Chemicals | Grains Guide Australia

Objective: Avoid chemical residues in grain that exceed acceptable limits. Minimise adverse impacts of chemical application in-crop and in storage

Meeting the Requirments

Comply with current label/permit and state regulations for all agricultural chemical use. Note that labels and permits are specific to a product and not always replaceable with a generic product with the same active ingredient for a given use.
Refer to relevant codes of practice or industry guidelines. If acting outside of these recommendations ensure a suitable alternative has been identified and documented.
If your contract defines a destination market, check whether it has more stringent maximum residue limits (MRLs). If it does, your chemical program may need to be adjusted so that these MRLs are not exceeded.
Monitor weather at the start, during and completion of spraying.
Accurately identify pests (insects, weeds or diseases).
Consider pest biology and thresholds in decisions.
Match product to crop type, crop growth stage and pest. Consider resistance management.
Match application method to suit mode of action and growth stage of crop and target pest.
Use spray application equipment and settings that are suited to the use. Ensure staff, advisors and contractors have suitable skills, experience and qualifications.
Ensure staff, advisors and contractors have suitable skills, experience and qualifications.
Report spray drift and pesticide incidents according to state requirements.

Store chemicals and dangerous goods in accordance with Australian standards, label requirements and safety data sheets. For example bunding, ventilation, signage, security and safety.
Maintain a chemical inventory for hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods.
Keep current safety data sheets (SDS) at the point of use, accessible to all staff.
When transporting and storing dangerous goods comply with the most current Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) code.
When transporting other chemicals, use safe practices and restrain as required.
Follow safe chemical handling practices such as using personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensuring load lifting weights are safe for the operator.
Notifying authorities as required in the event of a spill or exposure.

Other Practices to Consider in Your Grain Farming Enterprise

Monitoring weather at least at the start of each chemical load and at the end of the job.
Maximising efficacy and avoiding off-target movement or drift of chemicals. For example:

Applying chemicals under optimal weather conditions, using:
- Weather forecasting to plan spray application jobs.
- Tools to assess suitability of weather conditions for application (evaporation & droplet survival), assessed at the site.
- Assessment of inversion risk before and during spraying.
Referring to sensitive area maps before spraying. (eg BeeConnected; CottonMap)
Using suitable strategies to reduce drift, eg adjuvants, droplet sizes and equipment.
Calibrating chemical application equipment to ensure it meets desired standards. Testing outputs of all nozzles, speed sensors and flow meters.
Regularly checking nozzle patterns, nozzle flow along the boom and ground speed.
Agitating the spray tank sufficiently for the load to be uniformly mixed.

Considering adjuvants and tank mix partners in relation to water quality, crop safety, efficacy, spray drift potential and odour.
Avoiding holding mixed product in tanks for extended periods.
Ensuring thorough incorporation and mixing of chemicals applied to grain in storage.
Decontaminating equipment.
Using a suitably qualified advisor.
Developing a resistance management plan with your adviser to proactively identify and manage pesticide resistance risks.
Developing a pesticide use plan that includes application methods, drift risks and integrated pest management (IPM). Discussing this with your adviser before and during each season.
Notifying neighbours of your seasonal pesticide use plan and planned spray applications.
Using closed systems for mixing, transfer and application of pesticides.

Recording any additional information needed for a commodity vendor declaration, delivery document and/or quality assurance scheme.
Keeping records in an integrated farm management package with a farm map that identifies individual paddocks or management units, risk areas and hazards.
Recording crop growth stage and batch numbers of all chemicals used.
Obtaining all advisor recommendations in writing and keeping with records.

When using spray contractors, provide the spray contractor with:

Written spray orders (paper or electronic) that include weather conditions suitable for spraying.
Accurate farm maps, including sensitive areas and contact details.
Farm biosecurity action plan and pesticide use plan. Obtain from the spray contractor:
Copies of chemical users accreditation, necessary licence/s and certificates of currency for workers compensation and public liability insurance.
Written spray application records on completion of each spray job (paper or electronic).

Maintaining an up-to-date inventory of all stored chemicals.
Returning or disposing of chemical containers and unused chemicals through ChemClear, drumMUSTER or similar programs.
Considering and managing the risks when using chemical mixing sites and trailers.
Preparing an emergency response plan in case of a spill (spill kit, actions, notification and first aid).

Resources

Regulations and Codes

Labels, permits, SDS

Pesticide use and Resistance Management

Residues

Application

Sensitive area maps

Training