Frankness Needed In Use Of Chemicals

Press, Volume C, Issue 29524, 27 May 1961, Page 6

Frankness Needed In Use Of Chemicals

Farmers will approve of steps being taken by the Government on the recommendation of the Agricultural Chemicals Board to ensure that the use of chemicals on farms does not endanger the good name and selling potential of New Zealand farm produce in overseas markets. Even if the recent trouble with beef in the United States has not been the cause of this action, it at least has highlighted the urgent need for the safeguards now envisaged. According to a statement made this week by the Minister of Agriculture. Mr Hayman, the regulations will lay down procedures for the use of D.D.T. fertilisers which have been advocated since the use of the material for control of grass grub and porina. was first recommended. The regulations will apparently provide that not more than one-third of a farm should be dressed at a time, that the insecticide and super should be applied only to closely-grazed pasture and livestock should be removed from the treated fields until such time as the residues from D.D.T. have disappeared.

A point of some importance here is. however, that there has been rather less than full frankness in public in the past on the possible dangers of the misuse of D.D.T, and other insecticides. There has been a tendency in i the past to play down the , possible dangers from residues. It can now be assumed that a new era is dawning • in which the farmer will be t left in no doubt and as 99 I per cent, of farmers are reasonable individuals not wishing to jeopardise the : markets of themselves or their neighbours it can be expected that they will ■ adjust their practices to meet ■ the new situation. While regulations of this • sort will be difficult to police it is certain that frankness i on these issues will pay off. Selenium is another material the use of which has . been a great boon to stock health on sheep farms but . which also has inherent I dangers because of its high toxicity. Its use is under conI trol of veterinarians and prudent veterinary officers . have insisted that trials ; should first be held on a . farm to determine whether its use is beneficial and it is naturally deficient before permitting its widespread use.