Members of the wine industry say a ban of the hormone-based weedkiller 2,4-D could be the only way to stop more cases of grape vines being damaged by spray drift. In Hawkes Bay, Brian Howard, from Howard Vineyard at Bay View, says at least six hectares of his crop and his neighbour's has been wiped out after 2,4-D drifted over his property in late September. No-one yet knows where the spray came from, but the Hawke's Bay Regional Council is investigating. The herbicide is a synthetic plant hormone used to control weeds - and makes up almost 7% of total pesticide use in New Zealand.