Cotton Australia, on behalf of cotton growers across NSW and Queensland, is urging farmers using 2,4D Phenoxy herbicides to control weeds to exercise extreme caution, as cotton crops are currently being planted.
Last season nearly 11% (16,000 hectares) of the cotton crop was damaged or destroyed by 2,4D drift with an estimated damage bill of $9.14 million.
“Over 750 hectares of cotton was so badly affected it had to be ploughed out before picking. This is an unacceptable level of damage for what is an entirely preventable problem,” Cotton Australia CEO Mr Adam Kay said.
“We are urging farmers in the coming months to be responsible neighbours and to think about the consequences of spraying 2,4D in poor weather conditions including high winds and as we saw last season, no wind during the night,” Mr Kay said.
“If in doubt, simple communication with your neighbours is the best first step. Our growers are more than willing to talk through the issue with their fellow farmers to find a solution so that we can minimise damage to cotton this season,” he said.
Cotton is extremely susceptible to 2,4D spray drift damage, causing significant yield losses, quality downgrades and in some cases the destruction of entire crops.
2,4D herbicides can drift up to 10km from the source if not applied in ideal conditions, or if label restrictions are not followed correctly.
“We ask growers and spray contractors to take particular care when applying 2,4D herbicides this summer and to ensure label requirements are closely followed,” Mr Kay said.
“The 2,4D group of herbicides is valuable to all of agriculture, and it would be a shame for access to be restricted due to a few farmers not using best practice,” he said.
Following a comprehensive education campaign last year, Cotton Australia is continuing to work with the regulator, the APVMA and is communicating with agricultural chemical resellers, individual growers and grains industry organisations in an attempt to again address the issue this season.
“We need to make sure that manufacturers, distributors and users of the Phenoxy herbicide group of chemicals are aware of the potential damage they can cause to susceptible crops like cotton, grapes and horticultural crops as well as native vegetation and waterways,” Mr Kay said.
More information is available at www.cottonaustralia.com.au or www.spraywisedecisions.com.au
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Brooke Summers
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