In recent months, Australia's chemical regulator has been working through chemical reviews as the consultation deadline for paraquat and diquat is looming.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) made decisions for the use of chlorthal dimethyl, diazonin and chlorpyrifos in recent weeks.
The Weekly Times highlighted the APVMA processes and referred to work by Grain Producers Australia to inform its submission to the herbicides paraquat and diquat.
GPA expressed concerns the proposed APVMA changes to use for the chemicals would place unnecessary pressure on farmers to rethink sustainable farming practices.
Grain Producers Australia southern region director Mark Schilling, who farms on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, said pulse crops have many benefits in cropping rotations, particularly as they fix nitrogen to the soil, which reduces reliance on artificial inputs.
“The real issue we face is that without being able to desiccate our pulses, we can’t capture our crops in that key window to evenly ripen for best yield outcomes and kill off ryegrass that is about to seed,” he said.
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