![Farmers will be able to desiccate feed barley crops with glyphosate this season. Farmers will be able to desiccate feed barley crops with glyphosate this season.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/5Q2j7ezUfQBfUJsaqK3gfB/453a8af0-e31d-4a97-a558-30ef6f8fc577.JPG/r0_218_4272_2629_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
JUST weeks after the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) permit for the use of glyphosate to crop-top barley expired, a new short-term permit has been issued.
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This will mean farmers can once again use glyphosate to desiccate feed barley crops prior to harvest to ripen them earlier.
The practice is also useful agronomically in terms of minimising weed seed numbers by killing late germinating weeds.
The permit is only short-term and will expire as of April 30, 2020 and has been designed to allow grain producers and traders to put in appropriate management plans for the upcoming harvest, so if they had planned to desiccate this harvest they will still be able to.
It is also only for feed barley, due to the germination requirement for barley to be used for malting.
There has been some controversy over the practice, with concerns from some sectors over the risk of exceeding maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the presence of glyphosate in grain samples.
MRLs can play a key role in disrupting trade with key buyers of Australian feed barley such as China, with some Australian grain producers calling for an end for the crop-topping permit, saying it is not necessary and could damage our barley brand with international buyers.
Grain Producers Australia chairman Andrew Weidemann warned growers to strictly stick to the label instructions.
"Producers are reminded of the importance of stewardship of pesticide products, including glyphosate," Mr Weidemann said.
"The conditions of use, directions and restraints of the permit must be followed."
He also said accurate declarations of use may also be required and complied with as directed by buyers and traders.
Mr Weidemann said the news was a positive for grain growers and thanked the APVMA for its swift resolution of the application to extend the short-term permit.