What is a best practice for minimizing pesticide exposure to non-target organisms?

Applying pesticides during calm weather conditions is a best practice for minimizing pesticide exposure to non-target organisms. When pesticides are applied during calm weather, the risk of drift or spray movement due to wind is significantly reduced. This is crucial because pesticide drift can lead to unwanted exposure of non-target organisms, such as beneficial insects, wildlife, or nearby vegetation.

Calm conditions generally help ensure that the pesticide hits the target area effectively without being carried away by wind, thus increasing precision in application and reducing the likelihood of harming organisms not intended to be affected.

Using high-pressure sprayers can increase the risk of drift due to fine droplets being carried away by even slight air movement. Mixing pesticides with fertilizers can alter the chemical properties of the pesticide or enhance its effectiveness but does not inherently address the concern of exposure to non-target organisms. Applying pesticides during stormy weather can lead to significant environmental runoff or drift, which would further increase exposure risks.