Published on 21/01/2026
Since 1996, a New Zealand-developed organsosilicone spreader from Elliot Chemicals (now UPL NZ) has been making that happen for spray programmes.
Du-Wett helps insecticides (and other crop protection products) achieve optimum coverage.
Pieter Van Der Westhuizen, UPL NZ adjuvant lead, says using Du-Wett with your spray gets insecticides to all the places it’s needed - including leaves’ undersides.
“Many other adjuvants don’t get into all the nooks and crannies. At the same time using Du-Wett means spraying at lower water rates which saves fuel and labour.”
Van Der Westhuizen says particularly with helicopter and drone application where low water volume is vital, Du-Wett really comes into its own.
“With Du-Wett you cover a greater area faster, with a much-reduced water volume and still get better protection for the crop. Spraying is faster, there’s less time on the job and reduced re-filling and travelling.”
Du-Wett can provide up to 20 times the spread of the insecticide active compared to an insecticide applied without an adjuvant, and at least six to eight times compared to a conventional, non-ionic adjuvant.
In addition, Van Der Westhuizen says, Du-Wett has capillary action, thanks to its composition which transfers insecticides to the leaves’ undersides.
“Otherwise, insecticides will just drop off the tip of the foliage. That spray is lost, and it exposes the crop to damage.”
He says around 20 per cent reduction in spray drift can also be achieved which potentially extends the spraying application window and delivers certainty of targeting.
Du-Wett is compatible with a whole range of commonly used insecticides including Sparta, Exirel and Aphidex.
While economists say there are ‘green shoots’ in dairy, and sheep and beef prices, arable has yet to see the full flow-on effects. Nonetheless Van Der Westhuizen says Du-Wett will easily pay for itself.
“You get the most out of every drop of the spray. We get a lot of positive feedback on that from farmers, contractors and the wider industry.”
He recommends that Du-Wett be used at 200 ml per ha for most insecticides, except for Attack (then use at 300 ml per ha) and chlorpyrifos (recommended use 250 ml per ha).
Water volumes are 50-250 litres per ha for ground applications and 50-100 litres per ha for aerial applications.
Optimum spreading and wetting from Du-Wett will occur between pH 5 and pH 9.