Growsafe Environmental Protection 2

Question 1

What is the risk to pollinators such as bees from certain agrichemical applications?

Accepted Answer

Insecticides — particularly those applied to flowering crops — can kill or disorient pollinators that visit treated plants

Answer

Pollinators are only at risk from herbicides that affect plant flowering

Answer

Only neonicotinoid seed treatments pose any risk to bees

Answer

Bees are not at risk from agrichemicals if applications are made at ground level only

Question 2

What precaution should be taken to protect bees when applying insecticides to flowering crops?

Accepted Answer

Apply in the late evening or early morning when bees are not foraging, and notify local beekeepers in advance

Answer

Apply only when bees are visible in the crop so they can fly away

Answer

Apply at double the normal rate to ensure rapid breakdown before bees arrive

Answer

Apply only in windy conditions to disperse the product quickly

Question 3

What is 'runoff' in the context of agrichemical contamination?

Accepted Answer

The flow of water across treated soil or plant surfaces carrying dissolved or suspended agrichemical into waterways

Answer

The evaporation of agrichemicals from treated surfaces

Answer

The movement of agrichemicals into adjacent untreated soil

Answer

The breakdown of agrichemicals in the soil after rainfall

Question 4

What should an agrichemical applicator do if they accidentally spray near a waterway and are concerned about contamination?

Accepted Answer

Stop application, record the incident, contact the regional council, and follow emergency response procedures on the label

Answer

Continue working and assess the impact at the end of the day

Answer

Apply a second product to neutralise the first product in the water

Answer

Do nothing if the amount was small and no fish are visible

Question 5

What is 'bioaccumulation' and why is it relevant to agrichemical selection?

Accepted Answer

The build-up of persistent chemicals in the tissue of organisms at increasing concentrations up the food chain

Answer

The accumulation of agrichemical in soil over successive applications

Answer

The process by which plants absorb agrichemicals from soil over time

Answer

The build-up of resistance to an agrichemical in target pest populations

Question 6

What environmental protection requirement must a spray operator comply with when operating near organic farms?

Accepted Answer

Observe any required buffer zones and obtain the neighbour's agreement where drift could contaminate certified organic production

Answer

Organic farms have no special legal protection under NZ agrichemical law

Answer

Only aerial application near organic farms requires consultation

Answer

Organic farms need only 1-metre buffer zones regardless of the product being used