With most of the country’s potato crop being harvested, growers are being urged to prepare for next season’s granular nematicide applications.
A key priority is ensuring operators are suitably qualified to apply granular nematicides, advises independent potato agronomist and Nematicide Stewardship Programme (NSP) group chair, Patrick Mitton.
“Following a challenging year for potato growers, with drought putting pressure on margins and concerns over low reservoir levels, it’s important to use the quieter winter months to take stock of qualifications,” says Mr Mitton.
Anyone applying granular nematicides should hold the necessary certification and have completed the relevant stewardship training.
Emiel Grobler, technical manager at BASIS explains the importance of this qualification.
“Safe and responsible granular nematicide use depends on operators being appropriately qualified, completing the required stewardship training and maintaining their knowledge through ongoing professional development.
“Although granular nematicides are applied with specialist granule applicators rather than conventional sprayers, they are still professional plant protection products.
“For the granular nematicides covered by the Nematicide Stewardship Programme, the protocol explicitly requires PA4 or PA4G certification, completion of the required NIAB Nematicide Stewardship e-learning module and NRoSO membership,” he adds.
Mr Mitton adds that being on top of this kind of early preparation plays a big part in helping to ensure granular nematicides containing fosthiazate, such as Syngenta’s Nemathorin are applied accurately and responsibly, while protecting next year’s crop performance and making the most of input costs.
He also reminds growers to also use the winter period to check that application equipment is ready for the coming season.
“This is a good time to make sure equipment has the required National Sprayer Testing Scheme certification,” says Mr Mitton.
“Having equipment checked and ready before the season starts helps ensure granular nematicides can be applied as accurately as possible.”
For more information
Growers are urged to visit the NSP website nspstewardship.co.uk and refresh their knowledge on best practice application of granular nematicides before planting.
Click this link for the Code of good practice for the application of nematicides
