Chemicals are necessary for full agricultural production

Press, 20 April 1979, Page 9

Chemicals are necessary for full agricultural production

The use of chemicals in New Zealand agriculture, despite what the organic or “natural foods” advocates may J hink, is vital to national production and the feeding of the world’s millions.

At present there are about 80 different herbicides and fungicides and about 40 insecticides in approved use in New Zealand. Without the use of these chemicals, the farming industry would be faced with an impossible job of achieving adequate production. It is estimated that, even with chemical application, losses to primary production each year from damage to pasture by insects amount to more than SSOM — mainly from grass grub, black beetle, porina and aphids. The dangers to humans and stock — and to bird and fish life — are minimal if the proper pro-

cautions are followed. The application of DDT on pastures has been banned and since 1973 there have been rigid controls on the application of 2,4,5-T in areas where the public and crops might be endangered. * The latest annual figures available (1974) show that only 143 persons were treated in public hospitals for poisoning by pesticides, fertilisers and plant foods. Many of these cases were of children who gained access to the chemicals not properly stored. The size of the local industry has reached the point where there are now at Lost 11 manufacturing firms in the country employing about 600 people. Aerial spraying alone accounts for the application of about 40 million litres of insecticides and weedicides each year.