Spraying season has started on kiwifruit orchards and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council is encouraging people to take care around spraying areas and report any concerns.
The council's pollution prevention manager, Nick Zaman, says the council is responsible for ensuring all agrichemicals are used correctly and in an environmentally safe manner.
'Sprays are used to promote kiwifruit budding and the Bay of Plenty Regional air plan sets guidelines in place to ensure the process is carried out in the safest way possible,” says Nick.
'A lot of time and effort has been put into educating the kiwifruit industry about their responsibilities when spraying orchards, and along with improvements in technology, there should be no reason for errors.”
Orchardists must notify neighbours, place signage along the road verge and only spray in suitable wind conditions.
'If strong winds cause serious spray drift this can damage crops or plants that are not being targeted, and cause health problems like nausea, skin rashes, breathing problems and headaches, depending on the type of chemical used and its concentration.
'Last year yellow spray cones were introduced in the Te Puna area to warn road users that spray was occurring.
'The initiative was well received and other orchards in the region are now using cones.
'This year the usual Hydrogen Cyanamide (Hi-Cane) is being sprayed as well as preventative measures for Psa.
'With a lot of spray activity we hope that our efforts will still see a reduction in complaints,” says Nick.
The regional council takes a hard line on those who breach the air plan rules around spraying.
'I think we can educate people so far, but unfortunately if the message is not getting through then we will have no option but to use enforcement.”
This can include a formal written warning, abatement notice, instant fine or in serious cases a prosecution.
'We would like to see everyone abiding by the rules,” says Nick.
People should be wary of spray signs and yellow cones, and if anyone thinks they have been affected by a neighbour spraying they should contact the regional council's pollution hotline on 0800 884 883.”
8 comments
poisonous problem
Posted on 09-08-2011 21:32 | By the_fourth_estate
so once again the kiwifruit industry goes ahead and pollutes the air of the region with a chemical that should not be tolerated. To add insult to injury after introducing PSA by using infected pollen the same growers are set to spray massively to try and irradicate a disease that may not be susceptible to the proposed treatments at all. All this is subsidised by degredation of our health and wellbeing and damage to our gardens from spraydrift on windy days...oh yes despite all the PR spin about safety spraydrift still happens!
Congratulations Sunmedia
Posted on 10-08-2011 07:10 | By mr mizprint
Thank you Sunmedia. In previous years you have been guilty of mis-reporting the use of Hicane & it's affects. Hicane spraying coincides with the pine pollen season & many people sensitive to pollen blame their condition on Hicane poisioning. Classic symptoms of exposure to Hicane results in 'cyanimide flush' a slight reddening of the skin & an insensitivity to alcohol. Also Sunmedia has been guilty of mis-reporting Hicane as a hormone spray, it is not. Hicane induces budbreak by imitating a heavy frost & slightly burning fruiting canes (just like freezer burn). So it's nice to see more accurate reporting from you this season.
poison
Posted on 10-08-2011 08:34 | By lanzgirl
i hate this time of year! poison in the air i wish they had to use natural products the thought of our kids breathing this is terrible
SPRAYING CONSENTS
Posted on 10-08-2011 09:40 | By Hebegeebies
Surely with all these sprays in the air including Hi Cane, copper & other PSA sprays etc the Kiwifruit Industry or individual growers need an air pollution consent(s) from EBOP -where are they?
LoCool
Posted on 10-08-2011 11:52 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
After attending a 3 day EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) seminar in Wellington this is what I now know about the copper based sprays being applied to kiwifruit orchards every 4 weeks to combat the Psa virus. The studies were undertaken by Cornell University College of Agriculture and Sciences. Copper Sulphate does not degrade in soil and there are serious concerns about the cumulative effect on soil and waterways. Copper accumulation is practically irreversible. They have been banned completely in many countries. Copper sulfate is highly toxic to fish even at recommended rates of application Vineyard sprayers experienced liver disease after 3 years of exposure to copper sulfate solution in Bordeaux. Residual copper is an essential trace element that is strongly bio-accumulated. It is stored primarily in the liver, brain, heart, kidney, and muscles. It is readily absorbed through the skin and can produce a burning pain, as well as the other symptoms of poisoning resulting from ingestion. Skin contact may result in itching or eczema. In summary what is the cost of this PSa copper based spray campaign? We know what it will cost the Kiwifruit industry if they don't spray, we have heard that argument all before with HiCane. But what is it costing the whenua and those who have to live on it for the next thousand years? The most sobering of these science- based statistics is we are leaving this legacy of pointless poisoning for tomorrows tamariki and for Maori that is not tikanga or kaitiakitanga. So why do it?
@ Locool
Posted on 10-08-2011 13:41 | By mr mizprint
Interesting points about the use of copper. Copper is approved for use in organic applications. Either copper is not as bad as you say or organics is not as squeaky clean as many perceive?
bit late, no?
Posted on 10-08-2011 14:11 | By sojourner
Intensive Kiwifruit spraying began last month, not now. I guess it is good to be after warned, at least one might know why one feels unwell all the time, without actually being sick. This is not going away, and will not stop; too much has been invested into this industry, too much money that is. Maybe we should move to Christchurch, at least the air is clean there even though the Earth never stops shaking. And Mr.Mizprint: those symptoms are far more severe than you describe: burning red eyeballs, fiery red skin with white weals, severe headaches, and all of this lasting a very long time. I know, I saw my husband come home with that.
Killing Our People
Posted on 10-08-2011 14:35 | By bobsm8
We are not being told the truth ... The spray Hi Cane is 'killing our people'. How do I know this? By the amount of Western Bay folk who have cancer, and speaking with them at the lions cancer lodge in Hamilton for 2 months. 85%+ of the people receiving treatment lived in the 'Spray Zones' 65%+ of the people receiving treatment where our own 'Bay people. It was bloody sad and angered me that for the sake of the kiwifruit and the almighty dollar we have an undisclosed cancer epidemic in the Western Bay... What are we doing about it .. Nothing!! Yep it starts with a headache and ends in death. The same with the gorse sprays that they have re branded. I owned a fitness centre for a number of years in the far north and it was the same there, every sparay season the people would get sick. Cow cockies using my gym where crook as dogs... that was in the 90's.. Now look up north same thing high cancer rates and the people are not well .. young and old. I dont know how these people can sleep at night knowing fully what they are doing... Half truths and lies ..welcome to GodZone.. land of the ********.
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