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ISSUE 41
What is the Future of Glyphosate in Australia? (Continued)
reduced levels of erosion, optimised the timeliness of sowing, reduced fuel bills, and facilitated improvements in soil carbon levels and general soil health. Study Tour – Key Learnings According to Dr Harm van Rees’ research, the intensification of crop production systems, together with an increasing use of herbicides, has a potential human and environmental cost. Over time, public awareness and concern about issues related to farm herbicide and pesticide use in general have increased, with the sustainability of current crop production systems now widely questioned. In some countries, glyphosate use is banned for home and public garden use and is severely restricted on farmland. There is no alternative broad-spectrum herbicide available in Europe, with paraquat already banned. In France, glyphosate use is restricted and is only available to no-till or minimum-till growers. Growers who apply pesticides must use a scale that measures the total amount of active ingredient applied, named the ‘Frequency of Treatments (ITF)’. If the total score reaches a certain level, no other pesticides can be applied in that year. According to Dr Harm van Rees, some growers are using robotics to control weeds, and several are experimenting with alternative methods of weed control, such as between-row mechanical soil disturbance, which is very difficult in paddocks with retained stubbles from previous crops. In Germany, there are 77 pesticides under review. While glyphosate is not on this list, Dr Harm van Rees’ research indicates that at a political level, Germany is not likely to support the continued use of glyphosate. According to Dr Harm van Rees, organic grain production in the EU has similar yields to minimum or no-till grown grain crops. However, non-organic growers have a more intensive rotation, while organic growers only grow one crop per year due to the need to plough and cultivate between
crops for weed control. Organic grain growers receive a premium price for their produce, along with additional subsidies, which means the income received is similar to that of non-organic growers. In Canada, glyphosate was re-registered following a full evaluation in 2017 by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), which concluded there was no risk or concern for human health or the environment when used according to the label. However, in February 2022, the first-ever intervention on a PMRA decision by the Federal Court of Appeal occurred when the Court ordered the PMRA to review its decision to re-register glyphosate. To date, that review has not been made public. According to Dr Harm van Rees, if glyphosate were to be banned, Canadian growers identified ‘crop competition’ as the most likely method to achieve some level of weed control (i.e., early seeding, seeding at high rates, using narrow row spacings, and growing competitive cultivars). Remote sensing for identifying weed patches, using rod weeders, weed wipers, and shielded sprayers were also mentioned, but the Canadian growers he visited did not see tillage as a solution to ‘farming without glyphosate’. The growers expressed concerns about impacts on soil health and diesel usage if tillage became their main weed control method. The growers also felt that substituting other herbicides for glyphosate is likely to increase the total amount of herbicide applied (due to the reduced efficacy of other herbicides in killing a broad spectrum of weeds). In Argentina, an increasing number of country towns are banning the use of all pesticides and artificial fertilisers for a prescribed distance from the town’s boundary. Unfortunately, there is no compensation for the landowner for loss of production. According to Dr Harm van Rees, over 90% of grain production in Argentina is conducted by means of no-till farming practices, with most farmers double cropping with winter crops (wheat, some
barley) and summer crops (soy, maize, and sunflower). Cover crops are grown between crops to protect the soil from erosion, reduce weed pressure, and retain soil nitrogen levels. Argentina is undertaking research into herbicide resistance, cover crops, crop competition, and other agronomic means to control weeds and is investing in an agronomy consulting network to develop, test, and share new technologies. Research into boom sprayer pesticide application, such as robotics, microwave and laser technology, and nano- encapsulation of herbicides, which release active ingredients slowly without resulting in detrimental impact on soil biota, is also underway. Where to From Here? The research study tour undertaken by Dr Harm van Rees and his colleague, Anne Jackman, has concluded that agricultural groups in Australia should look to establish a coordinated network of trials and demonstrations to communicate, identify, and demonstrate alternative practices to weed management, such as crop planting rates, better understanding of weed behaviour, strategic use of cover cropping for weed suppression, and alternative herbicide options. Summary While the ‘jury’ is still out on the future of glyphosate in Australia and abroad, there is no doubt that consumer expectations about the presence of glyphosate in our food chain and natural environments, along with strong media attention arising from legal action against Monsanto, are increasingly impacting public policy decisions about glyphosate. While alternative herbicides and adaptations to our farming systems may offer some assistance, if glyphosate usage is banned or restricted in Australia, or in markets which Australian farmers rely on, there will be many farmers across a vast array of industries exploring the strategic use of tillage to manage weed pressure.
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