SLUG pellet applicators should be tested to ensure that operators are not under or overdosing and to help comply with the Metaldehyde Stewardship Group's aims of retaining their use.

At Cereals 2016 this week (June 15 and 16), farmers and contractors being reminded that all vehicle-mounted pesticide application equipment, including slug pellet applicators, need to hold a valid National Sprayer Testing Scheme certificate by November 26, 2016.

Duncan Russell, manager at the National Sprayer Testing Scheme (NSTS), highlighted that the new requirement does not only apply to sprayers.

“Slug pellet spreaders apply pesticides and, therefore, they’re subject to the same rule as sprayers. There is one exception for sprayers and pellet applicators that are less than five years old – they only require testing on their fifth anniversary,” said Duncan.

“We’re working alongside the Metaldehyde Stewardship Group (MSG) to raise awareness of the importance of ensuring that machinery is tested and a key thing to point out is that the penalty of non-compliance could lead to prosecution as well as threatening farm assurance status and single farm payments,” he added.

But there are wider benefits of having well maintained and regularly tested pellet applicator, he said. “The procedure confirms that the machine is capable of spreading pellets accurately and on target. It also compares left and right spread patterns as well as establishing an accurate width of spread, ensuring that operators use the correct spread width for the product and applicator being used.

“Overall it helps to enhance pest control and the cost effectiveness of treatments as well as being safer for the operator and the environment,” he adds.

Simon McMunn, from MSG, explained why they’re on board with the campaign: “What we do as a group is all about promoting best practice in applying metaldehyde slug pellets. We’re keen to help water companies comply with water quality legislation and for this reason urge farmers and contractors to get machinery tested."

Also at Cereals, Mr McMunn called for crop advisers from across the UK to come forward and sign up to the MSG's ‘Get Pelletwise! Agronomic Updates’ system, which is being extended for 2016.

Mr McMunn said: “The online system that sees agronomists submitting weekly reports to water companies is quite simple in principle, but the information provided is invaluable in terms of informing decisions surrounding ‘smart abstraction’ from rivers feeding into reservoirs, during periods when metaldehyde risks are highest.

“The reports are then sent to water companies so they can use the information to help decide whether or not there is likely to be high concentrations of metaldehyde coming down the river. If this is the case, abstraction can be halted to ensure water is not used for drinking.”

He added that from 10 water companies taking part in 2015, 14 had signed up so far for autumn, 2016. “The feedback from 2015 was fantastic and the information provided by agronomists is breaking new ground in agriculture and water industry collaboration," he pointed out.