The U.S. Agricultural pesticide market is estimated to be approximately 5 billion dollars. Herbicides represent about 66% of the total. It is estimated that about 55% of the herbicide market is comprised of pre-plant incorporated and preemerge products; however, the trend is now towards the post-emerge use of chemicals. Two reasons for this shift are ground water concerns and the use of lower amounts of active ingredients required for most post-emerge situations.

Spray adjuvants have a long history of use with many types of pesticides, but especially post-emerge herbicides. Currently, there are over 200 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered pesticides whose labels recommend one or more spray adjuvants. The reasons EPA registered pesticides require spray adjuvants use are (1) to give an increase in biological activity, (2) to reduce, minimize, or eliminate spray application problems or (3) to do both. Spray adjuvants can to this because they perform various functions. The primary functions needed are wetting, spreading, sticking and penetration. Other functions include improving compatibility, reducing spray drift and evaporation.