A Preliminary Analysis of the OliveCare® Agri-chemical Use Declaration Forms

02 Mar A Preliminary Analysis of the OliveCare® Agri-chemical Use Declaration Forms

Posted at 10:27h in OliveCare by

A preliminary analysis of the OliveCare® agri-chemical use declaration forms submitted to date reveals:

Part B: On farm agri-chemical use:

  1. Which of the following best describes your approach to management of pests and diseases?
  • 20% Practice conventional pest and disease management using approved agri-chemicals as required.
  • 70% Practice Integrated Pest & Disease Management (IPDM) focussing on improving soil and tree health with strategic and minimal use of approved agri-chemicals.
  • 10% are Organic certified / In conversion to organic certification, (meaning only agri-chemicals approved by the certifier can be used in the grove)
  1. Do you only apply agri-chemicals in your grove(s) that are approved for use on olives by ‘The Regulator’?
  • NA: 10% don’t use agri-chemicals
  • YES: 80%
  • NO: 10% operate as permitted under VIC Control of Use Regulations

37% of respondents nominated use of chemicals in olive groves – including:

  • Herbicides: 19% including Basta / Roundup / Advance
  • Pesticides: 22% including Samurai / Dimethoate / Admiral / Boron
  • Fungicides: 15% including Kocide / Amistar / Other fungicides registered for use on grapes
  1. Do you maintain an up-to-date file of APVMA Permits / Product Labels / Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all agri-chemicals used in your grove(s)?
  • NA: 10% don’t use agri-chemicals
  • YES: 83%
  • NO: 3% – Note: this is a legal requirement in all states
  1. Which of the following best describes your chemical inventory / spray diary record format in which to record all chemical use in your grove(s)?
  • 75% Use a conventional chemical inventory / spray diary book record.
  • 25% Use an office based computer chemical inventory / spray diary program.
  • 0% Use a smartphone APP for chemical inventory / spray diary
  1. Do you use certified contractors to apply agri-chemicals in your grove(s)?
  • NA: 10% don’t use agri-chemicals
  • YES: 10% Use certified contractors
  • NO: 80% (ie apply chemicals themselves)
  1. If ‘NO’ to Q6, are the persons nominated to apply agri-chemicals in your grove(s) trained, qualified and equipped to undertake this role?
  • NA: 10% don’t use agri-chemicals
  • YES: 80% of owner / managers apply chemicals themselves, however only 10% of operators nominated having ChemCert® or other formal qualification; the other 70% nominated training by chemical suppliers or operator experience
  1. Do you have a secure / lockable and physically separate area for safe storage of agri-chemicals in accordance with legislative requirements, pesticide label conditions of use and MSDS directions?
  • NA: 10% don’t use agri-chemicals
  • YES: 85% Use lock-up storage
  • NO: 5% don’t use a lock-up storage shed – Note: this is a legal requirement in all states.

Analysis:

Based on the declarations returned to date there appears to be a high level of compliance by OliveCare® Signatories with the use, documentation of use, and storage of agri-chemicals.

Ref: Agricultural chemical users’ manual: Guidelines and principles for responsible agricultural chemical use (QLD Government): https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/54738/agricultural-chemical-users-manual.pdf