Economy
Farmers at risk of pesticide crackdown
Are farmers doing enough to prevent spray drift?
Broadacre farmers are at risk of losing some of their most important pesticides if they don’t take immediate action to stop chemicals blowing onto other farms.
That’s the warning of one agronomist who says farmers aren’t doing enough to ensure they are spraying in accordance with the code of practice for agricultural chemicals.
Agricultural consultant Mick Faulkner says chemicals like glyphosate, 2,4-D, MCPA, dicamba and garlon are at risk of having restrictions placed on them by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and state governments.
“We know we’re on borrowed time and I think we’re extremely close for any state government to take action to ban the use of particular products that are causing damage to other industries or to the environment,” he said.
Mr Faulkner estimates over 80 per cent of Australian farmers aren’t using the correct nozzles to ensure spray drift is minimised.
“Most farmers are not using the correct nozzles that deliver very coarse to extra course droplets at the target,” he said.
“They probably aren’t abiding by the code of practice and probably not even by the label so they’re acting illegally.”
A spokeswoman for the APVMA said there is no immediate risk of those chemicals being withdrawn. However she said both 2,4-D and MCPA are under review and glyphosate, dicamba and garlon are on the list to be reviewed.
John Moore is a senior research officer with the WA Department of Agriculture and Food’s weed science section.
He says John Faulkner is being a little bit alarmist.
But he says “Certainly the writing is on the wall if the industry and farmers don’t do something about the drift then more than likely one of the regulators or the government will do something for them, so he’s certainly probably a little bit alarmist but something does need to be done.”
“I think probably the drift issue is more a problem of perception than reality in many cases, by in large drift isn’t a big issue for most farmers or in most situations but it’s certainly an issue from the publics point of view and from a perceptions point of view and therefore you’ve got to be seen to be doing something about drift to make sure it stays on your paddock and doesn’t go into the neighbours place.”
“The APVMA is an evidence based organisation so it basically needs some evidence that the drift is causing affects to the environment or causing affects to the neighbours or other people in general. So when they get evidence for that occurring it comes back to the industry and the chemical resellers to provide a method of applying those herbicides which avoids that particular issue.”
• Dr Alison Bleaney: See pg 92 (Appendix 3) re list of pesticides – active ingredients – known to be toxic to bees:
Honeybee Pesticide Poisoning – A risk management tool for Australian farmers and beekeepers
Code: 12-043
Published: 28 May 2012
Author(s): Daryl Connelly
ISBN: 978-1-74254-386-4
This booklet enables beekeepers and farmers to identify pesticides that are toxic to bees, and provides information that will help them manage the risk of honeybee poisoning. The booklet also contains a number of useful forms, contact details and other relevant information.