Shared Responsibility

It is essential that each party involved in the use of pesticides and fertilizers understands the requirements, constraints and concerns that the other parties involved in the process are operating under. This particularly applies to the farmer, their crop consultant or adviser and the aerial applicator. It can be called "a triangle of cooperation". Each has his or her own responsibilities.

The applicator is never making decisions in a vacuum - normally, the farmer or consultant is telling the applicator when application is required, at what rate, and what susceptibles (crop and environment) are present.

Responsibility and liability to act with due diligence should be shared across all appropriate sectors, particularly the farmer, the consultant (where used) and the applicator. (For AAAA's Chemical Application Policy, click here (PDF 201k))

The farmer should contact neighbours prior to each growing season and discuss intended applications, establish the location and nature of neighbours’ cropping systems, and the location of hazards and any adjacent sensitive areas.

The farmer should advise the aerial applicator of the location of neighbouring susceptible crops and livestock and provide a map of the treatment area showing hazards.

The aircraft operator should let the farmer know what conditions could cause damage to neighbouring crops and contamination of waterways and houses.

All parties should plan to spray the crop as soon as it becomes necessary, as late spraying will be less effective and reduce the options available. Application should be ordered in writing as far as possible in advance. The crop consultant should specify application rates according to label directions.