Chemical use during natural disasters

Landholders in drought-affected areas may face a range of issues related to the use of chemicals:

• Weed spraying and pest animal control may increase in a drought. The benefit of retaining soil moisture can come from controlling weeds. Controlling pest animals can reduce competition from pest animals feeding on drought-affected paddocks.
• Drought conditions may require control of different pests or diseases than those you usually manage. To minimise risks, only use chemicals according to the label instructions.
• There may be an increased need for chemicals used on livestock for diseases such as pinkeye. Always follow the label and ensure you don’t use chemicals past their expiry date.
• Avoid using lower rates of chemicals to save money. It may lead to chemical resistance and bigger problems later.
• Water quality matters when mixing chemicals. Find a clean water source wherever possible. Avoid dam water: the dirt may damage your spray nozzles or reduce the effectiveness of the chemical.
• Only mix as much chemical as you need for immediate use. Fit a non-return valve on hoses and pipes used to fill spray tanks with water. This is important to prevent siphoning of chemical from the tank into the water source if the supply is interrupted when the hose is submerged. Agitation should be enough to keep farm chemicals well mixed and suspended.
• Mixing sites require a personal washdown facility, with a ready supply of clean water and soap.

More information on how to manage these issues can be found at:

• Ground-based spraying
• Aerial spraying
• Animal health in a drought
• Reducing weed risk