OldDog/NewTricks
Well-known member
ALERT – Crop Sabotage - Australia (U)
Farms hit by poison spray
By Renee Viellaris
QUEENSLAND businesses have been struck by a third case of commercial sabotage in five months with the discovery of a million dollar crop poisoning attack.
Three tomato, bean, capsicum and watermelon farms in Bowen are counting their losses after their water supply was deliberately contaminated by a herbicide.
It is believed several hundred litres of glyphosate – the active ingredient in Roundup – was mixed into a water tank used by crop dusters Bowen Airspray.
About 40ha were destroyed across the three farms but only one grower had distributed the produce, which had yet to hit supermarket shelves.
The unidentified grower, who initiated a voluntary recall, will be advised today whether his poisoned vegetables can be sold.
Queensland Seedlings in Bowen was also poisoned six years ago.
Restaurant chain Sizzler shut down earlier this year when rat poison was put into its pasta sauce and Top Taste stopped production when consumers complained of metal objects in their cakes.
It is not known how so many litres of herbicide was put in the tank but farmers first noted on Friday that their crops had turned yellow and starting dying.
Queensland Health's environmental health director John Piispanen said the produce affected by the herbicide was still fit for consumption but tests would reveal today if they were fit for sale under national safety codes.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,19978806-3102,00.html
Farms hit by poison spray
By Renee Viellaris
QUEENSLAND businesses have been struck by a third case of commercial sabotage in five months with the discovery of a million dollar crop poisoning attack.
Three tomato, bean, capsicum and watermelon farms in Bowen are counting their losses after their water supply was deliberately contaminated by a herbicide.
It is believed several hundred litres of glyphosate – the active ingredient in Roundup – was mixed into a water tank used by crop dusters Bowen Airspray.
About 40ha were destroyed across the three farms but only one grower had distributed the produce, which had yet to hit supermarket shelves.
The unidentified grower, who initiated a voluntary recall, will be advised today whether his poisoned vegetables can be sold.
Queensland Seedlings in Bowen was also poisoned six years ago.
Restaurant chain Sizzler shut down earlier this year when rat poison was put into its pasta sauce and Top Taste stopped production when consumers complained of metal objects in their cakes.
It is not known how so many litres of herbicide was put in the tank but farmers first noted on Friday that their crops had turned yellow and starting dying.
Queensland Health's environmental health director John Piispanen said the produce affected by the herbicide was still fit for consumption but tests would reveal today if they were fit for sale under national safety codes.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,19978806-3102,00.html