Managing the risk of spray drift is one of the most important aspects of agrichemical use, particularly in many parts of regional Victoria where a diverse range of agricultural industries often coexist side by side.
Maintaining consumer confidence in agrichemical usage is increasingly important to support domestic and international markets. While most users are diligent in their use of agrichemicals, each year the department responds to 30-plus complaints about inappropriate use.
All agrichemical users have an ethical, legal and environmental responsibility to prevent the chemical you are spraying from drifting from the target crop or activity.
Agriculture Victoria Acting Statewide Chemical Standards Officer Felicity Collins said the aim should always be to achieve maximum application on the target with minimal off-target incidents.
"This results in improved chemical effectiveness and reduced damage and/or contamination of neighbouring crops or nearby sensitive areas," Ms Collins said.
"Damage or contamination to all crop types or pastures from any chemical can occur. All chemicals are capable of drift and chemical users should never be complacent."
"The implications of spray drift incidents are distressing for farmers and others impacted and may be devastating for the environment. When chemical users do not manage drift, they can cause thousands of dollars of damage to a neighbouring crop.
"For example, if a contaminated pasture is grazed by livestock such as dairy, the milk may not be fit for sale and the dairy farmer is required to discard the milk," she said.
Spray drift that causes damage or contaminates another farmer's crop or produce is an offence in Victoria under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992.
Ms Collins said there is plenty of technology available to prevent spray drift, and accessible information on how to manage drift.
Effective application will minimise the risks of off-target damage. Some best management practices include:
- Always check for susceptible crops or pasture in the area.
- Check for sensitive areas such as houses, schools, native vegetation and waterways.
- Always read and follow the product label directions. Some labels specify a minimum droplet size, wind speed range, buffer zones and boom height that legally must be followed by the user.
- Monitor weather conditions carefully. Don't spray if conditions are not suitable and stop spraying if conditions change and become unstable
- Use the largest droplet size possible that will give adequate spray coverage.
- Keep boom height to a minimum.
- Targets vary in their ability to collect or capture spray droplets. Fallow paddocks or seedling crops have poor catching surfaces. Well-grown, leafy crops are efficient collectors of droplets.
- Utilise buffer zones between that target area and susceptible crop or sensitive area where no chemical is applied. This allows droplets to settle before potentially leaving your farm.
