Reducing the risk of spray drift could be one step closer thanks to the new mapping tool, SataCrop.
Being trialed in the Central Highlands, SataCrop is an important tool for farmers looking to mitigate the risk of spray drift damage.
The technology maps fields and details what crops have been planted, allowing growers and applicators of all products to be better informed when spraying, reducing the risk of spray drift damage to crops.
Cotton Australia chief executive officer, Adam Kay, said while the CottonMap application was still in place for growers to map cotton crops industry wide, SataCrop was a resource that would enable farmers to map all crops.
“We’re taking the focus off cotton, and making it about all farmers being respectful of sensitive crops that might be near them,” Mr Kay said.
“We want people to be respectful of neighbours that have, for instance, got chickpeas in, and we want people to be aware of where the citrus is, so it doesn't matter whether it's 2,4-D or it's glyphosate, or whatever the product is, if people know what's around, it just adds to their caution and makes sure that they're even more careful.”
Central Highlands Cotton Growers’ Association president, Aaron Kiely, said this was a great opportunity for the region as a whole to test and demonstrate the diversity of crops throughout their area.
“Following this trial, SataCrop will be rolled-out across the Australian cotton industry in time for the 2019-2020 cotton season,” Mr Kiely said.
“I would like to urge all Central Highlands growers and applicators to use SataCrop.
“Additionally, I would like to request all suppliers to refer their clients to SataCrop to check where their neighbours crops are planted before spraying.”
In addition to being available to all farmers, SataCrop also has the benefit of satellite imagery being updated every 20 days, and fields only needing to be mapped once, rather than annually.
Despite efforts to reduce occurrences of spray drift, there has already been four incidents reported in the Central Highlands region since the cotton season began on August 1.
Cotton Australia regional manager, Renée Anderson, said the incidents were a timely reminder for growers.
“With the recent rainfalls being widespread across the region, it's a reminder that all chemical applications must be applied responsibly and in accordance to label requirements,” she said.
“It is unfortunate to have already seen three spray drift incidents in the Orion/Springsure region, two of which occurred prior to the recent rainfall.
“We ask that farmers update their knowledge on the new labels when using phenoxy-type chemistry, ensure the weather conditions are suitable, and please chat with neighbours about any sensitive crops that can potentially be damaged.”
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has introduced new label instructions for 2,4-D products, in a bid to to reduce spray drift incidents and damage.
The new label instructions are now in effect, and old labels are suspended.
The APVMA says the new instructions include:
- a requirement not to spray in inversion conditions and additional information on recognising inversion conditions
- downwind mandatory no-spray zones for both aquatic and terrestrial off-target vegetation (including sensitive crops, gardens, landscaping vegetation, protected native vegetation or protected animal habitat)
- a requirement to use nozzles producing droplets no smaller than the Very Coarse spray quality category
- mandatory record keeping requirements
- advisory statements about spray application over summer
Anybody in the Central Highlands region who would like more information about SataCrop can contact Cotton Australia regional manager Renee Anderson on 0448 125 156.