asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the increasing use of atrazine on maize crops is causing residue problems; if the use of this herbicide will have serious consequences for Irish sugar beet production; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of Atrazine.
45.
Atrazine is a selective herbicide for the control of weeds in maize crops. However, it is persistent and its residual destructive effect on lands treated with it at the recommended rates for use on maize can persist for seven months. If it is used at heavier rates of application such as for the removal of scutch, the residual effect can remain for as long as 18 months. Thus, farmers intending to grow a sugar beet crop after a maize crop treated with atrazine should be very careful to see that atrazine is not excessively used on the maize crop.
Can the Minister state if this substance is assimilated by any plants that are not killed by it? I gather from the Minister's reply that it is a stable chemical compound which persists in the soil for a long time.
I am sorry I have not the kind of information the Deputy is seeking, except to say that it must really kill plants when we are told it is injurious to maize——
It is injurious to sugar beet. It is used as a selective killer on maize but it does not kill maize. I have asked the Minister if it is assimilated by it.
I should imagine that if it is to do destruction it must be assimilated. I have not the precise information.