Glyphosate ban cost to farmers calculated in new study

Aussie farmers would take a six-figure profit hit under a ban on widely used herbicides glyphosate and paraquat. See the details.

Glyphosate, sold under the Roundup brand, is the world’s most widely used herbicide. Picture: Getty Images

A ban on herbicides glyphosate and paraquat could cost the average farm between $100,000 and $254,000 a year in lost profit.

As many locals councils in Australia ban the use of glyphosate and some countries, such as France, ban it altogether, new research published by the University of Western Australia shows the economic implications of the loss of glyphosate and paraquat on Australian farms.

The study, undertaken by University of Western Australia’s Alison Walsh and Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre chief economist Professor Ross Kingwell, modelled the outcome on mixed enterprise farms averaging 3750ha in Western Australia’s wheatbelt region.

For the average farm, if glyphosate and paraquat were available to use, the profit was recorded at $430,000, but taking away the herbicides and using basic harvest weed seed control instead, profit drops by $102,000 to $328,000.

A number of additional scenarios were calculated without the use of the herbicides, including using dry sowing, adding extra nitrogen or an extra seeder, and profits declined up to 59 per cent, down to a low of $176,000.

“The magnitude of the decline in profits is fairly surprising. There are very few alternative ways of reducing weed problems as (the use of glyphosate and paraquat) are very affordable and effective ways of controlling weeds,” Prof Kingwell said.

He said the losses would be greatest if the herbicides were banned in Australia but not worldwide, as this would disadvantage Australian farmers who would be competing with other countries who could produce grain more cheaply with access to the herbicides.

CropLife Australia chief executive Matthew Cossey said he didn’t think those involved in farming would be surprised by the findings.

“This highlights the importance of these herbicides,” Mr Cossey said.

The studies main conclusion was “there are no management changes, or technologies immediately available to completely protect a farm business from the losses associated with a ban on use of these herbicides”.

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