Analyzing Adjuvant Use in the Endangered Species Act Era

For specialty crop growers, precision is not optional. Every application must protect yield, quality, and long-term orchard and vineyard health.

New mitigation measures, including spray drift reduction, runoff management, and buffer requirements, are influencing the make-up of what growers need to include in their tank mixes. As the U.S. EPA implements updated Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements, herbicide, insecticide, and eventually fungicide labels are evolving. The ESA became law in1973 but in recent years has been integrated into crop protection product labels.

The new rules dictate how growers use and apply herbicides (2024) and insecticides (2025), assigning a point system for specific actions, such as drift reduction strategies, tillage practices, cover crop adoption, recordkeeping activities, and more. Rules for fungicides are expected sometime this year.

Visit EPA’s pesticide and endangered species toolbox for more details. Or check with your certified crop advisor or agronomist for additional information about meeting the new requirements.

Specialty crop production already requires a high level of stewardship. ESA compliance adds another layer of precision. The good news is that with the right adjuvant strategy, growers can meet those standards and maintain strong crop protection.

WHY ESA COMPLIANCE MATTERS

Many specialty crop operations overlap with environmentally sensitive areas. As a result, updated labels may require:

• Larger droplet sizes to reduce drift
• Mandatory buffer zones near sensitive sites
• Runoff and erosion mitigation practices
• Specific application timing considerations

For high-value crops, application windows are already narrow. Missing a timing or compromising coverage can directly affect things like fruit quality and marketability.

That is why precision in the spray tank and a consistent approach matter more than ever. In today’s regulatory environment, many agronomists recommend including a drift-reduction adjuvant (DRA) in every spray application, every tank, and every pass, to help manage off-target movement and support compliance without compromising performance.

MANAGING DRIFT WITHOUT COMPROMISING

Drift mitigation is a central focus of the evolving ESA guidelines. Coarser droplet requirements reduce off-target movement, but specialty crop canopies in dense orchards or leafy vineyards require thorough coverage.

Modern DRAs help create more uniform droplets while supporting deposition within complex canopies. Instead of simply increasing droplet size, advanced formulations balance drift control with spread and retention.

In permanent crops, especially, canopy architecture is everything. Growers need droplets that reach interior leaves and fruiting zones without moving off target. The right adjuvant helps manage both.

That balance protects neighboring habitats while preserving disease and pest control inside the row.

IMPROVING RETENTION TO REDUCE RUNOFF

ESA regulations also address surface water protection. In irrigated specialty systems, particularly those using overhead or micro-sprinkler irrigation, wash-off potential is a real concern.

Adjuvants that enhance spreading, sticking, and penetration can improve product retention and reduce wash-off from leaf and fruit surfaces, reducing the likelihood of active ingredients moving off target during rainfall or irrigation events.

SUPPORTING RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT

Specialty systems often rely on fewer labeled chemistries and face intense pest pressure. Under ESA constraints, suboptimal coverage or inconsistent deposition can increase the risk of resistance development.

Adjuvants that optimize active ingredient placement, improving both canopy penetration and uptake, also help ensure each application performs as intended. That consistency supports integrated pest management (IPM) programs and protects the long-term viability of available tools.

With market volatility and tightening margins, growers know that every pass has to count. When options are limited, growers cannot afford to lose performance because of preventable application issues.

BUILDING AN ESA-READY SPRAY PLAN

ESA guidelines will continue to evolve, especially in regions with sensitive species and waterways. The most successful specialty crop operations will treat compliance as part of their overall precision strategy, not as a last-minute add-on.

That starts with early planning:

• Review updated label language before the season begins
• Identify sensitive areas adjacent to fields or orchards
• Select adjuvants that align with droplet, deposition, and retention goals
• Integrate application planning with irrigation and soil management strategies

Third-party verification can provide added confidence. The Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA) maintains a list of certified adjuvants that have been tested to confirm they meet label claims under established standards.

Since adjuvants are not EPA-registered products, without CDPA certification, growers may not be given all the information about an adjuvant on its label. Products carrying CPDA certification spell out what is in the product, especially surfactant content. It is like the CarFax for adjuvants, so growers have the information they need before buying.

In a season where compliance, performance, and stewardship must align, selecting a verified, high-quality adjuvant helps ensure spray programs perform as expected and stand up to scrutiny.