Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this journal are those of individual writers, and not necesarily those of the VJ team. Neither RCI nor the VJ necessarily endorse products and services of advertisers or mentioned in the articles. Responsibility for copyright is taken by the Editor.
Custom Search
VILLAGE JOURNAL online
Issue Number: 251 :: March 2010 Select archived edition

down on the farm

From One Macadamia Farmer to Another

Mate- take a good look at the Stockholm Conventions latest report on Endosulfan, now I know what you are going to say to me- you can’t give this one up as it’s the only spray that we can use against our pests and you don’t want to take a dip in production whilst you are building up your ‘beneficial pests’ by not spraying and building up the health of your orchard -to help you fight this huge problem.

I know the pressure you are under and went through it ourselves many years ago, and yes mate I know there has been heaps of research into fighting this pest with other chemicals and yes- nothing has been good enough - but now they are trying out biological controls in integrated pest management-its early days but looks good. Yes, I know your peak body the AMS should have been on to it years ago when this came up – but they didn’t so we have to deal with it now.

But when is ‘enough’ enough for you? In this report it states “it is concluded that endosulfan is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and environmental effects, such that global action is warranted” It is now officially a POP or persistent organic pollutant. Mate that means it accumulates in your body and never leaves it!

“Its also been detected in remote areas, far away from intensive use areas, in particular, the Arctic and Antarctic has been confirmed…..the presence of endosulfan in air and biota from remote areas. Its long range environmental transport seems to be mostly related to volatilization following by atmospheric transfer; deposition at high altitude mountain areas has been also observed”. So it’s not about spray drift but how the chemical reacts in the atmosphere and moves around.

I know what you are saying, that I am asking you to give up your defense against the environment, I am asking you to work with it. It’s going to bring back a ‘balanced eco system’ in your orchard, those spray tanks cost big money compared to IPM, think of the money you are saving. Just like when we had the conversation about composting, look what has happened and now lots of farmers are putting back nutrition for the land from the land.

There is no going back with this chemical and like India we are the only two countries stupid enough to defend its commercial use. I like having you around, I think you have a great farm and creek, I like waving to you during the day, I like your family and even your dog, and your neighbors. But I don’t want to drink the water out of the creek whilst you are still spraying that stuff. Unless you stop using it – you and your family and those neighbors and the dog are all at risk.

No ones life is worth it, god- who would I talk too? Luv ya mate!

Other articles in this series:
Disclaimer
Site by Websmiths