With two new herbicide-resistant technologies widely available this season, it is now more important than ever to know which fields are safe for which applications. Also, warning the applicator (or other growers in the area) which fields will be sensitive to off-target drift is critical.
A simple mix-up by an applicator on which field they spray could have very serious consequences and in some cases may cost you the entire crop in that field. The Flag the Technology idea is a simple one. Color coded flags are used to represent the different herbicide resistance technology in a particular field.
These plastic flags can be purchased at several online retailers. The larger plastic flags are pretty durable and could be recycled from year to year. If you don’t want to invest in the more durable flags, a cheaper option would be to use landscaping flags. Since these are much smaller, you would have to remind your applicators to be on the lookout for them.
Good stewardship and attention to detail are key with any pesticide applications. The Flag the Technology program is another tool to help reduce herbicide application and off-target errors.
