Campaign targets safe use of pesticides
The EPA is engaging with peak industry bodies, landholders and agronomists to better understand the impacts, challenges and factors leading to an increase in pesticide spray drift events.
Some farmers in the state’s central west received a visit from our officers in March as part of a targeted education campaign aimed at reducing incidents of spray drift.
NSW EPA Executive Director of Regulatory Operations Carmen Dwyer said EPA officers are engaging with farmers to remind them of their obligations to prevent pesticide misuse.
“The impacts of spray-drift on the farming community and environment are devastating, costing millions and damaging crops and our natural environment,” Ms Dwyer said.
“We want to remind major cropping areas that they need to always be taking appropriate precautions to prevent potential impacts to their neighbour or community.
“Everyone that uses these pesticides have both a legal and moral obligation to stop the drift.
“Most spray drift incidents occur when the applicator shows little regard for the weather conditions or neighbouring crops and this needs to stop.”
In NSW, it is illegal to use pesticides in a way that could injure people or cause damage or harm to properties, plants and animals that are not the target pest species.
Those found to have wilfully or negligently caused damage, harm or injury through pesticide misuse can face fines of up to $120,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a company under the Pesticides Act 1999.