Growsafe Environmental Protection 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the risk to pollinators such as bees from certain agrichemical applications?
- Insecticides — particularly those applied to flowering crops — can kill or disorient pollinators that visit treated plants (Correct answer)
- Pollinators are only at risk from herbicides that affect plant flowering
- Only neonicotinoid seed treatments pose any risk to bees
- Bees are not at risk from agrichemicals if applications are made at ground level only
Correct answer: Insecticides — particularly those applied to flowering crops — can kill or disorient pollinators that visit treated plants
Insecticides applied to or near flowering plants can be toxic to bees and other pollinators that forage on treated flowers or collect residue-laden pollen. This is a significant environmental and economic concern.
Question 2: What precaution should be taken to protect bees when applying insecticides to flowering crops?
- Apply in the late evening or early morning when bees are not foraging, and notify local beekeepers in advance (Correct answer)
- Apply only when bees are visible in the crop so they can fly away
- Apply at double the normal rate to ensure rapid breakdown before bees arrive
- Apply only in windy conditions to disperse the product quickly
Correct answer: Apply in the late evening or early morning when bees are not foraging, and notify local beekeepers in advance
Applying when bees are not actively foraging (early morning or late evening) and notifying local beekeepers allows them to manage their hives reduces the risk of bee mortality.
Question 3: What is 'runoff' in the context of agrichemical contamination?
- The flow of water across treated soil or plant surfaces carrying dissolved or suspended agrichemical into waterways (Correct answer)
- The evaporation of agrichemicals from treated surfaces
- The movement of agrichemicals into adjacent untreated soil
- The breakdown of agrichemicals in the soil after rainfall
Correct answer: The flow of water across treated soil or plant surfaces carrying dissolved or suspended agrichemical into waterways
Runoff occurs when rainfall or irrigation causes water to flow across treated surfaces, carrying agrichemicals into drains, streams, and other waterways.
Question 4: What should an agrichemical applicator do if they accidentally spray near a waterway and are concerned about contamination?
- Stop application, record the incident, contact the regional council, and follow emergency response procedures on the label (Correct answer)
- Continue working and assess the impact at the end of the day
- Apply a second product to neutralise the first product in the water
- Do nothing if the amount was small and no fish are visible
Correct answer: Stop application, record the incident, contact the regional council, and follow emergency response procedures on the label
An accidental near-waterway spray incident must be treated as an environmental emergency. Reporting to the regional council and following emergency response procedures on the label are required.
Question 5: What is 'bioaccumulation' and why is it relevant to agrichemical selection?
- The build-up of persistent chemicals in the tissue of organisms at increasing concentrations up the food chain (Correct answer)
- The accumulation of agrichemical in soil over successive applications
- The process by which plants absorb agrichemicals from soil over time
- The build-up of resistance to an agrichemical in target pest populations
Correct answer: The build-up of persistent chemicals in the tissue of organisms at increasing concentrations up the food chain
Bioaccumulation refers to the increasing concentration of persistent chemicals in the tissues of organisms at each level of the food chain (biomagnification). Products with high bioaccumulation potential can harm wildlife far removed from the application site.
Question 6: What environmental protection requirement must a spray operator comply with when operating near organic farms?
- Observe any required buffer zones and obtain the neighbour's agreement where drift could contaminate certified organic production (Correct answer)
- Organic farms have no special legal protection under NZ agrichemical law
- Only aerial application near organic farms requires consultation
- Organic farms need only 1-metre buffer zones regardless of the product being used
Correct answer: Observe any required buffer zones and obtain the neighbour's agreement where drift could contaminate certified organic production
Spray drift onto certified organic land can lead to loss of certification and legal liability. Buffer zones and consultation with organic neighbours are essential to prevent contamination.
Growsafe Environmental Protection 2
What is the risk to pollinators such as bees from certain agrichemical applications?