The South Dakota Department of Agriculture is asking pesticide applicators to prevent the risk of drift during this spraying season.

Officials say applicators should prevent risk to non-target areas or susceptible crops and evaluate factors such as wind speed, wind direction, temperature, spray pressure and nozzle height before spraying a field.

The department says reading the label of a pesticide is one of the most important things an applicator can do to ensure safety. Labels provide information about safe handling, rates, personal protective equipment, labeled crops, susceptible crops and tank mixes.

Complaints about drift must be filed with the department within 30 days after damage occurs. If a growing crop is damaged, the complaint must be filed before 25 percent of the crop has been harvested.

Source: Associated Press

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