Sprinkler spray drifts away in the wind and waters the wrong place, how do I fix it?

Wind blowing the sprinkler spray off target wastes water and leaves dry strips where the crop misses out, and it is common in open windy fields. The most effective step is to irrigate during the calmer hours, usually early morning or evening or at night, when wind is lowest, instead of the windy afternoon. Lowering the spray a little and keeping the right operating pressure helps, because too high a pressure makes a fine mist that drifts easily while too low gives poor coverage, so run the system at the pressure the nozzle is designed for. Larger droplet nozzles drift less than fine misting ones. Spacing the sprinklers a bit closer can offset drift so the pattern still overlaps and covers evenly. In very windy areas some farmers prefer drip, which is not affected by wind at all. For the right nozzle and operating pressure for your sprinkler in windy conditions, ask your sprinkler dealer or the irrigation department.