What's New
Cancellation of products containing parathion-methyl
Pome, citrus and stone fruit growers have until 26 July 2013 to use existing stocks of products containing parathion-methyl following the voluntary cancellation of its registration by the approval holder over health risks posed to workers and concerns of its toxicity to bees.DPI has developed a new factsheet relevant to pome, citrus and stone fruit growers called Cancellation of products containing parathion-methyl, which outlines the cancellation of products containing parathion-methyl and lists the products affected.
Full details of the parathion-methyl review and the voluntary cancellation of the active constituent are available from the APVMA website, http://www.apvma.gov.au/products/review/current/parathion_methyl.php
Changes to spray drift management requirements explained
DPI has produced a new fact sheet that explains how the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) spray drift policy framework, APVMA Operating Principles in Relation to Spray Drift Risk will affect growers.
Changes to spray drift management requirements explains label changes, APVMA identified sensitive areas, the Drift Reducing Technology (DRT) Incentives Program and when no-spray zone statements apply.
Lettuce classification made easy
Recent contact with lettuce growers has made DPI aware that there is some confusion regarding how growers classify their lettuce and salad mix commodities in terms of maximum residue limits (MRLs).
Crops such as mizuna and chard, for example, may be classified as different commodities and as such, may have different MRLs.
As growers must meet the relevant MRLs, they may need to change their chemical use as not all lettuce or other commodities grown for salad mix should be treated with the same chemical as this may result in unacceptable residues. This is particularly the case if there is no relevant MRL for the crop being treated with a particular chemical, as there must be no detectable residue in the commodity.
DPI has produced a lettuce classification guide to help outline how different salad mix commodities are classified under MRL standards.
Lettuce classifications can be used to ensure growers meet MRL standards for the commodity they grow.
Taking care with foliar fungicides
DPI is reminding growers to take care when using foliar fungicides to treat fungal diseases in cereal crops and maintain market access.
As the impact of fungal disease is expected to be very high during the 2011 cropping season, DPI has produced a fact sheet on tebuconazole, which is commonly used for rust treatments. It outlines tebuconazole spraying programs available for wheat and barley to help growers use chemical treatments appropriately.
Taking care with foliar fungicides
Temperature inversions explained
Many new agricultural chemical product labels specifically forbid spraying during temperature inversion conditions.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has introduced a new webpage titled Surface inversions for Australian agricultural regions. It shows chemical users how to assess when temperature inversion conditions are present and helps them to recognise times when inversions are likely to form.
Understanding chemical pesticide labels
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has developed an educational poster and brochure to help chemical users identify and understand the warnings and instructions on pesticide chemical labels.
Both the poster and brochure are available for download from the APVMA Understanding pesticide labels page.
Guide to using agricultural chemicals
DPI has released the new and improved Guide to using agricultural chemicals in Victoria in print format.
Replacing the dated Code of practice for farm chemical spray application, this brochure provides chemical users with practical guidelines for the safe and effective use of agricultural chemicals in Victoria.
To receive a copy, contact deann.chy@dpi.vic.gov.au
Carbendazim fungicide products are now Schedule 7 Poisons
From 1 January 2011 carbendazim products are now Schedule 7 poisons (Dangerous Poisons). To purchase and use carbendazim in Victoria (which is a ‘restricted use’ chemical since being rescheduled), individuals require a valid Agricultural Chemical User Permit (ACUP) or commercial licence.
As with all ‘restricted use’ chemicals, carbendazim must only be used according to the label directions, which now restricts turf and some horticultural uses (grapes, cucurbits, citrus fruit, custard apples, mango, pome fruit and stone fruit.
Chemical resellers are reminded to check that individuals purchasing carbendazim products are authorised.
Products with labels reflecting current registration requirements will be phased in by manufacturers after the product labels have been approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
The leaflet Carbendazim fungicide restricted outlines the APVMA action and sources of more information.
APVMA label changes to manage spray drift
In line with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) Operating Principles In Relation To Spray Drift Risk and ongoing spray drift reviews, new label restrictions will soon apply to all 2,4-D and MCPA agricultural products.
These new restrictions will also apply to most other chemical products registered for outdoor use as the APVMA reviews all of them to update their labels with the new restrictions. Users will not need to comply until the new labels are introduced for each product.
Each label will specify a mandatory spray droplet size (some exemptions apply) and no-spray zone(s).
These requirements will further support current spray drift restraints including wind speed, and temperature inversion conditions.
SPRAY DRIFT RESTRAINT statements and MANDATORY NO-SPRAY ZONES will appear near the beginning of the DIRECTIONS FOR USE section of the label, immediately after any existing general RESTRAINTS.
Visit the APVMA website for more information.
Top 10 spraying tips
Chemical Standards has produced a brochure, Top 10 spraying tips to help ensure your chemical spraying is as effective and safe as possible.
The brochure covers planning, reading the label, checking use restrictions, managing resistance build up, knowing your equipment, buffer zones, droplet size, talking to your neighbours, monitoring weather conditions and keeping records. There's also suggestions for sources of more information.
The brochure is also available from the Publications page.
Resellers can assist users to dispose of suspended quintozene products
Quintozene manufacturers initiated a voluntary recall aimed at resellers to remove all suspended quintozene products from sale.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) suspended all quintozene products on 12 April 2010 after undeclared dioxin impurities were found in products at levels that may present health risks to frequent users.
Chemical users are able to return any quintozene products in their possession to their local chemical reseller for disposal.
Quintozene products familiar to Victorian growers include Barmac Chloroturf, Quintozene, Rhysol or Quintozene Seed Dressing, and Terrachlor Soil Fungicide.
Visit the APVMA website for further information
