Plague locusts, wingless grasshoppers and livestock residues Photo courtesy APLC Australian plague locust swarm over cereal crop Locust numbers can periodically The most effective means of controlling build up and pose a significant threat these pests is to spray the nymph to grain, horticultural crops and stages, either by air or ground rig, with pastures. Wingless and small plague an appropriate insecticide. However, grasshoppers can also cause crop and the chemicals used have the potential pasture damage in some areas. to cause residues in grazing livestock – residues that can cause problems for Locusts can migrate hundreds of our export industry. kilometres. Depending on the nature and scale of locust activity, individual Control authorities use licensed ground landholders, state and territory and aerial operators to mix and apply government authorities and the control chemicals. Landholders must Australian Plague Locust Commission apply the same level of professional care. (APLC) may all be engaged in the control of locusts. Plague locusts, wingless grasshoppers and livestock residues National Vendor Declaration How do livestock become contaminated? It is essential that the National Vendor Declaration (NVD) is completed correctly, Livestock can be exposed to plague locust including the relevant question which relates and wingless grasshopper control to withholding periods (WHP) for fodder. chemicals by: The WHP question for fodder within the • direct over-spraying of livestock respective NVDs can be found as follows; • grazing of pastures or crops that have for Cattle – Question 7, Sheep and Lambs – been sprayed Question 5, Goats – Question 4, Bobby Calves – Question 3 and EU Cattle – • feeding fodder (hay, grain) that has been Question 6. The NVD is underpinned by state sprayed and territory legislation. Penalties exist for • grazing or feeding on crops or produce providing false or misleading information. affected by off-target movement of Producers who have observed export chemicals. intervals are encouraged to make a statement to this effect, in answer to the Additional What you should do Information section of the declaration. It is essential that producers obtain WHP intervals for a chemical product can information about the chemicals which may be found on the approved label. Producers be applied to control locusts, regardless of who require additional information about whether they are controlling the locusts WHPs should contact their local Department themselves or control is being undertaken of Agriculture/Primary Industries. by an outside authority. A threat to our export markets In 2013-14, Australia exported 1.29 million tonnes swt of beef, worth $7.79 billion, 237,000 tonnes swt of lamb, worth $1.7 billion and 186,000 tonnes swt of mutton, worth $870 million. To retain consumer confidence and to protect existing trade to export markets, Australia must guarantee the integrity of its products and their freedom from unacceptable chemical residues. Photo courtesy APLC Adult Australian plague locust Key points Chemicals registered to control locusts and/or • Find out when spraying is likely to occur in your area. wingless grasshoppers • Check what chemicals the control Chemicals registered for the control of authorities are using and observe locusts and/or wingless grasshoppers relevant Export Intervals (EI) (see tables). contain different active ingredients and are marketed under a range of brand names. • To prevent unacceptable residues in It is important for landholders and livestock at the time of sale, determine contractors applying insecticides to read what chemicals are best suited to your the product label, confirm that the product enterprise when undertaking your own is registered for the intended purpose and control spraying. to identify the active ingredient in the • Read and follow the label directions or product that is to be used. Use this permit conditions. Always: information and the tables of EIs (Export – use only in the situations or crops listed Intervals)to check that use of the chemical on the label or permit is appropriate for your enterprise. – use the correct treatment rate; – observe the harvest and grazing Chemicals applied to neighbouring land withholding periods (WHP) or Determine the active ingredient in any alternative export intervals set out in sprays applied on or adjacent to your land the product label or Australian by control authorities or neighbours. Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Assess the likelihood of spray drift onto Authority (APVMA) permit (see details your pastures or feed crops. If they have with the tables for further information been exposed to drift then manage them on meeting export market requirements). as if they have been treated intentionally. • Confirm that all relevant Export Intervals Organophosphate and carbamate (EIs) have been met before selling stock insecticides – use chemicals from these for slaughter – especially if meat or other groups wherever possible as they break products may be destined for an down relatively quickly. Active ingredients overseas market (see the tables). in these groups include fenitrothion, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, maldison (malathion) • Keep records of any spraying activity. and carbaryl. Fenitrothion and maldison • Consult with neighbours about spraying pose the least risk of producing (both yours and theirs) – particularly near unacceptable residues in livestock, property boundaries. provided the required EI is observed. • Fill in the National Vendor Declaration Fipronil is also registered for Australian (NVD) correctly. Penalties apply for plague locust, migratory locust, spur providing false or misleading information throated locust and wingless grasshopper on the NVD. control. It persists on pasture and in animals for longer than fenitrothion but is • If unsure, seek further advice from applied at very low rates. A very small chemical manufacturers, chemical volume is required to make up a spray. suppliers and state or territory departments of agriculture, primary industries. Errors in mixing or application rates Label withholding periods could cause residues in livestock even if and recommended the recommended EI is observed. Carefully read the label directions for export intervals: use before mixing or applying any agricultural chemical product. Harvesting of treated crops, including animal feeds: Although fipronil is registered for use in • Observe the label WHP for all treated some of our major export markets, crops and pasture, including those that residues in meat could put at risk the may have been subjected to spray drift. export meat trade due to differences in importing countries’ residue standards. • If crop or pasture is to be cut for stockfeed, observe the Export Animal Synthetic pyrethroid insecticides Feed Interval (EAFI) recommended in the Alpha-cypermethrin is registered for control tables or, alternatively, do not sell stock of wingless grasshoppers in pasture that have been fed cut material for situations. Alpha-cypermethrin can persist export slaughter until the relevant ESI on pastures for relatively long periods. has been observed. Observe the appropriate Export Interval for livestock exposed to feeds treated with Grazing treated areas (livestock for this chemical. domestic consumption only): • Observe the grazing WHP or withhold Other chemicals from slaughter period that is specified The APVMA may consider industry on the registered product label. requests for permits for the off-label use of other insecticides if there are no registered • Where possible avoid spraying areas in alternatives available. Any permits will which livestock are grazing. include appropriate WHP directions and • If overspraying of livestock grazing trade risk management advice. pasture is unavoidable, withhold them from slaughter until either the EGI indicated in the tables is met or they are moved to clean feed and the ESI is met. Grazing (livestock for export markets): • The label WHP for grazing applies to stock slaughtered for the domestic market. Some export markets apply different standards including a nil tolerance for some chemicals. To meet these standards check that Export Intervals (EIs) are available before selecting or applying chemicals and ensure that one or other of the EIs shown in the tables is observed before stock are sold or slaughtered. Photo courtesy APLC Adult plague locust swarm Recommended export intervals (EI) for organophosphate or carbamate products registered for locust and/or wingless grasshopper control are: Chemical Export Animal Feed Export Slaughter Export Grazing Interval EAFI(1) Interval ESI(2) Interval EGI(3) Fenitrothion 14 days EGI applies 14 days Chlorpyrifos (EC) Not required 56 days 56 days Diazinon 14 days 14 days 28 days Carbaryl 7 days EGI applies 7 days Maldison Label or APVMA Label or APVMA Label or APVMA Permit WHP applies Permit WHP applies Permit WHP applies 1 day 1 day 1 day Recommended export intervals (EI) for fipronil products registered for locust and/or wingless grasshopper control are (1.25 grams active ingredient per hectare): Chemical Export Animal Feed Export Slaughter Export Grazing Interval Interval Interval Fipronil ULV 14 days 14 days 21 days Fipronil – 200 SC 14 days 14 days 21 days Recommended export intervals for alpha-cypermethrin products registered only for wingless grasshopper control are: Chemical Export Animal Feed Export Slaughter Export Grazing Interval Interval Interval Alpha-cypermethrin No data available 42 days 56 days Recommended export