April, 2000
Electrostatic spraying system expected to help satisfy new drift requirements, Oklahoma applicators told

Houston, TX -- Despite the outlook for stricter regulation of aerial spray drift, new technology is now available to help applicators improve deposition patterns and manage drift, according to Blake Dobbins, president of Spectrum Electrostatic Sprayers, Inc.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Agricultural Aviation Association, Dobbins reported that the first commercial versions of his company's new electrostatic spray system have now been sold for use in the U.S. during the 2000 spray season. The system is already in commercial operation in Central America.

Hailed by regulatory authorities as a promising solution to aerial spray drift, electrostatic spray technology induces an electrical charge onto each spray droplet, causing it to be attracted to the target vegetation. Field trials have shown that the improved deposition also results in increased control of crop pests, compared to conventional spray systems.
"The electrostatic spray system will also help aerial applicators improve their profitability," Dobbins reported. "Data shows that applicators using the system can cover more acres with less actual pesticide per trip, which translates into less time in the air, less cost for fuel, and fewer reloading stops."

There's ample proof that electrostatic spraying technology works, according to Dobbins. "Over the last 20 years, more than 2,000 electrostatic ground sprayers have gone into use in orchards and field crops in the U.S., Canada, and worldwide," he said. "Now aerial applicators have access to the same benefits of reduced spray drift and improved pest control as well as reduced cost of operation."

Despite recent state and federal promises of stricter regulation of aerial spray drift, Dobbins looks for the electrostatic spray system to give aerial applicators the flexibility to meet expected regulatory requirements.

"The rules governing chemical drift near sensitive areas such as residential areas, lakes and streams, and wildlife preserves are getting increasingly stringent," he continued. "By adding the electrostatic spray system to the tools already in their hangar, aerial applicators should be able to continue their operations and still comply with new regulations."