ABSTRACT
Throughout history, signifi cant challenges have always existed for those growing agricultural products as food and fi ber. Cooperative weather delivering water as needed and in the proper amounts without fl ooding, hail or wind to damage the crop can be a factor for success or failure. Competition from undesirable plants, insect attacks, and plant diseases can also take their toll on the ultimate yield of the planted crop now as in ancient times. Farming practices today have allowed some control of the factors infl uencing crop production. Irrigation offers some control over weather conditions with regard to delivering water at needed times. Modern agricultural products and practices have allowed effective control of many weeds, insects, and plant diseases, but even with all the assistance modern technology provides, farming is still a very risky venture for the grower. Applying and delivering the various products used in modern agriculture to the site of action is a daunting task. The use of detergents and surfactants in agricultural products is virtually universal. Detergents and surfactants are also occasionally used in manufacturing the active ingredient, and are almost always used in formulating and applying pesticides.
