NEW dose rate limits for fumigating stored potato crops this season are now in place for this season, growers are being warned.

The change is part of the gradual annual reduction in the use of the ant-sprouting chemical, CIPC's total dose permitted and is a core component of its stewardship process. It was initiated by the PICSG, the industry steering group including companies holding the approvals for formulations, with a view to retaining access to the vital treatment.

For the 2016-17 season, the new statutory total dose rates are:

• Fresh market: 24g per tonne of potatoes

• At store temperature of 5°C or less, only a single application, up to 16g/tonne, should be made, before the temperature is reduced below 7°C

• Processing market: 42g CIPC per tonne of potatoes

The new rates are down from the previous level of 30g/tonne for fresh potatoes and 50g/tonne for processing potatoes.

Adrian Briddon, of Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research, said these changes will maintain the status of zero exceedances observed in statutory testing in the last two years and help preserve the availability of this vital sprout suppressant.

This label change is expected to be the penultimate one, before the 2017 five-yearly formal review, where a more significant impact is expected.