JUNE 2019 SEEDWORLD.COM / 21 TIP only are the pollinators not going to be foraging, but there are often lower wind conditions in the evening so you tend to not have as much potential for drift. Many plants even close up their flowers at night, so that’s a good time to be spraying.” Many professional aerial applica- tors have invested into planes that are equipped with the technology needed applications for nighttime spraying when pollinators are not present. Ramalingam says that no product can be applied when the crop is flowering, so farmers need to plan ahead and schedule applications around those times. “We have to avoid that vital stage when pollen is transferred,” he says. Technique Ramalingam also says that speed and style of application is also critical to understand. “Applicators need to use the correct amount of product to ensure they don’t deliver more or less than what is needed,” he says. “We need to make sure they have the tools to effectively deliver the dose without over- or under-applying.” Whether a product is delivered by backpack sprayer, a ground spray boom moving at 15-20 miles per hour, or even by aircraft at 150-180 miles per hour, mini- mizing drift is possible. “We work with the agriculture equip- ment industry as well, so we can engage with them to develop solutions that provide effective dose transfer and offer maximum field efficiency to the grower,” Ramalingam says. Trimming However, another easy adjustment is to take the time to mow any blooming plants near a field before an application is made. “It’s common to have dandelions and other flowering weeds on borders and edges of fields, so we certainly want to be aware of what plants are flowering even if it isn’t in the field itself. It’s important to mow those areas first so pollinators won’t be foraging,” Smith says. Smith says that even farmers who have added pollinator habitats to their land need to consider mowing those areas before a crop protection product application. “Mowing is a short-term impact,” he says. “It won’t eliminate the habitat you’ve created, and in fact, many plants will produce a greater flush of flowers rather rapidly after trimming them.” Training Ramalingam says that part of his job is to ensure the research they have is commu- nicated effectively. “We have fascinating tools to generate data, and we have to make sure that infor- mation reaches the end user and makes sense,” he says. “That’s why communica- tion really matters.” Smith says farmers who apply prod- ucts themselves are considered private applicators, and they are required to attend trainings to become certified as private applicators. They also attend ongoing training, some of which is crop- specific to maintain their certification. However, educational efforts should not stop there. “There are a number of resources we recommend in addition to those trainings that are focused on protecting pollina- tors,” Smith says. Many states have Pollinator Protection Plans as well, and some commodity groups are developing their own best-manage- ment practices for farmers to follow. Continuing to increase habitat is another stewardship step to consider in the spring. “While we want to encourage mowing directly before a pesticide appli- cation, we also want to encourage farm- ers to let some of those fence rows grow up in wildflowers, or to put in pollinator habitat in non-crop areas,” Smith says. We recognize the importance of pol- linators and want to do everything we can to protect them while increasing steward- ship of these crop protection tools that farmers rely on.” Ramalingam agrees, “We have to pro- tect the crop and the pollinators.” SW It’simperativethatasanindustrywetakeaproactiveapproachinprotecting pollinators.operationpollinator.com Nozzle design and selection can play an important role in preventing drift.