fbpx
Print this page
Friday, 18 December 2020 05:55

Hastings Orchard fined for illegal agrichemical spray drift

Written by  Staff Reporters
An orchard was fined $14,000 for illegal spray drift in the Hastings District Court. An orchard was fined $14,000 for illegal spray drift in the Hastings District Court.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council says a $14,000 fine for an orchard that allowed an illegal agrichemical spray drift sends a strong signal to the horticulture sector that poor practice will not be tolerated.

 

Johnny Appleseed Holdings Ltd pleaded guilty to discharging agrichemicals into the air in breach of the Hawke's Bay Regional Resource Management Plan.

On 23 September 2019, two cyclists were riding along the path bordering an orchard on Otene Road in Hastings. A spray operator employed by Johnny Appleseed was spraying the orchard at the time.

The cyclists were covered in spray from the sprayer, wetting their hair despite the helmets they were wearing. There were no signs on the pathway that spraying was in progress.

Following a complaint, a Hawke's Bay Regional Council environmental officer attended the scene and observed two orchard sprayers operating in gusty wind.

Spray could be seen blowing over the path and Otene Road.

The agrichemicals the cyclists came into contact with were Calibra (a fertiliser), Folicur (a fungicide classified as hazardous), Mantrac (a fertiliser classified as hazardous) and Pristine (a fungicide classified as hazardous).

In the Hastings District Court, Johnny Appleseed pleaded guilty. Judge Dickey fined the company $14,000.

Hawke's Bay Regional Counci's group manager policy and regulation Katrina Brunton, says the large fine serves as a strong signal to orchardists that they must comply with the law.

"Sprays can be dangerous to public health and need to be used with great care and diligence. We will not tolerate poor practice from the horticulture sector, and will rigorously enforce the law to protect people and the environment," Brunton said.

Brunton says the fine should discourage others from not taking the proper precautions when using agrichemical spray.

"This is the fourth successful prosecution for the Regional Council this year. We are committed to pursuing illegal activities through the courts to enforce the rules that protect our community and our environment," she said.

Earlier this month, Farmers Transport Ltd and Dynes Transport Ltd pleaded guilty to discharging a milk solution contaminant into water and were fined a total of $37,000. Also this year, two other companies were fined $11,900 and $12,555 for illegal burning.

More like this

Burning OK

The Government has agreed to a temporary law change that will enable rural Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti landowners dealing with cyclone and flood debris to burn mixed waste so they can replant and return their land to productivity.

Govt 'naivety' cause of crisis

Johnny Appleseed is one of the largest apple growers in New Zealand; director Paul Paynter says the current worker shortage crisis in the sector can be sheeted home to Government naivety.

Dam good decision — Editorial

This month's decision by the Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) confirming its intention to invest in the Ruataniwha water storage scheme is a good one.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Bumper cherry exports in 2024

New Zealand cherry producer Southern Fruits International expects to send up to 340 tonnes of luxury cherries to the global…

Machinery & Products

Pollution into fertiliser

While the new government is sure to “tinker” with the previous administration’s emissions policy, a recent visit to New Zealand…

Smart money backs smart machine

Marlborough-based start-up SmartMachine claims its new machine is one of the most significant operational step changes for viticulture since the…

Robo packer hits a billion

New Zealand inventor and manufacturer Robotics Plus Limited’s fruit packing robot has hit a major milestone of one billion pieces…

Crop care business expands

Five years ago, agricultural machinery specialist Lemken acquired the Dutch company Steketee B.V and expanded its crop care product portfolio…