The wine industry wants the hormone-based weedkiller 24D banned

The wine industry is calling for ban of the hormone-based weedkiller 24D after another case of spray drift wiped out several hectares of vines across a number of vineyards. The herbicide is a synthetic plant hormone that is used to control weeds - and makes up almost 7 percent of total pesticide use in New Zealand. Brian Howard, Hawkes Bay winegrower who lost six hectares of vines when they were destroyed by a weedkiller that drifted over his vineyard. He says it will cost him several hundred thousand dollars; and Philip Gregan, chief executive of New Zealand Winegrowers.