Fit Low Drift Nozzles For Spring Treatments

UK - Growers are being urged to ensure sprayers are fitted with low drift nozzles, and that a 20 metre no-spray buffer zone is respected around watercourses, when using chlorpyrifos to treat for frit fly during grassland renovations, or for leatherjacket control, this spring.
calendar icon 23 April 2013
clock icon 2 minute read

That’s the message from the industry-wide ‘chlorpyrifos: Say NO to DRIFT’ initiative that aims to secure a future for the treatment that’s under regulatory pressure due to increasingly-stringent EU rules.

It is an issue that’s particularly significant for the grassland sector, as chlorpyrifos is the only chemical option available for controlling these harmful pests in grassland leys.

“For newly renovated swards, frit fly can be completely devastating,” notes Brent Gibbon, Dow’s regional business development manager for the West. “Where grass follows grass, there will always be a frit fly risk because the pest tends to live unnoticed in mature leys, with the larval frit fly maggots moving from the ploughed-up sward to the newly sown leys, which are highly vulnerable to pest attack.

“Spring renovations will coincide with the first generation of frit fly, so chlorpyrifos treatment is likely to be needed in these situations,” he adds, noting that regulatory withdrawal of the products, that are currently undergoing re-registration, would leave producers with no alternative other than leaving a 10 week period between ploughing and re-sowing to allow time for the pests to die-off.

This demonstrates the imperative of the ‘Say NO to DRIFT’ initiative, that is urging uptake of LERAP three-star rated nozzles, also adhering to a 20 metre no-spray buffer zone around watercourses, which it is hoped will provide UK regulators with the confidence to renew the registrations for all chlorpyrifos products in Britain.

All those seeking the continued use of the treatment should sign-up on the campaign website www.saynotodrift.co.uk to add to the weight of support for the initiative and to demonstrate the necessity of this treatment, and the willingness to adopt the stewardship programme to the regulators.

Chlorpyrifos Say NO to DRIFT guidelines: boom sprayers
• Always use LERAP – low drift – three star nozzles and respect a 20 metre no-spray buffer zone around ponds, ditches and streams (1 metre for dry water bodies)

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