18/05/2005 - New guidance
on handling of pesticides and disposal of
spray washings is hot off the press from the
Environment Agency and the Crop Protection
Association. As part of the Voluntary Initiative
it will help farmers and sprayer operators
improve farmyard practice, comply with the
law and protect water.
The jointly-produced booklet clearly spells
out what is acceptable practice for the handling
and disposal of washings around pesticide
handling and mixing areas. It also sets out
the latest guidance on the use of Biobeds
as an effective way for pesticides to be broken
down.
Pesticides can enter water courses in many
ways and can cause severe pollution to the
environment. Dropping just one foil seal into
a drain can contaminate 30km of stream. Research
(*River Cherwell Project) suggests that as
much as half of all pesticides entering watercourses
are from poor practice around the farmyard.
Andy Croxford, Environment Agency Pesticide
Policy Manager, said "Anyone who applies
pesticides on farms needs to read this guidance.
The clear and simple steps to follow should
give farmers the reassurance they need. There
is no excuse for farmers to fall foul of the
Groundwater Regulations and in doing so risk
losing part of their Single Farm Payment.
The farmyard is potentially a major source
of pesticide pollution but with a few small
improvements you can protect the environment
and at the same time reduce disposal costs."
The best practice given in the guidance includes:
Mixing and handling pesticides best done
on an impermeable surface where drainage is
collected and drained to grass/soil (with
Groundwater Authorisation) or via a lined
Biobed.
Left over spray solution best to avoid any
leftovers by accurate calibration and application.
Disposal of the washings best to wash down
in the treated crop/area provided the maximum
application rate for the pesticide product
is not exceeded.
Research has shown that lined Biobeds can
be an effective way of breaking down pesticides.
The Environment Agency supports lined Biobeds
where appropriate and where managed and operated
correctly.
Use of well constructed and managed lined
Biobeds will mean that farmers can avoid the
need for groundwater authorisations and associated
inspections. However, waste management legislation
will apply to Biobeds when controls on agricultural
waste are introduced later in 2005.
The advice given in the new booklet will
be seen as a light touch approach to regulation
from the Environment Agency and is expected
to receive a warm welcome from farmers.
Patrick Goldsworthy, VI Manager for the Crop
Protection Association said: "There has
been a lot of confusion over the years and
this guide clarifies complex regulations and
explains latest thinking on best practice.
It should be required reading for all spray
operators and trainers. After years of research
by the Crop Protection Association and others,
I am really pleased that the Environment Agency
has cut through the red tape for lined Biobeds
and helped farmers avoid the cost and hassle
of groundwater authorisations."
Peter Kendall, NFU Deputy President said:
"Its always good to have updated advice
on best practice, but we look forward to the
exemption of lined Biobeds from the Agricultural
Waste Regulations to make the adoption of
lined Biobeds a practical reality."
Anyone wishing to get hold of a guidance
booklet can call the Environment Agency on
08708 506 506 or see click on the weblink
(see left).
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Biobeds (bioremediation systems) are typically
made up of straw, topsoil and compost and
act as a area in which to capture drainage
to prevent pesticide loss and to provide conditions
where physical, chemical and/or biological
attenuation and breakdown can take place.
Sweden has the most experience of biobeds.
For further information on Biobeds see the
website www.biobeds.info
Lined Biobeds are considered by the Environment
Agency to be waste recovery operations subject
to control under Article 10 of the Waste Framework
Directive.. A proposal for lined biobeds to
be controlled under a licensing exemption
provided under Article 11(1)(b) of the Directive
is being prepared by the Licensing and Exemptions
Sub-Group of the Agricultural Waste Stakeholders
for consideration by Defra.
Consultation on the draft Agricultural Waste
Regulations 2005 was carried out between 9
December 2004 and 18 March 2005 and the responses
are now being considered by Defra. The draft
Regulations propose a 12 month transitional
period before the licensing requirements come
fully into force. It is understood that Defra
intends to carry out a supplementary consultation
on any proposals for further licensing exemptions
made in response to the main consultation.
Further advice on pesticide control can be
found on the Environment Agency website at
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/netregs/sectors/341895/342719/?version=1&lang=_e
River Cherwell Project - A collaborative study
to determine the relative importance of diffuse
and point source contamination of surface
water by isoproturon was established in October
1998 in a small (100ha) catchment on the start
of the River Cherwell, north of Banbury, UK.
The project was co-ordinated by ADAS and involved
Coventry University and Horticulture Research
International and funded by Bayer CropScience.
Water companies spend millions of pounds every
year removing pesticides from drinking water
Recent market research (Environment Agency
January 2005) suggests that a large proportion
of farmers (54%) think that leaching or run
off from rainfall is the main cause of pesticides
getting into rivers and groundwater. Only
13% attributed farm mixing areas as a significant
cause.
For pesticide handling advice given in Northern
Ireland and Scotland contact EHS Northern
Ireland and SEPA in Scotland.
