Grain Guide 2018

GRAIN GUIDE 2018 Use pesticides responsibly Dr Gerhard H Verdoorn, Griffon Poison Information Centre dr Verdoorn’s ten commandments of responsible pesticide use:  Plan your production season carefully and purchase only the pesticides and volumes that you will definitely need. If the agent offers anything at a cheap price and you purchase unnecessary products, they will only accumulate. 1 3 9 7 5 2 4 10 6 8  Buy only registered pesticides from recognised dealers, in other words agents associated with CropLife South Africa’s member companies, in order to ensure that they are of a good quality and legal. If a pesticide does not contain a registration number on the front panel of the label, it is illegal in South Africa. Such a registration number starts with a capital L, followed by four numbers (e.g. L1234) and Act No. 36 of 1947.  Store your pesticides in a proper storage place that has walls, a roof, ventilation, lighting and locking doors. Many mali­ cious poisonings occur with agricultural substances stolen from producers, and often it is the producer’s own animals that die from them.  Study the label of each agricultural substance carefully and apply it strictly according to the prescriptions. Regulation No. R1716 of 26 July 1992 warns that using an agricultural substance for any purpose or in any manner other than that indicated on the label is a criminal offence in terms of Act No. 36 of 1947.  Provide your farmworkers with basic training on the safe and responsible use of pesticides. This will lead to more effec­ tive and responsible use as well as better production. driver who will spray the pesticide as well). Protect yourself against possible splatter, mists and oral intake of pesticides and spray mixtures.  Calibrate the spraying equipment so that the correct dosage of the pesticide is applied. This includes checking spray heads to make sure that they are not worn or blocked. Spray pressure must also be correct, as must the engine revolutions of the tractor and the speed at which the tractor moves.  Pesticides must be applied only if the weather is favourable. If the southeaster is blowing or the Highveld thunder clouds are looming, or if it is so hot that everything just evaporates, stop applying the pesticide. The wind may blow the pesticide mists across to the neighbour’s potato fields and that might get you into trouble.  After pesticide containers have been emptied, they should be rinsed at least three times with one-third volume clean water, and the rinse water must be added to the spray tank. Containers should then be dried in the sun and preferably cut full of holes or cut up completely before being supplied to plastics recyclers. See www.avcasa.co.za for the list of recyclers.    Avoid malicious abuse of pesticides, for example poisoning animals that may cause damage. This is not only illegal and inhumane, but also creates a secondary poison risk for other animals. Poisoning has already seriously affected some species like vultures and the agricultural community is blamed for this.  Wear protective clothing, for example a face mask, a cloth cap, long sleeves, long trousers and gloves when mixing and ap­ plying pesticides (this applies to the tractor Contact the author at 082 446 8946 or nesher@tiscali.co.za . 94 Pest control