Focus Area: Stewardship

  • Farming for the future: updated resistance management advice released

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    CropLife Australia’s updated Resistance Management Strategies for fungicides, herbicides and insecticides are now available online. The newly updated strategies for 2023-24 have been reviewed by CropLife’s expert committees, in consultation with relevant national and international experts and provide invaluable support to farmers, agronomists and environmental land managers in preserving the long-term viability and effectiveness of essential crop protection products.

    “Relentless weather conditions have intensified Australia’s need for effective management of insect pests, weed and diseases, which continually undermine and compromise agricultural productivity and essential environmental land management,” said Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, the national peak industry organisation for the plant science sector, Mr Matthew Cossey.

    “A critical tool in the Aussie farmer toolkit has been access to pesticides, including fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. By remaining up to date with the latest resistance management strategies, agricultural professionals can optimise their pest management practices and protect the long-term viability of these crucial products.

    “These new strategies support the judicious, targeted and effective use of pesticides, a crucial step in Integrated Pest Management methods. A fundamental element of resistance management is the rotation or admixture of pesticides with different modes of action. This practice prevents continuous exposure of pests to a single pesticide class, reducing the likelihood of resistance development.

    “Furthermore, Integrated Pest Management methods safeguard the environment and minimise the risk of negative impacts on non-target organisms and also ensures the long-term efficacy of pest control measures, supporting sustainable agricultural practices for generations to come.

    “Resistance management strategies serve as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, product labels. While implementing these strategies, it remains imperative to adhere to the handling and application instructions specified on the registered product label or approved permit.

    Mr Cossey concluded, “It’s also a timely reminder that Australia is currently in the transition phase of aligning its herbicide mode of action (MoA) classification system with global standards i.e., moving from a letter-based system to a numerical one. The classifications capture new active constituents and ensures the Australian MoA classification system is future proofed and remains globally relevant for farmers and agronomists. The numerical classification system should be fully implemented by the end of 2024.”

    CropLife Australia’s popular Resistance Management Strategies are part of its broader StewardshipFirst® initiative – a suite of world-leading best-practice stewardship resources and programs that assist all pesticide users to remain world and leaders in sustainable agricultural practices.

    View the 2023-24 Resistance Management Strategies online at: https://www.croplife.org.au/resources/programs/resistance-management/

    Find resources supporting Herbicide MoA alignment at:
    https://www.croplife.org.au/media/industry-news/moa/

  • Farm Safety Week – Stay on the safe side when spraying

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    Pesticides play a fundamental role in modern agriculture, helping to protect crops from pests, diseases and weeds. Australia has an extraordinary good record with on farm safe chemical use with very low rates of workplace incidents involving the use of farm chemicals, however Farm Safety Week is an important reminder to put safety first when it comes to product handling. Adequate training, planning and strict adherence to product label instructions are crucial to protecting farm workers and the environment.

    “Best practice with the safe storage, transport, handling and use of pesticides is crucial. There’s never a good time or place to cut corners with safety,” said Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, the national peak industry organisation for the plant science sector, Mr Matthew Cossey.

    “The safety of the users and handlers of pesticides are the reason why Australia has robust regulatory and compliance systems designed to protect worker safety and dictate effective on-farm practices. It’s also why CropLife and our members invest significant resources in our StewardshipFirst® suite of free best-practice and stewardship programs.

    “The plant science industry invests billions of dollars in R&D every year which includes developing modern and safe formulations and packaging as well as comprehensive instructions on safe use best-practices for all products. Farmers, agriculture workers and product applicators should follow these top tips to manage risk when handling pesticides:

    Follow the label: Australia is also fortunate to have one of the world’s most highly regarded, technically competent, independent regulators in the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). The APVMA robustly and independently assesses all scientific information for human health and environmental safety and efficacy of pesticides before approving a product. It also provides strict conditions of use on the labels that are legally binding. The labels on pesticide products contain crucial information regarding proper handling, application, protective equipment requirements, and disposal. It is vital to thoroughly read and understand these instructions before using any pesticide.

    Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The appropriate use of PPE, such as impervious aprons, gloves, goggles and chemical proof protective footwear and respirators should always be worn in line with the product instructions.

    Store and Dispose of Pesticides Properly: Safely store pesticides in secure, designated areas away from children, animals, and food products. Follow local guidelines for pesticide disposal to prevent contamination of water sources and soil. CropLife’s not-for-profit stewardship program subsidiary, Agsafe, manages important national collection, recycling and disposal initiatives including the drumMUSTER® program which has safely disposed of and recycled nearly 42,000,000 chemical drums since its inception 25years ago. ChemClear® ensures expired, unwanted, or unknown pesticides are safely and properly disposed of. It also provides professional services for ensuring world’s best practice with the safe transport, storage and handling of pesticides.

    Best Practice Professional Services: Ensure that anyone involved in pesticide transport, storage, handling and application receive proper training and information. Stay up-to-date with the latest safety practices and techniques to minimise risks. Agsafe also provides best-practice training for anyone who stores, handles, transports or provides advice on agricultural chemicals on how to effectively manage and mitigate any possible risks.

    Mr Cossey concluded, “CropLife’s StewardshipFirst® initiative includes best-practice product application guides such as SprayBest and MyAgCHEMuse. These were specifically developed to help farmers, spray contractors and environmental land managers optimise the safe and effective use of crop protection products while protecting themselves, neighbours and the environment.”

  • There may be reasons for spray drift, but there’s no excuse for it

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    Australian farmers are the world’s best and the nation is lucky to have such dedicated and highly skilled people in agriculture, however some spray drift events
    over summer has demonstrated a situation in which the vast majority have been let down by the few.

    Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, Mr Matthew Cossey, said, “Australia’s agricultural sector is coming off the back of successive years of la nina conditions that have been responsible for record yields across much of Australia, but also floods and an influx of summer weeds.”

    Targeted, pre-plant knockdown application of crop protection products is a critical best management practice for farmers who practice conservation agriculture. With this comes a responsibility which farmers should keep front of mind as they prepare for the 2023 season. “There may be reasons why spray drift can occur, but there is absolutely no excuse for it. Spray drift not only leads to economic and productivity losses, but the bad practice of a few may also threaten access to crop protection products through prohibitive regulation for the many, and that would lead to significant negative impact on all farming. Millions of dollars are invested each year by industry to continually strengthen systems that support product stewardship through research and development, education, technology and training,” said Mr Cossey.

    CropLife’s StewardshipFirst initiative includes best-practice product application guides such as SprayBest and MyAgCHEMuse, which were specifically developed to help farmers, spray contractors and environmental land managers maximise the benefits of crop protection products without negatively impacting neighbours or the environment.

     

    Australia is also fortunate to have one of the world’s most highly regarded, technically competent, independent regulators in the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) at its helm. The APVMA robustly assesses all scientific information for human health and environmental safety and efficacy before approving a product. It also provides strict conditions of use that are legally binding.

    At the farm-level, applicators should always make sure to read and understand product labels before use and follow best-practice guidelines to anticipate weather conditions, monitor temperatures and keep records. Plans should remain dynamic as weather patterns can change unexpectedly and if they’re not certain, don’t spray and seek expert advice.

    Mr Cossey continued, “Importantly, if a suspected incident does occur, it’s crucial to report it to relevant state authorities in a timely fashion, to allow proper investigation and data collection. Likewise, it is the responsibility of those authorities to ensure that regular monitoring, compliance with the label directions and enforcement measures are being taken. “Actions to prevent spray drift must be sensible and informed by both evidence and sound science rather than public speculation. Swift action by authorities to investigate and act on reports of spray drift removes the risk of playing the blame game and instead turns everyone’s
    focus towards maintaining the industry’s well-earned clean and green reputation. “In order to continue to strive for sustainable agricultural practices while maintaining access to crucial technologies, it is everyone’s responsibility to play their part when it comes to staying on target,” concluded Mr Cossey.

    Visit www.stewardshipfirst.com.au for CropLife’s industry-led best practice application guides MyAgCHEMuse and SprayBEST for responsible application and spray drift management.

  • SA grain producers urged to take the ‘Spray Pledge’

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    South Australian grain producers are being urged to take the ‘Spray Pledge’ in a new industry-led initiative launched today by Grain Producers South Australia (GPSA) in partnership with CropLife to highlight the importance of applying crop protection products responsibly.  

    South Australian grain producers can take the ‘Responsible Spray Application Pledge’, to demonstrate they are using best practice application of pesticides by visiting spraypledge.com.au.    

    Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, the national peak industry organisation for the plant science sector, Mr Matthew Cossey, said, “Pesticides are crucial to modern integrated pest management methods. We’ve seen just how important they are to safe food production following a very wet start to the season. Fungicides, herbicides and insecticides enable farmers to preserve crop yield, protect soil health, reduce carbon emissions and improve food safety. 

    “CropLife’s members invest billions of dollars each year into the research and development of innovative products, which have improved application precision to reduce the risk of pesticide drift occurring. But ultimately the best and most important way to maintain farmer access to these crucial products is through best practice application. 

    “Partnerships like this are important reminders that agricultural sector are all on the same page when it comes to best practice farming and stopping spray drift. We can achieve this when combining industry-led best-practice initiatives with the leadership demonstrated by applicators in South Australia who are committed to being world best. 

    “I commend GPSA for their ongoing work in this area and CropLife Australia and our members are very pleased to be their partners in this important initiative,” concluded Mr Cossey. 

    To join the ‘Spray Pledge’, visit www.spraypledge.com.au  

    Visit www.stewardshipfirst.com.au for CropLife’s industry-led best practice application guides MyAgCHEMuse and SprayBEST for responsible application and spray drift management.  

  • Opportunity in the obsolete

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    The CropLife international network is leading the safe and responsible management of used pesticide containers. Since 2005, container recycling and management programs have been established in 60 countries. The network has diverted 1,052,500 tonnes of plastic from landfill.

    The nationally and globally recognised container management program in Australia is drumMUSTER, led by CropLife Australia’s wholly-owned subsidiary Agsafe. It started in 1998 with one drop-off location and now drumMUSTER has over 800 collection sites nationwide. Collected containers are processed in Australia and recycled into products which include wheelie bins, road signs, fence posts and bollards.

    Australia
    The program drumMUSTER has collected and disposed of more than 39 million plastic containers weighing 43,043 tonnes. 100% of the plastic collected has been recycled.

    South Africa
    In 2020 the container management program lead by CropLife South Africa collected 4,450 tonnes of plastic, which is 76% of all the plastic containers placed on the market. 100% of the plastic collected was recycled.

    Canada
    In 2020 the container management program CLEANFARMS INC. collected more than 5.5 million plastic containers. Over 95% of the plastic collected was recycled.

    France
    In 2020 the French program ADIVALOR collected 85,000 tonnes of plastic used in agriculture. Up to 90% of the plastic collected was recycled.

    Brazil
    The container management program CAMP LIMPIO has collected 544,078 tonnes of empty packages since 2002. In 2020 44,153 tonnes were collected and over 98% of the plastic collected was recycled.

     

    1,052,500 tonnes of plastic diverted from landfill.

     

    Read the full CropLinks edition.

  • StewardshipFirst supporting Australian farmers to be the world’s best

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    Industry sustainability frameworks are commonplace these days. Unfortunately, they often greenwash more than they provide a genuine path forward to sustainable food systems. The plant science industry recognises its responsibility and has long practiced whole-of-life-cycle product stewardship. Over the next few editions, we’re going to share just what it takes to make truly world leading stewardship through a whole-of-life-cycle approach.

    CropLife and its members make sure processes and practices are in place to ensure that each step of development, production and use of products is responsible and ethical. At its core, StewardshipFirst is a suite of industry-led stewardship initiatives, designed to protect the environment and support users like farmers, environmental land managers and home gardeners.

    Given the unusually wet start to the Australian growing season, farmers face increased threats of pests, weeds and disease. It’s critical to understand how to use pesticides during these times effectively, economically and responsibly.

    Follow the label It may seem obvious, but product labels provide clear user directions for good reason. Industry invests billions of dollars annually in research and development to make sure its products are used safely and effectively. Proper product handling, dosage and application maximises a product’s effectiveness and minimises the risk of exposing people, animals, other crops and native environment to the chemical unintentionally.

    Best practice is the best way

    Following best practice guidelines reduces pest resistance to crucial chemicals. CropLife Australia’s Resistance Management Strategies provide guidance to planning fungicide, herbicide and insecticide use to safeguard the longevity of product effectiveness and crop health. These strategies are informed by the best evidence each year to give farmers confidence that they are effectively managing pests safely and sustainably.

    Manage spray drift

    Careful thought and planning also minimises the risk of off-target chemical movement during product application. SprayBEST and MyAgCHEMuse are application guides that provide up to date advice and tools to help chemical users implement best practice methods to manage spray drift and its impact on neighbouring crops, beneficial insects and the environment. This also ensures that product is applied where needed and not wasted which provides greater economic returns.

    Using the most up-to-date resources in the StewardshipFirst suite makes sure farmers make the most of their land, their chemicals and their bottom dollar. Find out more about what stewardship looks like for the plant science sector in the next edition of CropLinks.

    To read more about the complete StewardshipFirst suite, visit StewardshipFirst.org.au

    DID YOU KNOW
    Product and technological advancement is an ongoing and reiterative process.

    The StewardshipFirst suite is developed with scientists and technical experts and are continuously reviewed to help producers apply best practice management in line with evolving evidence.

     

    Read the full CropLinks edition.

  • Supporting Australian farmers to be the world’s best through industry stewardship

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    Every product or item we interact with has – at some point in its life-cycle – had an impact, be that through its manufacturing, use pattern or as end-of-life waste.

    The plant science industry products of CropLife Australia’s members are no different. At each step of the product development or innovation process, from early research and development through to the disposal or discontinuation of products, the plant science industry recognises its responsibility and has acted through an industry stewardship program, StewardshipFirst.

    Industry Stewardship is a whole-of-life-cycle approach to product management. This means that CropLife and its members make sure processes and practices are in place to ensure that the development, production and use of the plant science industry’s products are responsible and ethical.

    StewardshipFirst is CropLife Australia’s suite of world leading stewardship initiatives, programs and resources that support the plant science industry’s commitment to the careful and responsible use of plant science products and innovations. At its core, StewardshipFirst is about helping to protect product users – like farmers, environmental land managers and home gardeners – and the environment.

    As the plant science industry continues to invest billions of dollars annually into the research and development of safe and effective crop protection and crop biotechnology innovations, so too is it investing in further stewardship initiatives to support Australian agriculture.

    These advancements allow farmers to access economically viable and environmentally sustainable crop protection solutions and new biotechnology products to improve their agricultural practices, all the while giving them confidence that the investments made not only contribute to the effectiveness of a product, but ensures its safety for the user and environment too.

    CropLife has recently revamped its StewardshipFirst website to allow farmers and other pesticide users easy access to these free-to-use stewardship programs.

  • Major new environmental stewardship initiative – bagMUSTER

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    CropLife Australia, in partnership with the Australian Seed Federation, has announced Australia’s first not-for-profit, whole-of-industry, genuine collection and recycling program for agricultural bags, bagMUSTER.

    Plastic packaging plays an essential role in Australia’s agricultural industry by protecting pesticide, seed and other ag products for transport, use and storage. Too often, this packaging is left as on farm waste or sent to landfill. bagMUSTER will ensure these agricultural bags are collected and processed in an environmentally sustainable way onshore, here in Australia.

    bagMUSTER has been designed by CropLife Australia following the extensive experience gained through the drumMUSTER and ChemClear™ programs, which have been in operation for almost 30 years through CropLife’s wholly owned stewardship organisation, Agsafe.

    bagMUSTER is being developed as a hybrid program, taking the best and most suitable components from drumMUSTER and ChemClear™ to deliver an industry-led not-for-profit and fit-for-purpose stewardship solution for agricultural pesticide, seed and other farm input product bags.

    Government partnerships will be crucial to ensure a viable and sustainable model is delivered for the benefit of Australia’s farmers when the pilot phase begins in 2022. Following the pilot phase, bagMUSTER will be delivered through an industry-funded not-for-profit model on a fee-for-service basis. This will mean minimised costs to farm supply chains.

    CropLife Australia and our members are continuously adopting and promoting ethical and responsible practices right from discovery and development of agricultural products through to their use and the final disposal of associated waste. bagMUSTER shows that the members of both CropLife and the Australian Seed Federation have a deep commitment when it comes to a genuine whole-of-life-cycle approach to industry stewardship and playing their part in protecting the environment.

  • Celebrating the importance of pollinators

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    Australian Pollinator Week starts today, raising awareness of the vital importance of pollinators for agriculture and the environment.

    Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, the national peak industry organisation for the plant science sector, Mr Matthew Cossey, said, “Most people don’t realise that Australia has a vast array of pollinators including birds, butterflies, bats, beetles, and reptiles. Even those pesky flies interrupting your weekend barbeque are crucial to pollination in our country. It’s essential to remember the wide breadth of pollinators that we’re fortunate to have in Australia and recognise their important contribution to biodiversity and our environment more broadly.”

    Mr Cossey, continued, “Of course, the introduced European honeybee is also crucial for pollinating a range of specific crops and we’re fortunate that Australia is home to one of the healthiest populations of European honey bees in the world. Farmers rely on them as pollinators for many of Australia’s food crops which is why it’s essential we all assist to keep their populations flourishing.

    “CropLife Australia’s Pollinator Protection Initiative is an award‑winning and globally recognised example of what the Australian plant science and agriculture industry is doing to play its part to assist farmers use of necessary crop protection products responsibly and in a manner that minimises risk to pollinators.”

    CropLife’s Pollinator Protection Initiative includes BeeConnected, a smart-phone app to help ensure the safety of bees during normal farming practices and The Seed Treatment Stewardship Strategy, a best management practice guide on the handling and planting of treated seed.

    Mr Cossey continued, “BeeConnected is just one example of the plant science industry’s commitment to protecting the significant role of Australia’s pollinators. The app connects farmers to nearby beekeepers allowing both parties to communicate about farming practices in relation to hives to ensure apiarists bees remain healthy.

    “Our Seed Treatment Stewardship Strategy, developed by Australian industry experts, outlines measures to reduce potential risks from the dust generated during handling and planting of seed and gives guidance to minimise unintended movement of pest and disease management products.

    “Australian Pollinator Week is a great way to raise awareness about pollinators and also check in with agricultural and home gardening practices to ensure we’re not inadvertently harming bees and our other important native pollinators.”

    Mr Cossey concluded, “CropLife and our members are deeply committed to providing the latest stewardship information and techniques to farmers, environmental land managers and beekeepers alike, to protect Australia’s pollinators.”

    Find out more about CropLife’s Pollinator Protection Initiative at stewardshipfirst.com.au

  • Latest pesticide resistance management advice released includes herbicide MoA changes

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    CropLife Australia’s Resistance Management Strategies for fungicides, herbicides and insecticides assist farmers, agronomists and environmental land managers to ensure important crop protection products remain viable and effective tools. The 2021-22 strategies are officially released today and are online now.

    Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, the national peak industry organisation for the plant science sector, Mr Matthew Cossey, said, “Crop pests, such as insects, weeds and diseases continue to be major threats to the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Australia’s farming sector. To ensure the longevity and viability of agricultural chemical products, appropriate strategies to minimise resistance must be implemented.

    “The strategies are developed as part of CropLife’s and our members’ commitment to make the most up-to-date resistance management advice freely available. They are reviewed and updated on an annual basis by scientific technical review committees in consultation with relevant national and international experts.

    “Importantly, the resistance management strategies do not replace product labels, they simply supplement them. Crop protection products must be handled and applied as specified on the registered product label or approved permit.

    “Following the label ensures user safety which is something farmers and other pesticide users need to have as top of mind. National Farm Safety Week is a good chance to be reminded about the safe use of on-farm chemicals.”

    This year’s update of CropLife Australia’s Resistance Management Strategies coincides with the launch of updated herbicide mode of action (MoA) classifications. The new classifications capture new active constituents and ensure the Australian MoA classification system is future proofed and remains globally relevant for farmers and agronomists

    Mr Cossey continued, “Farming is becoming increasingly global. Farmers, agronomists and academics around the world are now, more than ever, sharing and accessing information to assist them to grow crops, while managing sustainability issues.

    “It’s important then that the herbicide mode of action classification system in Australia is aligned with the global one.

    “The global classification system is based on numerical codes which provides infinite capacity to accommodate new herbicide modes of action coming to market. In Australia, we’ve been using letters – which clearly are not infinite.

    “Ultimately, this is about continuing best practice in modernising Australia’s farming sector and creating efficiencies for growers.”

    The new mode of action classification system will start to appear in market from early 2022 and be fully implemented by 2024.

    Mr Cossey concluded, “The plant science industry continues to invest billions of dollars into research and development of new, effective and innovative agricultural chemical products each year, allowing farmers to access economically viable and environmentally sustainable crop protection solutions.

    “This investment includes a commitment to the responsible and ethical management of industry products throughout their lifecycle.

    “Having an integrated pest management system and an effective resistance management strategy for chemical crop protection products is crucial to the long-term viability and profitability of Australian farming. I strongly encourage all farmers, spray applicators, agronomists and environmental land managers to use these strategies for important and current advice on managing resistance so crop protection products maintain their effectiveness and the life of these crucial farming tools is extended.”

    View the latest Resistance Management Strategies

    View the herbicide mode of action resources

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