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New Legislation say’s its time to change

From February 2007, Pesticide Notification regulations in New South Wales, Australia require that Contractors, Councils & Government authorities must notify schools, preschools, kindergartens, childcare centres, hospitals, community health centres, nursing homes, hospices & those susceptible to pesticides, prior to application of herbicides and pesticides in their vicinity.

From 1st Sept 2005 - 1999 Pesticides Act - It is illegal for a contractor to spray pesticides including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides unless qualified to do so.

Surveys have found that up to 33% of the population consider that they have some sensitivity to chemicals, even when those chemicals are applied correctly. -  Meggs et al, (1996), ‘Prevalence and nature of allergy and chemical sensitivity in a general population’ in Archives of Environmental Health, 51:275-282

Jeremy's Wrap Up

The past few months have been an exciting time for Weedtechnics both here in Australia and overseas in America. We exported our first Agricultural unit for exhibition at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA in February. The response was so positive, that in May, we carried out a road show of live demonstrations in 10 cities across California, to full audiences. As you read this I am back in the States training the proud owners of their new Weedtechnics units!

Closer to home in Australia we have been busy with the acquisition of Greensteam Australia which sees us positioned as the leading supplier of non-toxic weed control solutions. The Greensteam is a revolutionary, easily portable, gas powered unit; ideal for urban weed control it will be available for sale in early 2010.

We have also secured the non chemical weed control tenders for the City of Fremantle and City of Nedlands in WA, as well as winning the tenders for Leichhardt and Marrickville Council in NSW. Our team is also expanding, with Jonathan Grey joining us to drive the West Australian business for Weedtechnics.

Over the next 3 months Weedtechnics has 2 main areas of focus;
Firstly, the launch of our new Urban SH8002VH and the Agricultural SS9003VH models into both the Australian and American market. The new units are more competitively priced and see many improvements in operational performance such as;
- A new 12 volt self charging system - saving money with no need for generators or inverters for power.
- An efficient new boiler system increasing output temperatures which improve overall weed control.
- The ability to run various applicator heads. These are easily interchanged via the new quick fit system.

The units also come with a range of options from a base machine, to a complete trailer mounted machine including skid, water tank, low water cut off switch and high pressure and inlet hose reels. The Urban unit is ideal for most council weed control situations and offers an entry level machine for small organic farms. The Agricultural machines are larger and ideal for weed control in row crops, orchards and organic farming situations.

Secondly, we are focusing on the growth of our contract services here in Australia. We are continually improving the services we offer to our clients, enabling them to meet their social, environmental and economic objectives. With both portable and truck-mounted units and new Minor Planet GPS Tracking system, which is fitted to all vehicles, our operating efficiency has improved substantially. We can pinpoint the location of our teams at any time and provide our clients with detailed reports showing which areas have been treated via our email reporting system.

We have also taken the first steps in reducing our carbon footprint by only using GREEN GAS to fuel our new portable Greensteam units and anticipate Weedtechnics will operate carbon neutrally by 2011. This approach is typically more expensive, however we take a holistic approach and aim to enhance our own and our client’s environmental and sustainability policies.

I will close by saying that recently the overuse and perhaps misuse of chemicals in our urban environment has raised community concern and has been well documented in the media. We therefore believe the time is right for alternative and integrated weed management strategies to be adopted. This has been proved by the increased interest we have received from both the private and commercial sector.

The introduction of legislation banning the use of chemicals in the urban environment overseas has meant that technological advancements have progressed rapidly…watch this space…

Latest updates

Marrickville Council Chemical Reduction Program
"Marrickville Council always looks to ways that minimise impacts on the environment. The recent commission of Weedtechnics to undertake non-chemical weed treatment of sensitive areas around the Marrickville Local Government Area is seen as another step forward towards achieving these goals." - David Mathieson Civil Works Co-ordinator.

Marrickville Council are leading the way in environmentally friendly weed control strategies by implementing their sensitive area weed control program. This program reduces their herbicide use as well as reducing the general public’s exposure to chemicals.

The Council achieved this by identifying areas within the municipality where chemical weed control was considered to be a concern, high pedestrian traffic areas such as the vibrant shopping strips of Enmore and Marrickville Road, as well as areas outlined in the 2007 NSW Pesticide Notification Act, kindergartens, play centres, aged care facilities and hospitals.

As a result of this desire to reduce herbicides, Marrickville Council’s recent weed control tender called for responses with non-chemical treatment of these identified sensitive areas. Weedtechnics were awarded this part of the tender and successfully completed the first treatment of all the Shopping Strips using a combination of the Weedtechnics Urban vehicle mounted unit and the Portable GreenSteam units (despite almost non stop rain!).

By treating these areas non-chemically, Marrickville Council has benefited two-fold. They have received unprompted positive responses from the general public and they have been able to eliminate the need for public notification prior to spraying. Even the bad weather didn’t call for delay or the need to reschedule!

Positive Organic Weed Control Trials by the University of New England
A recent study carried out by the University of New England, June 2008, using the Weedtechnics Steamwand has shown “that steam-weeding can be both effective and economically viable compared with standard weed control methods”, Paul Kristiansen, Organic Research Group, UNE.

The study conducted, trialled the Steamwand, hand weeding and glyphosate applications with very favourable results. The study found that the Steamwand was “50-80%” cheaper than hand weeding and when “Compared with glyphosate, the level of weed control was similar”and only“14% more expensive to apply” in an organic weed control situation,

The report also highlighted that in an organic farming situation, “steam-weeding is more cost effective compared with herbicide use due to the extra income gained through organic premiums for certified produce.” The report went on to conclude that, “Tractor applications of steam show promise for rapid control of weeds under conditions that are unsuitable for tillage and where further stimulation of weed growth is not wanted.”
See Full Report

Increased Herbicide Costs
The price has gone "absolutely crazy" recently… It has tripled from about $US4 a kilogram a year ago to about $US13 a kilogram today. Australian Business “China clean-up boosts chemical costs” Callick, Rowan, March 08, 2008.

“Farmers who paid $85 for 20-litre drums of Roundup CT in March this year, are now forking out $195 for that same quantity” SOURCE: Extract from report and analysis in The Land NSW, December 6, 2007.

The Headlines say it’s time to make the change!

“Denmark Bans Glyphosate” - politiken.dk

“Gardeners who use pesticides 'have higher Parkinson's risk' ”, - Telegraph

“Glyphosate Resistant Weeds” – Dr. Brian Sindel, University of New England, Australia

“In the UK alone, £28 Million GBR is budgeted to eradicate chemicals including herbicides from drinking water”  “Sustainable use of groundwater. Problems and threats in the European communities,” (November 1991, Netherlands)