Cereal and sugar beet growers who are members of the Red Tractor assurance scheme should receive details, by the end of this month, of the revamped rules they are required to meet in the autumn.

About 17,000 combinable crop producers are members of the scheme, with the result that 90-95% of grain marketed in the UK comes under the Red Tractor banner.

A consultation went out to growers, processors and retailers late last year asking for feedback on potential areas for review in the standards governing cereal and sugar beet production.

See also: Prepare grain stores in time for harvest

The result is a number of updates to the recommendations and requirements in areas covering mycotoxins, rodenticides, grain stores and overall traceability. The new rules apply from 1 October 2014.

Storage

It is now a requirement to keep tabs on where loads are tipped as they come off the combine (Point of First Tip) and where they are headed for. Just a note in the diary is fine for this and haulage tickets are a good record for the crop’s next destination.

Also take a sample from each load leaving the farm and keep hold of it for three months for traceability purposes.

Temporary stores must now be emptied by the end of October, although in years where harvest has been delayed, a derogation can be put in place to extend this. If you take on new facilities then you need to inform your certification body.

Vermin control rules now require that, in addition to regular bait plans, a record is kept of when bait is laid, when it is checked and when it is replenished.

If you’re trapping rodents, a record also needs to be kept of trap checks to ensure you’re keeping the pests under control.

Bitumen provides a great way of sealing up cracks and crevices in grain walling and keeping out the damp. Its use is now banned because of worries about its carcinogenic properties.

Sheds used previously to store potatoes may well have been contaminated with CIPC sprout suppressants. Their residues are almost impossible to remove even with deep cleaning and can migrate out of walls, floor and panels into other crops.

Not only is it illegal for traces of CIPC to be found in grain, but it can also ruin germination in seed crops. Growers now need to conduct a CIPC risk assessment for both temporary and long-term stores.

Transport

When carting crops off-farm, all loads must now be sheeted. Vehicles, trailers and sheets must all be pressure-washed and disinfected before use if they have previously carried anything other than combinable crops.

Growing crops

Each field of wheat must now undergo a mycotoxin risk assessment during the growing season.

Clay pigeon shooting over standing crops of oilseed rape is banned after the plants begin to bud. Although there is a risk that lead shot could end up in the combine tank, the main reason for this restriction is that dust from the clays contains all sorts of nasties that could contaminate the crop.

If you’re storing more than 150t of nitrogen fertiliser you must notify the Fire and Rescue Service. If you’ve got more than 25t of product with an oxidiser warning sign on the bag then you also need to let the HSE know too.

Either Soil Management Plans or Soil Protection Reviews are now accepted as means of demonstrating practices are in place to conserve soil structure and limit erosion risks.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans must now be documented and followed. Basically a means of outlining good practice in agrichemical use, the guidelines summarise the basic elements as:

• Prevention – Indirect (non-chemical) measures to reduce pest, weed and disease infestations
  
• Observation – Methods, such as crop walking, to determine when action is required
  
• Intervention – Direct measures to reduce pests, weeds and disease to economically acceptable levels, for example, using herbicides, insecticides and fungicides only when required.

Document templates can be obtained from the Voluntary Initiative website (search for “IPM Plans”).

Staff

Any new employees need to have their role clearly explained to them and, if using an external labour provider, growers must obtain copies of its Gangmaster’s Licence and confirmation it is providing competent staff.

Grandfather rights for sprayer drivers will come to an end from 26 November 2015 and all operators will have to hold the right certification from that date. Currently it’s a recommendation that anyone applying pesticides should have the right qualifications, but it will become law from that date.

Similarly, all sprayers will have to undergo NSTS annual testing (manufacturers’ certificates will now longer be valid) from that date, too.

For the full lowdown on just what is required, download the PDF guide.