Sugarcane farmers question APVMA paraquat ban
Sugarcane farmers have two years to stop using controversial herbicide paraquat, despite the chemical regulator allowing its use on most boardacre crops.
Australian sugarcane farmers are questioning a decision by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to ban the use of the herbicide paraquat on their crop. The APVMA reviewed paraquat's use patterns in June and found it posed an unacceptable risk to birds foraging in cane-growing areas. Sugarcane growers have been given two years to phase out its use entirely before it is no longer registered for use on the crop.
Canegrowers chief executive Dan Galligan expressed concern that the ban could lead to worse environmental outcomes while growers search for a suitable alternative. Paraquat is used early in planting to kill weeds quickly without lingering in the soil. However, sugarcane farmers dispute the APVMA's conclusion that there is no link between using paraquat and increased bird mortality.
They argue that managing weed growth without the herbicide will be difficult and potentially more expensive or environmentally damaging. The APVMA stated that different crops could receive different regulatory outcomes even when grown in similar regions.
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