MEDIA RELEASE

29 November 2011: Diuron window more like a door: CANEGROWERS says but non-use period perverse

CANEGROWERS says it will ramp up its ongoing campaign taking government to task over the proposed non-use period of important agrichem diuron, and has today spoken about its plans to lobby strongly over the coming days and months to have the temporary measure contained in the interim permit, overturned.

The APVMA announced yesterday that while it would allow continued use of diuron at 1.8 kg per hectare – a win for CANEGROWERS who lobbied for continued use of the important management tool according to best management - it will put in place a temporary hold on use of the product, starting 5 December and running through to 31 March 2012.

“They are calling this non-use period a ‘window’, but it’s more like a door slamming in the face of growers who use diuron carefully according to good farming practices for good farming outcomes,” says Matt Kealley, CANEGROWERS Environment Manager.

“Diuron is central to farming productivity and the blanket non-use period – without regard to a best practice approach – will cause weeds to get out of hand; and the resulting production losses can be significant.

“Make no mistake, we are not about to stand by and watch such a perverse outcome for growers, which will cost many millions of dollars of lost productivity across Australia to our famers, go through to the keeper.

CANEGROWERS says the approach is highly restrictive, and the sugarcane industry, along with the banana, tea and coffee industry uses the weed management tool according to a risk based approach.

“Good farming practice is about basing decisions on what is happening not what might happen,” says Kealley.

CANEGROWERS will be teaming with farmers from across Australia to fight this head-on, taking the message to government and the APVMA that they must look at the science and reverse the inflexible position on windows. CANEGROWERS say that they will work with APVMA on a more considered approach, with the aim of achieving better outcomes for farmers and the local communities they are an integral part of.


Media comment: Matt Kealley | CANEGROWERS Environment Manager | 0407 657 779
                                Ron Mullins | CANEGROWERS Acting CEO | 0417790156
More information: Suzi Moore | CANEGROWERS Communications | 0427 641 239 or 07 3864 6444