Spray records showing how and when farmers are using key herbicides currently under review by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) could help defend the use of optical and spot spraying techniques.
These spraying options for paraquat and diquat will be banned under the APVMA's proposed regulatory changes for these key chemicals and Grain Producers Australia is calling on growers to submit their spray records to help inform their submission.
GPA Interim Chief Executive Pete Arkle spoke to ABC Victorian Country Hour and explained how these records could provide vital context on patterns of use to put to the APVMA.
"Camera sprayers have been really revolutionary for many grain farmers across Australia, particularly in those those fallow spraying situations," he said.
"What we see on the ground and what our GPA members are telling us is that growers are really seeing only about sort of five to ten percent of their paddock area treated when they're actually using these camera sprayers.
"This really means the amount of chemical entering the farm environment is much lower than what the labels allow for, which is obviously a good thing for farmers because they're saving money, and it's a good thing for the environment because there's less chemical entering the environment.
"So we're really wanting these sort of direct records from these camera spraying systems as that primary evidence to make the case to the APVMA that this optical spot technology is absolutely critical and is key to a sustainable farming future."
Join us for an online information session on Thursday, September 26, from 7.30pm AEST for guidance and resources to inform relevant and meaningful responses to the APVMA.
A recording of the webinar and submission guide will be available on www.grainproducers.com.au for future reference.
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