Proposed Changes to Restricted Use Herbicides

The Washington State Department of Agriculture is currently reviewing their rules for Restricted Use Herbicides and looking to make sure changes.

Joel Kangiser with the Pesticide Management Division said one of the bigger changes will be in nozzle and pressure requirements.

“The existing rules are based upon maximum pressure limits at a given nozzle orifice opening. That’s a really outdated system. With today’s technology it’s not the best way to prevent drift or risk to sensitive crops.”

The rules would shift to the droplet spectrum, or the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) standards.

Kangiser said other changes include repealing rules on temperature and wind that are either repetitive or don’t make sense.

“We had a working group that met probably four or five times over the past couple of years. [It was made up of] various agricultural sectors and WSU was also involved and so we talked about all these things whether they made sense under today’s standards and practices and all that.”

You can comment to Joel in this pre-proposal state, and want to keep an eye out for the official public comment period that will happen later this year.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.