Chemical Trespass (Spray Drift)

Chemical trespass occurs where agricultural and veterinary chemicals are used or disposed of in a manner that causes:

  • Actual or potential contamination of land, animals or plants outside the target area
  • Actual or potential harm to human health and safety (within or outside the target area)
  • Actual or potential environmental harm (within or outside the target area)

Examples of common chemical trespass incidents include:

  • Spray drift or contaminated run-off causing contamination or damage to crops and pastures
  • Spray drift causing livestock contamination
  • Spray drift, contaminated run-off or unacceptable disposal of unused or waste chemical causing environmental contamination
  • Spray drift impacting on human health, eg nausea, headache, respiratory irritation, skin irritation, eye irritation.

Chemical Trespass Coordinator

PIRSA's Rural Chemicals Program employs a Chemical Trespass Coordinator to manage and coordinate chemical trespass (spray drift) inquiries and complaints on behalf of various government agencies including the Environment Protection Authority, Department of Health and Local Government.

Phone: 08 8226 0528

Email: PIRSA.ChemicalTrespass@saugov.sa.gov.au

When reporting chemical trespass incidents, please try to provide as much detail as possible, including:

  • Incident date and time
  • Incident location
  • Name and contact details of chemical user
  • How chemical was applied (plane, airblast sprayer, etc)
  • Weather conditions
  • Chemical involved
  • Effect from incident (risk to produce/health/environment)

Refer to the Rural Chemical Program fact sheet Guidelines for Reporting Chemical Trespass Incidents (.PDF) for further information.

Fact Sheets and Information

PIRSA

Rural Chemicals Program has a range of fact sheets and information about reducing or avoiding chemical trespass.

How to avoid spray drift (.PDF)
Describes methods of minimising drift from spray applications with a focus on avoiding off-target crop damage from volatile herbicides.

Working together to minimise spray drift (.PDF)
Encourages communication between chemical users and neighbouring landholders to minimise spray drift problems.

Reducing Harm to Honey Bees from Pesticides (.PDF)
This fact sheet, produced in conjunction with Limestone Coast ChemCare Committee, outlines practices that beekeepers, pesticide applicators and crop growers can take to reduce the risk of managed bees being harmed by pesticides, particularly insecticides.

External sites

Spray Drift Management - Principles, Strategies and Supporting Information (external site)
This CSIRO publication focuses on managing the risks associated with chemical use, in particular the off-target drift. It is essential reading for landowners, spray contractors and operators, growers, government agencies and consultants. It contains useful information about the design and principles of vegetative barriers.

GRDC Spray Drift Fact Sheet (external site)
This fact sheet provides general information about avoiding spray drift, and some technical details about equipment selection.

Bureau of Meteorology Links

Weather conditions - particularly wind speed, wind direction, temperature and relative humidity - play a key role in reducing the potential for chemical trespass. Recommended weather conditions for spraying are:

  • consistent light winds (3-15 km/hr) blowing away from sensitive areas
  • mild temperatures and high relative humidity

Avoid spraying under still and inversion conditions, as the distance and direction of spray drift can be unpredictable.

Make use of available weather data to plan your spray operations. The Bureau of Meteorology provides weather forecasts and recent weather observations for South Australia. These will give a guide to the prevailing weather conditions for your region. Click on the following links to be taken to the Bureau of Meteorology website.

SA Weather Forecasts (external site)

SA Weather Observations (external site)

In addition to external weather data, you should assess and record weather conditions at the site of application prior to spraying, preferably using a hand-held weather-recording instrument (eg KestrelŪ brand (external site)).

Aquaculture

Fish, including yabbies and marron, are susceptible to many agricultural chemicals - especially insecticides. Before spraying, determine whether there are any aquaculture enterprises nearby that may be at risk if chemical trespass occurs. The PIRSA Aquaculture Public Register indicates the location of marine-based aquaculture lease and licence sites.

2,4-D Products – Label Changes and Reducing Drift

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has introduced certain restrictions on the use of high volatile ester formulations of 2,4-D (ethyl, butyl and iso-butyl esters). Further information is available from the APVMA website: www.apvma.gov.au (external site)

A PIRSA Rural Chemicals Program fact sheet about 2,4-D (.PDF) provides information on these label changes, as well as an understanding of how the label changes aim to help users manage spray drift.