Archive Article: 2001/03/02
GROWERS need to carry out a LERAP assessment and act on it to keep pesticides that are vital to farming out of water – do it or lose them, experts advise.
"First get a copy of the LERAP booklet and poster from PSD, if you do not already have them," advises David Williams of the Pesticide Safety Directorate. "Then mark the position of dry ditches and width of waterways on a farm map. Display the map in the office and give one to the sprayer operator."
Next list all the products likely to be used in the season and ask a consultant or distributor if they are Category A or B, or check the PSD list at "LERAP" on the PSD Farmers & Growers web-site (www.pesticide.gov.uk)
Alongside ditches likely to be dry at the time of spraying, mark the map with a 1m buffer for Category A & B products. Category A products must always have a 5m buffer by water.
For standard nozzles by dry ditches enter a universal 1m buffer in annual spray records. The distance by which Category B buffer zones can be reduced next to watercourses depends on the nozzle, product dose and watercourse width.
"Should an approved 3-star LERAP low-drift nozzle allow efficient use of all Category B products near watercourses, an annual record of a 1m buffer for each area is all that is needed," says Mr Williams.
If other nozzles have to be used to get the best from a product, the buffer size will be between 1 and 5m, depending on the specific width of water course, product dose rate and star classification of the spray nozzle. Check the table in the LERAP booklet and poster. The booklet also has examples of easy to use record formats.
Information, category listings and posters are available from (www.pesticides.gov.uk) or PSD Information Section (01904-455775; e-mail p.s.d.information@ psd.maff.gsi.gov.uk). *