EPA inspects North Coast farms for pesticide practices

NSW Environment Protection Authority

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is undertaking a series of pesticide compliance campaigns in the North Coast region throughout summer to ensure farmers are complying with environmental laws.

EPA Director of Operations Steve Orr said EPA offcers will be inspecting intensive horticultural farms in the Woolgoolga region near Coffs Harbour and further north near Ballina to check for appropriate pesticide use, storage, recordkeeping and wastewater management.

“Our inspections coincide with the summer growing season to ensure that crop- growers are always using pesticides responsibly to protect the environment and local waterways,” Mr Orr said.

“This campaign is building on previous work done with the intensive horticulture industry to reduce the potential impacts of pesticides from these activities.

“Since 2021, we have carried out more than 40 inspections of horticultural farms in the Woolgoolga region, resulting in 15 penalty notices, 7 offcial cautions, 8 formal warnings and 14 advisory letters issued for a range of water pollution and pesticide offences.

“We are following up with some of those farms we had previously visited to ensure that operators have taken adequate steps to improve their practices.

“This includes requirements for some growers to upgrade their wastewater capture and irrigation systems as well as their pesticide storage areas.

“We are also using intelligence to identify farms that we have not previously visited, so that a wider range of growers are reminded of their obligations under the Pesticides Act.

“We will continue to work closely with councils, industry and grower associations to increase awareness of pesticide regulations and how to spray safely this summer.”

EPA offcers will provide resources and hear from local farmers about their pesticide use, as well as checking pesticide storage areas, water management and record-keeping practices. For more information about preventing pesticide misuse in horticultural farms, see: https://www. epa.nsw.gov.au/yourenvironment/pesticides/ preventing-pesticidemisuse/campaignsinvestigations/ intensive-horticultureand-protected-cropping

To fnd out more about the EPA’s compliance campaigns in the Woolgoolga region, see: https://www. epa.nsw.gov.au/yourenvironment/pesticides/ preventing-pesticidemisuse/campaignsinvestigations/ woolgoolga-complianceinspections

Gross value of agricultural production to fall in 2023–24

The value of Australian agriculture production is forecast to fall as increasing global supply and drier conditions impact farmers.

Acting Executive Director of ABARES

David Galeano said the forecast for total agricultural production values in 2023–24 is $78 billion.

This is $16 billion lower than estimated production values for 2022–23 but would still be the third highest result on record.

“The gross value of production is forecast to fall in 2023–24 as drier conditions impact record-high crop production levels seen in

2022–23,” Mr Galeano said.

“In total, Australian crop production values are expected to fall by $12 billion in 2023–24. Livestock production values are also forecast to decline refecting recent price falls.

“Falling production values and incomes are also linked to declining global prices that are refective of higher global supply.

“The past 3 years agriculture has seen record-breaking crop production because of higher rainfall.

“As we enter the El Niño period, we expect to see the national crop production fall from these record highs.

“Crop prospects for winter crops over spring have been mixed, and planting of summer crops in 2023–24 is expected to fall, refecting below-average rainfall and low soil moisture levels during the early planting window.

“Drier conditions and lower prices mean average broadacre farm cash incomes are forecast to fall strongly in 2023–24.

“However, the past 3 years of high incomes have allowed broadacre farms to build up liquid assets, which should help cushion the forecast downturn.”

The Agricultural Commodities Report – December can be read here: https://www. agriculture.gov.au/ abares/research-topics/ agricultural-outlook

The Australian Crop Report – December can be read here: https:// www.agriculture.gov.au/ abares/research-topics/ agricultural-outlook/ australian-crop-report