Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #agriculturalchemicals, aggregated by home.social.
Invasive fire ants return to organic farms not treated for 14 months
By Brandon Long
Treatment on export-certified organic farms was paused in August 2025 after genetically modified ingredients were discovered in the baits used to treat nests.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-17/fire-ants-reinfest-untreated-organic-farms/107274380
Senate inquiry will scrutinse APVMA decision to allow paraquat use
By Kallee Buchanan and Kate Forrester
Independent Senator David Pocock has used support from the Greens and the Coalition to launch an inquiry into the regulator's decision to allow the continued use of the controversial weedkiller.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2026-09-09/senate-to-scrutinise-apvma-paraquat-decision/107132358
#AgriculturalChemicals #ParkinsonsDisease #GrainGrowing #ChemicalControl #Health #KalleeBuchanan #KateForrester
Exposure to pesticides at work could raise risk of ALS, study finds
By Fiona Broom
Two people in Australia are diagnosed with ALS each day. Researchers say working with pesticides could bring a 70 per cent greater risk of developing the fatal disease.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-06/pesticide-exposure-linked-motor-neurone-disease/106998230
#AgriculturalChemicals #MotorNeuronedisease #DiseasesandDisorders #FionaBroom
VERMONT BANS PARAQUAT HERBICIDE AMID PARKINSON'S CONCERNS
Vermont banned paraquat herbicide yesterday due to Parkinson's disease concerns. Farmers and residents in Vermont will no longer be able to buy or use it.
#VermontBan, #ParaquatHerbicide, #ParkinsonsDisease, #HealthNews, #AgriculturalChemicals
https://newsletter.tf/vermont-bans-paraquat-herbicide-parkinsons-concerns/
Vermont has become the first US state to ban paraquat. This ban means farmers can no longer use this weed killer, which has been linked to Parkinson's disease.
#VermontBan, #ParaquatHerbicide, #ParkinsonsDisease, #HealthNews, #AgriculturalChemicals
https://newsletter.tf/vermont-bans-paraquat-herbicide-parkinsons-concerns/
Farmers say fall armyworm 'identical to a bushfire' as it wipes out crops within days
By Brandon Long
The invasive insect causes millions of dollars in losses across Australia's summer crop-growing regions.
#LeafEatingInsects #AgriculturalCrops #PestManagement #PestsHorticulture #AgriculturalChemicals #PestControl #Grain #BrandonLong
Farmers say fall armyworm 'identical to a bushfire' as it wipes out crops within days
By Brandon Long
The invasive insect causes millions of dollars in losses across Australia's summer crop-growing regions.
#LeafEatingInsects #AgriculturalCrops #PestManagement #PestsHorticulture #AgriculturalChemicals #PestControl #Grain #BrandonLong
Europe approves use of controversial weedkiller glyphosate for another decade
By Angus Verley and Fiona Broom
The European Commission has approved the use of the controversial herbicide for another decade, with a spokesperson for Australian growers backing the decision as good news for exports.
#AgriculturalChemicals #BroadLeafWeeds #PestsDiseasesandControlMethods #PestManagement #ChemicalControl #HealthPolicy #ChemicalIndustry #FoodSafety #Gardening #AngusVerley #FionaBroom
After decimating crops across the world, the fall armyworm has moved into new Australian territory Growers urged to look out for insect classified as a serious threat to Australia's grain, rice, cotton, horticultural and sugar industries and can feed on up to 350 plant species. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-10-13/first-nsw-sighting-of-fall-armyworm/12760368 #AgriculturalChemicals #AgriculturalCrops #PestManagement #PestControl #Cotton #Sugar #Wheat #Pests #Rice
How this sheep farmer turned his back on overgrazing and chemicals to find a 'natural' way to counteract drought For five generations, Charles Massy's family rode on the sheep's back and nearly destroyed their land in the process. But going back to nature changed his property and turbocharged a "revolution". https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-28/charlie-massy-regenerative-farming-movement/12438352 #SustainableandAlternativeFarming #AgriculturalChemicals #HumanInterest #Livestock #Rural
'Algorithms Facebook uses to detect human faces' used in farming to help save Great Barrier Reef Farmers, herbicides and Artificial Intelligence are not a likely match, but AI that targets weeds may be a game changer for reef catchment farmers. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-09-17/sugar-cane-robot-sprayer-save-great-barrier-reef/12668952 #RobotsandArtificialIntelligence #Pests,DiseasesandControlMethods #AgriculturalMachinery #AgriculturalChemicals #AgriculturalCrops #Horticulture
Study finds worrying levels of nutrients in Coffs waterways, fertilisers blamed Researchers call for better management of on-farm fertiliser use after finding almost two-thirds of creeks on the New South Wales Coffs Coast have nutrient levels above recommended guidelines. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-28/dire-warnings-from-coffs-harbour-waterways-study/12600704 #AgriculturalChemicals #EnvironmentalImpact #AcademicResearch #WaterManagement #WaterPollution
Pesticide run-off affects the health of tiger prawns and oysters, study finds A widely used agricultural chemical is found to affect the health and flesh quality of tiger prawns and Sydney rock oysters. The fishing industry is calling for a nationwide ban of the pesticide, which has been banned in Europe since 2018. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-08-25/imidacloprid-pesticiderun-off-impact-on-prawns-oysters-health/12580762 #Pests,DiseasesandControlMethods #AgriculturalChemicals
Tree shaking replaces pesticides in fight against macadamia disease A University of Queensland scientist is recommending a literal shake-up for Australia's macadamia industry, after finding a chemical-free solution to controlling a devastating disease that causes nuts to drop prematurely. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-08-25/macadamia-disease-husk-spot-tree-shaker/12588842 #SustainableandAlternativeFarming #AgriculturalChemicals #AgriculturalCrops #Agribusiness #NutCrops #Rural
New program launched to certify farms that meet water quality standards in reef catchments Queensland fruit and vegetable growers have two years left to meet targets on achieving quality parameters for water quality, or the State Government may regulate farm practices. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-21/great-barrier-reef-horticulture-water-quality-program-launched/12579644 #AgriculturalChemicals #GovernmentandPolitics #AgriculturalPolicy #AgriculturalCrops #GreatBarrierReef #Rural
Deliberately poisoned water wipes out $100k worth of canola on Victorian farm Victoria Police are on the hunt for an offender who contaminated a farmer's boom spray water supply with a chemical, causing an estimated $100,000 in damage. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-08-19/poisoned-canola-after-boom-spray-is-tampered-with/12572984 #AgriculturalChemicals #Law,CrimeandJustice #AgriculturalCrops #Police
1080 poison a necessary evil that is making dingoes bigger, research shows The battle over 1080 has intensified with the release of two studies showing how critical the poison is in the fight to save native species — and how it makes dingoes bigger. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-08-06/inhumane-1080-baits-cause-dingos-to-get-bigger/12526930 #AgriculturalChemicals #EnvironmentalImpact #AgriculturalPolicy #Rural
What is ammonium nitrate, the chemical that exploded in Beirut? For an industrial ammonium nitrate disaster to occur, a lot needs to go wrong. Tragically, this seems to have been the case in Beirut, writes Gabriel da Silva. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-06/what-is-ammonium-nitrate-chemical-explosion-beirut/12529426 #ChemicalsandPharmaceuticals #DisastersandAccidents #AgriculturalChemicals #ScienceandTechnology #Horticulture
Beirut blast raises fresh concern about Newcastle's much larger ammonium nitrate stockpile Orica's ammonium nitrate plant stores up to four times the amount that was in the Beirut explosion, but the company says it's safe and highly regulated. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-05/beirut-blast-raises-concern-about-newcastle-ammonium-nitrate/12527546 #Business,EconomicsandFinance #DisastersandAccidents #AgriculturalChemicals #Accidents-Other #Accidents #Industry #Rural
'How do I know it's real?': Hopes new honey library will prove quality and provenance Australian scientists are collecting thousands of honey samples from across the country for a new national 'honey library' to help establish provenance of the product. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-07-31/hopes-new-honey-library-will-fast-track-industry-research/12502684 #Business,EconomicsandFinance #Quarantine-Agricultural #AgriculturalMarketing #AgriculturalChemicals #ScienceandTechnology
Hope lies with radishes and chicken manure for sceptical dairy farmer Regenerative pasture improvements help boost dairy farmers' bottom line, giving one producer on the Sunshine Coast "hope for the first time". https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-07-27/dairy-pasture-profit-chemical-biological/12483270 #AgriculturalChemicals #AgriculturalCrops #DairyProduction #Agribusiness #Livestock #Rural
Queensland Government hires contractor to 'covertly harvest' data from farmers in reef catchment A Queensland cane industry lobby group says it is alarmed the State Government wants to "data siphon" information about Great Barrier Reef catchment farmers. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-07-21/qld-govt-accused-by-farmers-of-covert-data-harvest/12473746 #GovernmentandPolitics #AgriculturalChemicals #EnvironmentalImpact #AgriculturalPolicy #AgriculturalCrops #GreatBarrierReef
Fall armyworm detection in western Queensland sparks pasture concerns The fall armyworm pest species has been detected in outback Queensland, and it may be impossible to eradicate. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-16/pest-insect-fall-armyworm-found-longreach/12456880 #Pests,DiseasesandControlMethods #AgriculturalChemicals #Pests-Horticulture #AgriculturalCrops #PestManagement #Horticulture #PestControl #Pests
AgQuip field days cancelled, exhibitors to lose millions One of Australia's biggest agricultural events has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-07-14/agquip-field-days-cancelled-due-to-covid19/12452368 #SustainableandAlternativeFarming #AgriculturalMachinery #AgriculturalChemicals #AgriculturalPrices #WomenInAgriculture #AgriculturalShows #AgriculturalCrops #RuralTourism #Agribusiness #COVID-19 #Drought
Bayer to settle Roundup cancer cases with $15.9b payout Global pharmaceutical giant Bayer will spend up to $US10.9 billion ($15.87b) to settle thousands of lawsuits alleging the company's weedkiller, Roundup, causes cancer. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-06-25/bayer-to-settle-roundup-lawsuits-with-16n-payout/12389978 #ChemicalsandPharmaceuticals #AgriculturalChemicals #Law,CrimeandJustice #CourtsandTrials #Cancer
Canola exports at risk unless farmers phase out essential and legal chemical European buyers have ordered Australian farmers to stop using the insecticide omethoate on their crops if they want to keep selling into the market. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-20/canola-exports-to-europe-at-risk-over-insecticide-omethoate/12373484 #Pests,DiseasesandControlMethods #GeneticallyModifiedFood #AgriculturalChemicals #AgriculturalPolicy #Pests-Horticulture #AgriculturalCrops
Sustainable fertiliser on the cards as Yara aims to decarbonise food production One of the world's biggest fertiliser manufacturers aims to decouple the link between food production and carbon emissions through a landmark trial in Western Australia. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-06-19/pilbara-yara-engie-trial-aims-make-sustainable-fertiliser-green/12340826 #ElectricityEnergyandUtilities #AgriculturalChemicals #AgriculturalPrices #FoodandBeverage #CropHarvesting #GreenhouseGas
Australian grain crops primed for a bounce back Well-timed rain will see Australian grain production boosted this season, leaving many growers smiling. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-06-10/australian-grain-crops-primed-for-bounce-back/12336290 #AgriculturalChemicals #AgriculturalPrices #CropHarvesting #Oilseeds #Wheat #Grain
Pandemic exposes vulnerability of agricultural supply chain Australia's agricultural supply chains are widely regarded as being fine-tuned and efficient, but the pandemic has shown how quickly things can unravel. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-07/agricultural-supply-chains-during-pandemic/12319704 #InternationalAidandTrade #GovernmentandPolitics #EpidemicsandPandemics #AgriculturalMarketing #AgriculturalChemicals #AgriculturalMachinery #AgriculturalPolicy #AgriculturalCrops #COVID-19
Flame retardant success could spell changes for stay-and-defend plans during fires A new formula for a flame retardant is being hailed a success after trials showed the substance was able to stay on crops for weeks without degrading. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-27/flame-retardant-trial-success/12276996 #ReliefandAidOrganisations #AgriculturalChemicals #AgriculturalCrops #LandManagement #Fertilisers #Bushfire #Erosion #Fires #Grain #Wheat
'Once you see it you can't unsee it': Farmers fear spray drift damaging trees A group of farmers in central west NSW says drifting farm chemicals have damaged established trees but the mayor blames drought. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-25/spray-drift-allegedly-defoliating-trees-near-narromine/12266466 #AgriculturalChemicals #AgriculturalCrops #Agriculture #Drought
Rain boosts confidence in NSW, farm prices soar Widespread autumn rainfall across most of New South Wales has brought a sense of optimism to rural communities as machinery sales surge, property prices rocket and livestock prices soar. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-05-12/money-in-mud-as-nsw-farmers-rejoice-in-rain/12234096 #AgriculturalMachinery #AgriculturalChemicals #AgriculturalInsurance #AgriculturalMarketing #AgriculturalSubsidies #AgriculturalPrices #AgriculturalCrops
Equipment failure dumps tonnes of nitrous oxide 'laughing gas' into the atmosphere A well-known Australian chemical company releases more than 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air at a Central Queensland chemical plant. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-12/mass-release-of-nitrous-oxide-gas-from-industrial-plant/12234794 #AgriculturalChemicals #EmissionsTrading #GreenhouseGas
The killer crop disease that changed everything on this Queensland farm The Templeton family, fourth-generation farmers who almost lost everything to a pest called pythium, turn to extreme cleaning — with the help of a $250,000 washing machine from Italy — and are recognised for their efforts. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-09/mysterious-disease-on-queensland-ginger-farm/12211950 #Pests,DiseasesandControlMethods #AgriculturalChemicals #DiseaseControlMethods #ScienceandTechnology
Farmers set to appeal high-profile land clearing case Graziers are set to appeal the finding that they used herbicide to remove critically endangered grasslands on a farm partly owned by MP Angus Taylor. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-05-01/farmers-to-appeal-taylor-grassland-finding/12206728 #EndangeredandProtectedSpecies #EnvironmentalManagement #AgriculturalChemicals #EnvironmentalPolicy #EnvironmentalImpact #EcologicalControl #SheepProduction #PestManagement #NativeSpecies