Background

Seed treatments are considered by many as one of the most environmentally friendly methods of crop protection targeting the treatment and reducing the need to spray. However, the surface of treated seed still contains agrochemicals, and there's a potential danger to wildlife if these chemicals get into the environment in an uncontrolled way.

Other than your normal care when using crop protection treatments two specific areas to watch are:

• Dust
• Uncovered drilled seeds and spillages

Some types of drills, especially precision vacuum types, emit air that can contain dust. For insecticide treatments seed labels have been updated and now include a requirement for these drills to vent onto or into the soil, or be modified to do so.

In the last two years there have been a few important but isolated incidents in Continental Europe with treated seed affecting wildlife - caused by incorrect practice. As a result, European and UK registration authorities have put seed treatments under greater scrutiny and now demand increased levels of safe use stewardship from suppliers and users.

Guidelines

Always ensure adequate seed drilling equipment is used to maximise good incorporation in the soil, minimise spillages and dust emision. 

By following a few guidelines, you can help seed treatments work their best for you while protecting the wider environment:

• Maintain your drills correctly; check and prepare them before drilling
• If necessary, modify your drill*
• Avoid the release of treated seed dust
• Cultivate to create a quality seed bed over the whole field
• Clean up any spillage immediately - better still avoid them completely
• Check the drilled area for exposed seed after drilling and cover any on the surface.

*Remember, if you have an older vacuum pressure precision maize drill, you can usually obtain a retrofit kit from the manufacturer. This will avoid venting dust upwards into the air and ensure you comply with the new seed labels. Bayer Assist can offer initial advice and manufacturer contact details.

Other simple stewardship actions 

• Fill the drill on an area where it's easy to detect and clear up any spillage - avoid grassed areas
• Dispose of any dust remaining in the bag with the bag itself - don't tip it into the drill
• With cereal drills, sow the headlands last; this will help incorporate any seed left by the drill when lifting in or out at row ends
• Pay special attention to areas where the seedbed is poorer and in corners of fields
• If necessary, carry out further harrowing or rolling and increase tension on coulters to ensure good seed coverage

By focusing on safe use and stewardship, historical problems such as bunt, leaf stripe, aphids and the viruses they transmit will not be allowed to come to the fore again. Farmers get less seed waste and better crop establishment, which result in higher yields and quality. Drill contractors have happier customers, and crop protection advisers can satisfy their roles as champions in crop protection and custodians of the environment.

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For further advice on seed treatment stewardship from Bayer click here

Seed treatment stewardship advice can also be found on the RED Tractor Assurance website 

Background

In recent years there has been concern with the use of slug pellets and particularly the metaldehyde A.S. being found in drinking water. NOT ALL SLUG PELLETS ARE THE SAME, Bayer agricultural pellets contain methiocarb, but best practice does apply to all pellets.

Quality pellets have a much greater resistance to weathering and mould; methiocarb is also much less soluble than competitor products. However it is still advisable to follow stewardship guidelines to protect the environment, and optimise efficiency.

Guidelines

Use field history, cropping and and test baiting with layers mash to determine risk and use in conjuction with good agronomic consolidated practice.

• Anyone applying slug pellets must be trained to PA4S and PA1
• Do not apply in windy weather
• Do not apply when heavy rain is forecast
• Do not apply pellets within 6 metres of field margins
• Calibrate spreader according to product and rate to be used
• Fill spreader in the field, not in gateways or over grass
• Clear up any spills immediately
• Switch off spreader when turning
• Spread headlands last, to prevent pellets being picked up with soil on tyres
• Clean applicator in the field at the finish of the day
• Applicators must be stored in the dry, undercover
• Dispose of the packaging and used PPE as contaminated waste through a registered disposal contractor.
• Late applications to broad-leaved plants may result in pellets becoming lodged in the foliage. Particular care should be taken to avoid this when applying to edible crops

The "Get Pelletwise" campaign is focused on the use of metaldehyde, but its website provides good overall advice for using any slug pellets. You can find out more at www.getpelletwise.co.uk

To find out more information about slugs download our slug expert guide here

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Background

Bees are hugely important pollinators across the agricultural landscape and their value to the horticultural and agricultural industries in the UK is more than £200 million per annum. Whilst the number of honey bees in the UK is actually on the increase, bee health generally in the UK and many other countries is on the decline.

The major factor in honey bee decline is generally recognised as infestation with the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. In addition to Varroa there are a number of viral and fungal diseases that are also damaging bee colonies throughout the UK, as well as a decline in suitable habitats.

Some have expressed concern about the potential for insecticides to have an effect on bee health. To avoid impacting bees it is important to follow stewardship guidelines when using crop protection products.

Guidelines for using insecticides

Insecticides can be put into two broad groups:

Group 1:Those that need especially careful stewardship to ensure no harm to bees (organophosphates, pyrethroids, some neonicotinoids)
Group 2: Those which are not labelled as harmful to bees (thiacloprid, Acetamiprid)

For group 1 products:  

• Remember to Bee safe Bee careful - leaflet available to download here
• To protect bees and pollinating insects do not apply to flowering crops when actually in flower. Do not apply when flowering weeds are present. Product must not be applied to plants in flower or plants that are being actively visited by honeybees or bumblebees.
• Check with beekeepers for location of hives; British Beekeepers Association (England), Welsh Beekeepers Association, Ulster Beekeepers Association, Beekeepers Association of the UK.
• When spraying is permitted, do so at a time when bees are not actively foraging: very early morning or in the evening as bees forage less with the temperature below 10^oC
• Take care to prevent drift towards non target areas (eg. hives in fields, beetle banks, hedgerows, conservation headlands etc.)
• Avoid tank-mixing with triazole fungicides, if treating flowering crops
• Give local beekeepers at least 24 hours notice of spraying. It is a good idea to keep their contact details close to hand.

For group 2 products:

• These pose no risk to bees when applied according to the label and can be applied to flowering crops, or crops containing flowering weeds. Even with such products however best practice would be not to apply while bees are actively foraging.
• Can be mixed with prothioconazole-containing fungicides when used on flowering crops of oilseed rape.
• Excellent Integrated Pest Management (IPM) profile.
• Use the best available application technique, which minimises off-target drift.
• If unsure use best practice guidance for group 1

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Background

Potato growers have over the years become familiar with product stewardship programmes. These have shown to optimise efficiency while ensuring any impact on the environment is minimal. Our Monceren products are formulated as powders for tuber treatment. They are the market leading tuber treatments for the control of Rhizoctonia solani (Black scurf) and offer the maximum in treatment flexibility for the professional potato grower.

Although Monceren is classified as not dangerous to game, wild birds or animals, it is still important to minimise impact for the operator and the environment. As with all crop protection products, good stewardship of the product will help to protect the environment and makes good sense for your business. For it to work it must be on the target.

Guidelines

The following guidelines are a measure of best practice:

• Always read the product label before use
• Wear the appropriate protective clothing when treating seed
• Dispose of used product packs in a safe way
• If bulk boxes are used for treated seed they must not be used for the harvested crop. Better still use and on-planter applicator
• Ensured that any spilt or uncovered treated tubers are cleared up or buried immediately
• Don't apply to damaged or cut tubers
• Don't feed treated tubers to humans or animals

A demonstration video of best practice for the application of Bayer powder treatment through Team Sprayers on planter applicator with a Digimon control can be viewed here

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