose. To safeguard yourself weve learnt you've gotta keep them wind speeds down.
Ive had people walk across footpaths to me to become contaminated, ive had them come out into there back gardens and stand a couple of meters away from the boom etc etc just people looking for a few months paid months off work and a nice fat cheque for Christmas.
im weary spraying in more than 6mph winds now unless im really out of the way. When our guy tried to claim we were spraying well under that.

 

[TWF]

I wouldn't spray up wind of any houses even at 4 mph because even if they can smell it they think it is spray drift. Luckerly for me we only have one village down wind ,other villages we are on the SW side of our Southwesterly prevailing wind,so this helps.
Have had trouble in the past with one of them who got the HSE involved and that was when we were dribbling liquid fert on. HSE suggested we do leave a six meter buffer and worn them an hour before spraying. My reply was they already get a 12m buffer up wind and a weeks notice. A year later I packed in telling them and the buffer has gone . But they are on the up wind side of the field. They used to drive out in thier car even if they saw my nabour spraying a couple of fields away.Mad.

 

[will l]

remember met office weather stations record wind speed at 2 metres above the ground you can argue that if your boom is at 1 metre the wind is less!
It is for them to prove the damage was done by the chemical in your sprayer they only know what it was if you tell them!