Ministry concern over chemicals

Press, 26 June 1989, Page 3

Ministry concern over chemicals

PA Wellington Most New Zealand farms are entirely dependent on chemicals, says the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries national organics spokesman, Mr Kim Stevenson. Most farmers did not think twice about applying superphosphate, an anthelmintic drench, or a herbicide. “We are using a hell of a lot of chemicals,” he said. “Some of it is not necessary.” Farmers believed if they did not use chemicals the whole farming system would collapse, and in many cases the complete removal of chemicals would result in a big drop in productivity, an increase in pests, weeds and parasites, and a large drop in profit. “Such a scenario is a sad reflection of the degree to which New Zealand farming has become almost entirely dependent on chemicals to run a viable farming system,” said Mr Stevenson. The Ministry was developing technology which could reduce chemical inputs in all types of farming and maintain similar levels of profitability and production, he said.

A Lincoln College report for the Ministry for the Environment, on pesticide uses in New Zealand, had said ealier in the year that pesticide use in New Zealand was too high and consumers could be eating food with high levels of pesticide residue.