THE WEEKLY TIMES | Farmers' chemical toolkit shrinks

Australia’s crop protection toolkit is shrinking, with growers warning that restrictions and reviews are moving faster than replacement products are reaching the market.

The Weekly Times reported 11 agricultural chemicals or chemical groups have been restricted, suspended, cancelled, phased out or placed under review in the past year, while only three new products are clearly in the approval pipeline.

Grain Producers Australia Research, Development and Extension Spokesperson Andrew Weidemann said the concern was the cumulative impact across farming systems, rather than any single chemical decision.

He said access to effective chemistry was critical to maintaining modern no-till and conservation farming systems, with growers also facing potential losses of important tools for wireworm, locust and canola pest control.

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