Spray Drift

Overview:

Pesticide spray drift is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “the movement of pesticide dust or droplets through the air at the time of application or soon after, to any site other than the area intended.” When a pesticide drifts into an area off-site, it can often cause unintended damages.

When applying pesticides, the application instructions listed on the label are not a suggestion, they are the law and therefore legally enforceable. Commercial and private applicators can be fined up to $500 for every drift claim by the Iowa Department of Agricultural and Land Stewardship. They can also revoke or suspend the applicator’s license.  


Drift...