Australian Association Issues 2,4D Use Reminder

By Jim.Robinson|October 22, 2009

This week, Cotton Australia issued a reminder to cotton farmers to exercise extreme caution when using 2,4D phenoxy herbicides to control weeds. According to the association, nearly 11 percent, or 16,000 hectares, of the nation’s cotton crop was damaged or destroyed by 2,4D drift last season. Damage was estimated at $9.14 million.

“Over 750 hectares of cotton was so badly affected it had to be ploughed out before picking. This is an unacceptable level of damage for what is an entirely preventable problem,” said Adam Kay, CEO of Cotton Australia.   “We are urging farmers in the coming months to be responsible neighbors and to think about the consequences of spraying 2,4D in poor weather conditions including high winds and as we saw last season, no wind during the night.”

“The 2,4D group of herbicides is valuable to all of agriculture, and it would be a shame for access to be restricted due to a few farmers not using best practice,” Kay continued.  

Cotton Australia is communicating directly with agricultural chemical resellers, individual growers and grains industry organizations to address the issue this season. More information is available at www.cottonaustralia.com.au or www.spraywisedecisions.com.au.

Cotton Australia also reported that Australian farmers will be planting about 160,000 to 200,000 hectares of the crop for the 2010 harvest. That is similar to the amount planted for 2009 harvest. Australia’s cotton production, which has been hampered by drought in recent years, doubled in 2009 from what had been a 25-year low.