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Sep. 17, 2025 Source: National Agricultural Aviation Association news release ALEXANDRIA, VA - A modernization project is underway for the pesticide drift model software AGDISP (Agricultural DISpersion). AGDISP, developed by the U.S. Forest Service in the 1980s, is used by EPA to model the movement of spray in the environment after it has been released from a sprayer. The modernization effort is being carried out by the AGDISP Modernization Project (AMP) whose goal is to update and improve AGDISP. AMP was established two years ago to rewrite the coding of the AGDISP model using a modern, well-supported computer language. These improvements to AGDISP are essential to improve accuracy and make the model accessible to other software developers so AGDISP can be further adapted to include modeling of other drift reduction technologies and application conditions to benefit all stakeholders across the pesticide industry, regardless of application type (aerial, ground, unmanned aerial, etc.). AMP, established by the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) two years ago, is investing $600,000 over five years to modernize AGDISP. The funding raised to date--$335,000--comes from a generous $35,000 donation from the Cotton Foundation awarded late last month; a five-year, $250,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control via the American Mosquito Control Association; and $50,000, to date, from the National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education Foundation. The Cotton Foundation funding came through a special project focused on priority research for the cotton industry. A modernized AGDISP will more accurately estimate off-target spray movement for all types of pesticide applications when EPA conducts ecological, endangered species, and human health risk assessments. It will also allow the drift reduction benefits offered by new application technologies and techniques to be recognized by EPA, which in turn should result in less restrictive and more flexible application requirements on labels. A key feature of the modernized version of AGDISP is that it will continue to be available to the public and an open source. This means the EPA can use it for risk assessments and companies developing new application technologies can incorporate it into their research. A modernized AGDRIFT model will also set the stage for real-time, site-specific risk assessments to be conducted in the future. It will result in a professional applicator equipped with modern drift reduction technology, ranging from meteorological evaluation equipment, digital labels, data on adjuvants in the tank, application equipment setup parameters, etc., to be programmed into the GPS calculating a real time risk assessment after it is processed through the updated AGDISP drift model thereby allowing for more label flexibility depending on all the drift reduction technologies used. AMP is essential for all growers and pesticide applicators. Without accurate spray drift risk assessments for aerial, ground, and airblast applications, there exists the possibility of losing access to pesticides critical for protecting crops. Other AMP stakeholders include pesticide manufacturers, grower groups, university scientists, and representatives from multiple federal agencies. AMP is incredibly grateful to The Cotton Foundation for the funding. It is NAAA's hope that other pesticide industry organizations and grower groups will join in supporting the project. A modernized AGDISP will ensure all pesticide application methods can continue to be used to protect crops grown in the U.S. For more information on the AGDISP Modernization Project and contributing towards its completion, visit Here. Tweet |
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