and the environment is what is perceived as ‘a lack of professionalism’ in the way that many of our control products are used. This is linked to the environmental detection of pesticides in water and, thus, linked to possible effects on human health. A critical issue here is how pesticides
are used in urban and sports turf situations and who is using them. In the
“The behaviour of a pesticide, once it has been applied, is influenced quite considerably by the application method, the timing of application and what it is applied to”
UK this is a serious area that needs action to raise standards. The behaviour of a pesticide, once it has been applied, is influenced quite considerably by the application method, the timing of application and what it is applied to. Understanding this, and preventing run off and detection in water courses and the
wider environment is achieved by training, awareness and professionalism. And this is what is needed to raise the standards that the draconian EU regulation is trying to achieve.
Us and Them.
In the UK there are two cultures at work when it comes to applying control products to solve our vegetation and pest problems. There are a great many operatives from a wide spectrum of pesticide users within the golf, sports pitch, bowls, and grounds maintenance sectors who, since achieving their PA1, PA2, and PA6 certificates, have kept abreast of current best practice, joined NRoSO and are aware of the threats to the use of pesticides that their role in managing a green or urban space will have. They are conscientious, professional and care about standards. It is a safe bet that they read Pitchcare and go to IOG or regional BIGGA meetings too. The other culture is where the problems
lie. The people who haven’t calibrated their equipment since they bought it. The people who spray in conditions that are likely to cause run off. The people who are casual and unprofessional about the use
of pesticides around other people. They may also use untrained, uncertificated casual staff who have no motivation to be careful. The photos tell you that this culture exists, and why those that care need to send the message that it is this approach to work that has led, in part, to the EU threat to the tools we rely on to make management of our environment so much easier.
“Those that care need to send the message that it is this unprofessional approach to work that has led, in part, to the EU threat to the tools we rely on to make management of our
environment so much easier” This cultural division describes a clear
difference between those that adhere to, and work to, the standards that are set out for the use of pesticide products (all laid out in the DEFRA code of practice) and those that don’t, either because they don’t know what the standards are, or do and simply aren’t concerned by them. It is
NNING OUT!
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