Farmer spraying glyphosate onto property.

Last week a farmer was spraying his crops in a field which is essentially between 5 to 10 meters from my front door if that. He was using a beast of a tractor from what I could make out anyway as this was at night time. The field is full of yellow tall flowers which i assume are rapeseed. I have a wife and a 2 year old son. My wife's elderly parents also stay semi routinely with us. Can someone explain who has expertise on the subject how dangerous this is? Me and my wife eat as much organic as we can due to previous health issues and I don't want my young son to be exposed to all that stuff either, also her parents are quite old and i understand that glyphosate is a cartician.

How many times a year do they spray the chemicals on the crops? He was going full blast at it at night almost coming onto the property with the nozzles of the tractor. Will i have to expect more sprays and chemicals year round or is it a one off shot? How long till its safe to open windows and dry clothes again so residue doesn't come inside or come on the clothes I don't know how easily it can be spread across with winds and stuff. Someone was saying they now have special nozzles on their tractors to stop residue from spreading but i don't know about that. the way he was doing it looked like it was being sprayed out all over the place. i thought there's buffer zones with this **** to protect neighbors? is the glyphosate diluted to where its not harmful only if you're literally eating the crops its sprayed on farmers on yt where saying its 90 per cent water 10 per cent chemicals in spray?

JamBur

Speak to your neighbour, he is probably reasonable

J.O. Farmer

Has any grass or plants on your property died.

If not it's unlikely any glycophoshate made it onto your property and so there should be no risk to the health of you and your family.

Also have you spoken to the farmer, if not he could have been spraying something other than glycophosphate, perhaps even an organic fertiliser.

mickdw

You are living in the countryside. Are you new to it?

There will be farmer spraying crops.

Spraying at that level is carried out by qualified persons only. That means the person doing it is aware of the legal requirements around what is allowed / Not allowed as well as best practice etc.

The land was sold a while ago. I never paid much attention to it before or noticed anything growing on the other side, used to be cows out there and there's a little bit of a ditch that separates property from field. Sure enough looks like big rapeseed crops now. I also haven't a clue who the farmer is. Worse case scenario can I expect much of this or is that it sprayed for the year?

looksee

Why are you assuming it is glycophosphate? Why would he be spraying it on a growing crop? If you are going to live in a rural area you can expect spraying - whatever about the desirability of it. I have family with issues relating to spraying. They moved to an area that is rural but not surrounded by fields. The only person locally who has occasion to spray glycophosphate rings them and lets them know when spraying is likely to happen.

Jb1989

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120454261#Comment_120454261

Unlike the local person you mentioned, this spraying person did not ring the op to say when and what he was spraying. So it's fair for a non farmer to assume its glyphosate as oppose to sprayable fertileser, which is a relatively new system.

I cant answer you op, as I'm not up on the tillage farming, but you've asked in a nice way what to expect, and I hope you get genuine answers, with out other farmers jumping down your throat.

Nobody can be sure what this person is doing anyway, so tracking down the landuser is the only sure way of finding out.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120454313#Comment_120454313

Thanks I honestly had no clue about this stuff, havent always lived rurally I was a little shocked how close he was to my property with the tractor. Just looking out for our health.

hopeso

Maybe a photo of the field he was spraying might help us establish what he was spraying, and what he was likely to be spraying on it.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120454431#Comment_120454431

90 per cent its rape seed crops. Tall yellow flowers, sprayed at night from a tractor with the big wings could see the stuff beltering out the nozzle taps. My house might as well of been in the field he was that close. How much more do these lads need to spray for now. I dont know this faarmer as land has been sold.

Packrat

Unlikely to have been glyphosate I'd think. Glyphosate is only sprayed on some plant you wish to kill immediately.

It kills by dessication ie: drying the plant out (it is basically a salt type product) so, yes it's sometimes used on cereals right before harvest in order to get a drier grain. Also occasionally on silage if the field is being reseeded afterwards and it causes the dry matter% of the silage to be higher.

Personally i disagree strongly with using it on food for people or animals but there you go, - it's not illegal and some people do it.

It would kill all grass along the margins of the field and if it blew into your site, - possibly your lawn plants or grass.

As others said, try to find out who the farmer is and ask him politely what he sprays and if it could affect your health or property. That will mark his card without causing an argument and he might give your side a miss next time.

More likely to have been some other product anyway, either sprayable seaweed fertilizer or an anti-fungal or something.

Say my name

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058291560/farmer-spraying-glyphosate-onto-property

Go onto Twitter and ask the question of SiobhWalsh1 and GrowersGrain and include #ArableApril and you'll get an answer. Maybe even from the horse's mouth as well.

Another time personally I'd pass you off with a mineral foliar spray of an answer. But it is your property and it is on the wind right beside you and you have a right to be concerned.

Ask the question, especially if you don't know the operator involved. You will get an answer there.

roosterman71

First thing I'll say is the thread title is pretty damning and a serious allegation, which it turns out is most likely horseshit.

Unlikly to be glyphosphate. If it's oilseed, most likely now it's fertiliser. It's blooming now and soon will cover over and stop weeds growing well. Could also be some fung/herb/insect icide. Previous poster suggests getting onto twitter which is a good shout. And no harm either to ask the farmer the next time they are in the field. Explain your concern and don't whatever ya do go ranting about him/her killing you and your family with sprays. Just ask what it is, how often is it happening and if possible could he notify you in advance so ya can shut windows, etc.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120455203#Comment_120455203

Pretty poorly worded title I agree.

I was just concerned for myself and my family.Nothing personal agaisnt anyone I of course know none of this is malclious. I will certainily follow peoples sound advice on here.

Del2005

Next time you see someone in the field go to the gate and get their attention. Don't enter the field until they stop, they'll either come to you or signal for you to come to them. Then explain that you live next to the field and ask what they are spraying.

There most likely will be more spraying and as farming is 100% weather dependent it could be at anytime of the day or night.

Edit... Depending on the size and layout of the field they may not be able to stop until they finish the field. So wait till the are on the last few rows.

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120455488#Comment_120455488

worth noting he may have been spraying later at night or evening as conditions were better (ie no wind). Sprays are expensive. Last thing he wants is it blowing away from the target area.

K.G.

Best advice i can give you is ,its normal pratice and dont worry about it

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120454192#Comment_120454192

That just means that the farmer attended a mandatory course about spraying, irrelevant if the wind is blowing a particular direction

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120454376#Comment_120454376

Farmers are famous for proudly not giving a hoot about the concerns of others , think they have a god given right to do what they like on their own land even it’s detrimental to the health of others, pesticides are toxic substances and will be outright banned in a few years

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456109#Comment_120456109

The whole point of spraying is to get it on the crop not all over the country.

As another poster stated spraying late in the evening or at night is because the wind speed has died down completely.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456115#Comment_120456115

Some will be some will not. However you be glad to know we are starting to spray fertilizer now.

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456156#Comment_120456156

No opposition to spreading fertiliser here , not some green ideology I assure you but farmers have little regard for their own health, nevermind anyone else’s , pesticides are noxious in terms of fumes

Reggie.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456168#Comment_120456168

You do realise glyphosate is a herbicide not a pesticide

chrisd2019

Why do you not talk directly to the land owner?

You will get a more accurate response from him or her, here you will get speculation and scaremongering.

I can tell you you will know in 10 days if it was the chemical you use in the title and if I crossed onto your plants in any measurable or effective quantity, the plants will turn brown and die.

Packrat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456217#Comment_120456217

No, they don't. Also - I wouldn't waste my breath replying to a farmer hating troll who posted that first reply they made.

roosterman71

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456231#Comment_120456231

Harsh now. Anyone can ask questions

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456217#Comment_120456217

It’s all highly noxious

two wheels good

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456217#Comment_120456217

A herbicide is a pesticide, as is e.g. an insecticide and a fungicide. Pesticide - the generic name.

But hardly relevant to OP's (legitimate) concerns.

greysides

Mod: In life, people are held accountable for their actions. That could "farmers in general" for the actions of their industry, for example, with regard to animal welfare, pollution, biocide use. Or, more specifically, individuals for violating usage regulations or protocols.

And just so there's no misunderstandings, accountability is also applied to individuals who aren't mindful of the F&F forum charter and its rules, requirements and guiding principle of "don't be a dick".

Posts considered to be trolling, or broad negative generalisations of the farming community will not sit well here.

two wheels good

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120454867#Comment_120454867

It entirely possible it's glyphosate. It's used extensively on tillage crops including rapeseed.

It doesn't "kill by dessication"; it inhibits proteins in some way and hence growth.

It is used as a dessicant which is a secondary purpose which was never it's initial intended purpose. This has let to a huge increase in the application of glyphate in recent decades especially in damper, e.g. more northern climes.

It is a salt but it's nothing like a "basic salt".

older by the day

https://youtube.com/shorts/C9UO93gmY7o?feature=share

When people want cheap food and argue when food increases by a few cent. Then spray and fertilizer is part of farming

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456437#Comment_120456437

Not at this time of year.

Glyphosate is only sprayed on tillage crops before harvest. It’s 2-3 months too early for a tillage man to be using glyphosate on his crops.

If it’s winter oilseed rape then early April would be the timing for a fungicide spray. It may need another application in 4-5 weeks time depending on what is present on the crop and on how long it stays in flower for.

If it turns out that it is glyphosate that has been used then an angry neighbour is the very least of that tillage man’s worries.

White Clover

I would advise the OP to have some faith in the farmer. The OP clearly states that he is not familiar with farming and has later said that he doesn't actually know what the farmer was spraying so we will have to assume that the farmer does as he is the one with skin in the game.

The conclusion that we can draw from the information that we have received is that the thread title is totally misleading and is bordering on hysteria.

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456643#Comment_120456643

The only “ skin in the game “ that the farmer has is financial , the person who started this thread has his entire families health at stake , the farmer might well not waste an ounce of spray and still between mist drift and general fumes , the effects on his neighbours could still be severe

OP, most farmers are utterly indifferent to anything bar the health of their own wallet, they see it as their birthright to ride roughshod over the concerns of neighbours and will go into ultra defensive mode if the slightest criticism made

roosterman71

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457042#Comment_120457042

Every businesses skin in the game is financial FFS. Ryanair aren't flying planes for the love of little Johnny being able to get a week in the sun for cheap. Or Apple making phones so people can call each other. Or the local shop selling food so you don't starve.

Was there drift? Be madness to spray where there's wind blowing it all over the place. That makes no business sense. Would ya agree?

Last paragraph is inflammatory horseshit which you get from people largely ignorant of agriculture. Though of course maybe you have many examples of farmers riding roughshod over anything

893bet

Effects could be severe? Your mask is slipping.

A single “exposure” could be severe. Lacking a definition of severe or exposure makes it difficult discuss but I don’t believe there is any research to show any severe effects from a single exposure from a field away (and this exposure was the OP and their family in the house at night rather than put in their garden having no a bbq….).

OP I assume you are still alive? Eating organic as best you can? Fair play. You ah e far more exposure to pesticides from the non organic food you eat and often from drinking water. Farmers definitely have more to do to protect water ways. Based on the info you have provided this farmer hasn’t done anything illegal or immoral. A non-confrontational conversation might be a great start. And if ye get friendly he might give you a text to let you know he is spraying and you can ensure you have windows closed and no cloths on the line for that 1 hour.

amacca

As others have said its unlikely he was spraying glyphosate on a crop not yet mature....add to that he probably chose that time as the conditions were suitable....not many go at it at night out of choice as much as it will work best.

Of course he could be one of those ninja farmers killing off his competitors crops.

If people were willing to pay the additional increases for food that would result from reduced yield and/or give two **** about large retail chains continuously driving down prices I'd say a lot of farmers would gladly leave the sprayer in the yard/accept bans on sprays!

Tonynewholland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457042#Comment_120457042

So what do you see as a solution to this. How far away from a boundary ditch should a farmer spray or should all sprays be banned in your opinion. You do know that it's governments that license these products for us in food production and not farmers.

If the OP is living beside land used for tillage it's going to be sprayed several times a year.

two wheels good

Now the best consolation offered to the OP is that it's probably not glyphosate at this time of year it's some other pesticide instead.

Be assured OP, if it wasn't glyphosate this time it very probably will be on another occasion.

You will find legal requirements and recommended codes of practice on pesticide use from the EPA or the Dept of Ag or Teagasc. e.g. required margins at field boundaries, precautions for watercourses. How close was the spray boom to your boundary? If necessary measure the proximity of tyre tracks to your boundary, estimate length of the spray boom.

When you speak to the farmer it would be useful to know exactly what's being sprayed, the brand and name of pesticide. Don't be fobbed-off with "just a weed killer/fungicide". Each one has a specific ref number with associated precautions and hazards, info readily available online.

Some neighbourly courtesy would have been welcome to be informed beforehand.

White Clover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457042#Comment_120457042

Give over with the sensationalism, generalisations and hysterics.

It's highly likely that this is a troll thread. We do seem to get them very regularly on long weekends.

White Clover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457170#Comment_120457170

Some sense of entitlement in this post.

Also, The OP has admitted his ignorance of farming and you are advising him to interrogate a Professionsl Spraying Operator and to estimate boom lengths etc !!

Cop on to yourself. We can clearly add you to the list of people on this thread that hasn't a clue what they're talking about.

Waffletraktor

From description it's a sclerotinia fungicide for petal fall on osr.

There's soo much red tape these days if a product was not able to be drank neat and expect no ill effects it wouldnt be on the market nevermind a few hundred mg of active to the acre.

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457082#Comment_120457082

I doubt it, a lot of farmers live for the days they get to show off their machinery so not being able to spray would be a fun spoiler

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457168#Comment_120457168

At least two hundred metres from a dwelling at any point in the field

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457230#Comment_120457230

Yes , imagine the entitlement of expecting a courteous heads up when a toxic chemical is being sprayed near someone’s home

the irony , the sheer arrogant entitlement that farmers have will be their undoing but I’ve no doubt they’ll plough on bull headed , why change the habit of a lifetime

roosterman71

No need to inform anyone only record it for the department. The OP doesn't even know who uses the land and the work was done at night.

What entitlement do farmers have? Spraying crops is permitted, and is one of the things allowed to increase yields and in turn keep food prices low.

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457661#Comment_120457661

Using any kind of coal was permitted in cities thirty years ago, didn’t make it safe , that toxic chemicals are legally permitted for use is due to lobbying by chemical companies and farm bodies, well-being of the wider public is an after thought

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457572#Comment_120457572

Agree. And the land was there before the house. All sites for new houses need to be 2 ha in size so so that you own the boundary distance from farm land. Be responsible for your own safety I say.

J.O. Farmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457572#Comment_120457572

How do you know if that's a safe distance or not?

At a guess given that 2 metres was deemed enough with Covid it probably is but is 200m a random number you picked or have you data to support it.

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457721#Comment_120457721

No , I personally wouldn’t care if cows were bawling across the boundary fence or even slurry was spread , my only gripe is with pesticides as I’ve asthma and so do my two kids , not anti farmer , just challenging some intransigent attitudes

Tonynewholland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457572#Comment_120457572

That rules out most crops near a dwelling. What do you suggest this land should be used for. Even grassland needs to be reseeded from time to time and sprays are used to control weeds

roosterman71

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457762#Comment_120457762

Countryside life comes with challenges