From the Land
Supplies of farm chemicals are running tight as crop producers battle to control a spring flush of winter crop pests and diseases.
Aerial spraying operators, who have pulled out all stops containing an unprecedented epidemic of stripe rust, have now joined the fight against the latest outbreaks of aphids in canola, ascochyta fungal disease in chickpeas, and a growing mice plague.
Landmark’s State agricultural chemicals manager, Dave Wood, Dubbo, said while pesticide stocks were tight, suppliers had been able to meet demand by moving product to areas of greatest need.
Some stocks had been moved to hot spots in the north from southern regions where the demand for chemical had been tempered by drier conditions.
“As one area has started up and another eased off, we have just been moving stock from one area of the State to another to keep things going,†he said.
“In some areas farmers haven’t had to spray twice, but if they had, supplies would have been extremely tight.â€
Mr Wood said some chemicals for aphid control had been particularly hard to source.
“Products like pirimicarb and aphidex, which are the popular ones because they are softer on beneficial bugs, are extremely tight,†he said.
“To date we have been able to source enough to keep our clients on the go, but we are still chasing stock all the time.â€