Discussions

You do realize that if it is windy a farmer "5 miles out" won't be spraying? Chemicals cost a LOT of money (thousands of dollars per crop), and if it isn't going to stay on the desired crop they aren't going to spray it and waste money.

HappyShopper said "You do realize that if it is windy a farmer "5 miles out" won't be spraying? Chemicals cost a LOT of money (thousands of dollars per crop), and if it isn't going to stay on the desired crop they aren't going to spray it and waste money. "

I have seem some farmers spraying when it is very windy

Common sense isn’t so common anymore  
 
The farmer next to us has often sprayed on windy days. Pretty sure that’s why some of our trees have died along that side

They do spray windy conditions - mine was at around 25 km per hour winds - and there isnt any thing any body will do. Like you mentioned the only thing is how much the farmer wants to spend - some of these guys spend so much one windy day isnt going to make any difference to there profit. I had the smell so bad in the yard I thought that it was right there but it was over a mile away . You cant just run up to those guys either unless you want to take a bath in it . That is the chemicals that stink - roundup dosent have any kind of smell to it at all so you could be breathing it in all day . Your nose does dry out - that is all the indication you will have .

Most farmers respect their neighbours. It only takes a few to spoil ones opinions of them.  
 
It also is a waste so most will not do it on a terribly windy day. they don't want to kill your trees or make you suffer from smell but it is their land and they have to protect their crops from many things such as weeds insects and fungi.  
 
Some do have sprayers that will work in windy conditions.  
 
Best thing would be to go to them and ask them to explain and mention that it was causing you issues today. Do not be all high and mighty and rude.  
 
We all need to be more neighbourly in all respects. Unfortunately, we are quick to judge and post about our complaints instead of mentioning to the person involved.  
 
There is a very good chance your neighbour didn't intend to bother you. There is also a good chance they do not read ebrandon and know that they did.  
 
Did you know that there is also a small window for some chemicals to work. IE temperature has to be right, wind, time of day, growth stage, dampness of the day how soon it may rain on it.  
 
There is far more to it then hmmm its windy as heck out there and I feel like spraying away thousands of dollars to piss off the community.

I dont think any farmer is going to go out and spray in the wind just to piss off people . They get spraying 4000 acres and the wind comes up and they have more to do tomorrow - so they get 3/4 of the spray on the field and the rest goes in the wind . They have only so much time to do it and like some body said there is technology available that allows spraying in the wind - however some farmers arnt the sharpest tool in the shed or perhaps it is just the hired hand out there and wants to get the tank empty so he can go home . Farmer managers cant be every where on there farms . Perhaps with the legal action in the states concerning round up there will be more new laws (enforceable) with wind drift . As it is now there isnt much you can do either with ground spraying drift or aviation spraying . If it is airplanes it is suppose to be tightly regulated - first thing you must do is get the number off the wing and phone the RCMP . With ground spraying I dont know if there is much you can do except complan to the farmer -- after all the spraying is done . I know there is no way in hell he would stop in the middle of it . I couldn't find any laws governing ground spraying but I am no lawyer - they just recommend certain wind speeds when spraying and if they go out when it is windy they will get poor coverage and it will cost more. All farming expenses are tax deductible.

I suspect the OP has had this happen enough times, that he just needed an outlet. Social media allows for that and allows for awareness and call for change.  
 
If you use chemical, do you respect your neighbor and at the very least let them know so that they can at the very least prepare for a spray time/day? I hope so.  
 
Make a difference to those around you. Be respectful.  
 
In our experience and in our area, most will spray even when it is very windy...actually all in our immediate area will. They will spray even when they will be going by a yard where it is known that children will be present & playing outside. Booms are high too, nowhere close to the plants, even where land is flat. Both personal & company applicators are doing this.  
 
By Spruce Woods/Carberry, I have seen a spray plane fly over the #1 and repeatedly spray BOTH east & west lanes of this highway with cars driving right through what is being dropped! I know this is certainly illegal and a licence can be revoked over it, but what can you actually do? You can't take down their license plate and there is nothing else you can identify them with. Edit: the above poster says a wing number...who wants to be sprayed while taking it down? We could see anything anyway...just the color of the plane.  
 
Unfortunately, the spraying problems are widespread and increasing, as I have chatted with other people from across Canada who are in farm areas. They say the same thing. No respect given, no regard for others, spraying when windy, no heads up so that one can close windows and get kids inside, & loss of trees and shrubs and possibly more on their property.  
 
Our kids were out, breathing in the active spray, just this past hot friday and rushed to get inside & close windows only to have our house heat up quite badly as a result of lack of air movement. We have seen damage to our plants in our yard...even more this year...and worry about the welfare of our animals. We have had another neighbor who could also plainly see our children and sprayed right by them before they had time to get to safety. Legs only go so fast. This happened more than once.  
 
 
Anyway, I found it interesting that these folks that I talked to stated that the spraying & attitudes are getting worse than 20 years ago. They all state that they can do nothing and have no recourse. They are not getting listened to by the farmer either. To even politely & respectfully approach the farmer gets a reply of rudeness and negative high & mighty answers. I have personally been the recipient of one such exchange (I was NOT rude at all) and I know others in the same position. I am hesitant to approach again, as I highly suspect that I will get the same response or worse. All I asked for was a heads up so that we can prepare...no other requests or suggestions. I got a definite no.  
 
You can smell glyphosate. I am very familiar with it (I used to sell the milder version at a place I once worked at) and the sting it gives the throat.  
 
It is not the smell that bothers me. That is just the indicator. It is its destructive power to more than just weeds, specific insects and fungi, and the attitude of those who are applying it. One spray in the news lately...the most well known company selling glyphosate had proof...it does cause cancer. The lawsuit & its revelations about secrets kept by the company was in/on the news. The company knows it full well and lost. Now they are in damage control. I know more than one farmer who has had that same specific cancer or is battling it right now. What else does spray do? Cause depression, gluten intolerance and more. It has been scientifically studied and these results are published. The other sprays are not safe either as "they" claim.  
 
Spray does not control all these things as well as it is touted. There is a reason they keep getting stronger. But...there are other better, safer, & more effective and less expensive ways to control weeds and hungry insects. Sadly, what the chemical farmers regurgitate is all the excellent marketing that they have been fed. And the chemical company neglects to say that it is to make the chemical company..not the farmer as they like to say...money.  
 
We have been dealing with the spray issue personally for decades with no respect in this area of concern being reciprocated. When there is no respect and positive action, resentment & anger grows & judgement will be the result. It is not good.  
 
The neighbors who have concerns & complaints are not stupid. Many of us know that there are conditions to be met in regards to spraying. We are also aware of the dangers. We are also aware of what should be our basic human rights. We also have land (and our health & family) and ask for it to be respected. What we are asking for is a moral correctness...consider the health and safety of your neighbors. Be considerate and don't just brush them all off as uptight and trouble making nuisances...another stereotype. We have legitimate concerns.  
 
We are asking you to listen, and if you find that you can change something you might be doing to help resolve an issue and get/retain respect, we welcome that change.  
 
Edited by Flutterby, 2018-08-15 16:04:20

I wish they would spray over my property. I think the birds love it too. smells great! I get that "chemical euphoria" every time. More please.

fetal roundup syndrome ???

There are tons of farmers that do not spray themselves. It is usually contracted out. I have family that their business is spraying. When they have thousands of acres to spray in a very tiny window there is no way to just sit and wait for calm days. And actually calm days can be more of a hazard than on a windy day. There is so much involved with boom heights, droplet size, etc.  
https://www.producer.com/2018/06/wind-can-be-an-applicators-friend-says-expert/

I have taken pictures of spray coming off sprayers almost horizontal because of wind..... I have also asked my neighbours to respect my organic garden and all I get is attitude and "we feed the world" and "you can't make money in organic farming" BS.... most conventional farmers I have met only care about ONE thing.....their bank account....sad we have to put up with this...if you read the environment act almost all section about spraying exempt farming activities....crazy

Durning peak agriculture season glyphosate is in the air and doesnt really get cleaned out tell fall. Pretty much every single person will test positive for glyphosate in their urine now. Also the Canadian government has given the o.k to modify our weather by physical or chemical means. Its called the weather modification act under the Canadian Government.  
 
weather modification activity includes any action designed or intended to produce, by physical or chemical means, changes in the composition or dynamics of the atmosphere for the purpose of increasing, decreasing or redistributing precipitation, decreasing or suppressing hail or lightning or dissipating fog or cloud. (essais de modification du temps)

You nailed everything right on !  
Trouble is, it is not most of the farmers fault as they are duped by the chemical companies.  
 
I too have many pictures (date stamped) of farmer spraying in windy conditions, like you said spray almost horizontal to the crop and drifting a half a mile behind.  
 
You people can and should do something about it.  
 
example: if you have pictures of your tree lines when heathy, and a picture or two of a farmer next to you spraying when windy, and date stamped so you can varyify the weather conditions at that time, and your trees are dying the next year or even turning yellow a few weeks after the spray, you can certainly sue the person or company responible for the amout it would cost to have a landscaper replace like trees.  
 
There was one farmer south of Brandon thatwas succesfully sued for $ 180,000.oo ! And there are others in MB and SK  
The sooner victims start the sooner the farmer will have to "care" what they do..

Are you sure It was a farmer, in the last week or so we had ditches sprayed for milkweed and leafy spurge for the second time this year. Never noticed them spraying and didn't even smell it till the following day when it got really warm and the wind changed .  
I guess it the easiest to blame farmers because we assume that they are the only ones who might do spraying on a large scale but there a lot of areas around Brandon, especially ditchs along hi ways which are polluted with spurge and might have been sprayed, just mentioning the because in the opening comment the poster said it could have been someone close or someone five miles away.  
Lots to say on this topic, but turning it into a pissing match by discussing agriculture practices and contamination of our environment, and agriculture economics related to staying economically feasable, just doesn't seem worth it.

Never said it was a farmer!! Nor did he say it had anything to do with cows!

for those concerned this is interesting  
 
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/10/monsanto-trial-cancer-dewayne-johnson-ruling

http://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2018/08/14/monsanto-roundup-cancer-trial-whats-next

That court case is total bs and Monsanto will not have to pay a dime. There is no way that the man in the article worked as a groundskeeper for less then 6 years, likely only using round up a couple times a year, developed cancer from it. Look at how many farmers and chemical companies (even lawn care companies) have used it for decades and no issues.  
 
It’s a chemical. We learn as kids in science class you wear protective clothing to deal with it. You wear respirators if needs be. The fact that this man didn’t is not the fault of Monsanto, but his own sheer stupidity. He MIGHT be able to blame the school district for not providing the adequate gear....maybe. But come on. Your an adult. Use your bloody head.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/weed-killing-chemical-found-in-popular-breakfast-foods-1.4055532  
 
https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/15/health/glyphosate-oat-products-ewg-study/index.html

Leonidas said "https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/weed-killing-chemical-found-in-popular-breakfast-foods-1.4055532     https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/15/health/glyphosate-oat-products-ewg-study/index.html "

https://itsabouttimebook.com/roundup-a-serious-cumulative-poison/  
 
now the point of all this is that 'someone' mentioned ppe when spraying and likely the person applying said spray, is wearing ppe . BUT the people suffering overspray and/or being in the path of spray vehicles or aircraft are not  
nuff said  
the bottom line is Glyphosate confounds the body's ability, to deal with pathogens.  
The Lawnkeeper may not have been wearing ppe but the fact is he may have ingested Glyphosate from several other things ie., cheerios for breakfast and/or vegetable oil he cooked his supper in.In any of these scenarios  
there is only one culprit. It's very likely that,due to the number of issues this product causes, that it's effects were hidden and are only now being realised.  
Remember Asbestos well they denied and denied and the Mesothelioma. Which can strike anything up to 40 yrs after coming into contact.I have personally witnessed the latter.