Spraying Is Easy, Doing It Right Isn’t: Tips for Better Herbicide Applications

By UW-Madison|November 20, 2025

Spraying herbicides may seem simple — but doing it right takes skill, strategy, and science. In this engaging and practical presentation, Purdue University’s Dr. Tommy Butts breaks down the complexities of herbicide application and shares expert tips to help applicators improve coverage, reduce drift, and make smarter nozzle choices.

This talk was given at the second annual Wisconsin Extension Weed Management Workshop on Sept. 11, 2025.

From live demonstrations to high-speed spray footage, Dr. Butts explains how droplet size, nozzle type, spray angle, boom height, and travel speed all interact to impact weed control. Learn how to balance drift reduction with effective coverage, optimize your sprayer setup, and avoid common mistakes that can cost you yield and efficacy. Whether you’re a seasoned applicator or just getting started, this talk is packed with actionable insights to help you make every spray count.

Dr. Butts discusses:

  • Balancing drift and coverage
  • Nozzle selection and sizing
  • Spray pattern formation and pressure
  • Boom height and travel speed effects
  • Pulsing sprayers
  • Targeted applications
  • Integrated weed management strategies

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The University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) has a long-standing agricultural research history, which includes its College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and a large network of agricultural research stations across the state. The university's Crops and Soils work, primarily through its Extension program and merged Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, focuses on providing research-based information and solutions to farmers and the public. See all author stories here.

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