A major part of a turf professional's job nowadays is keeping up to date with ever changing regulations which need to be complied with.
Of course there has been the whole contentious matter of glyphosate usage to contend with this year. A complicated business, we featured a handy resume from Kersten recently, which explains where we are with that - which you can remind yourself of here.
And an issue which has been looming for a long time finally passed its deadline this weekend, when on November 26th 2016, all pesticide application equipment now in use requires, by law, a valid National Sprayer Testing Scheme (NSTS) certificate.
This includes trailed, mounted and self-propelled sprayers as well as foggers, misters, granular and slug pellet applicators.
Hand-held pedestrian operated equipment, such as knapsacks, do not need to be tested but should be checked regularly.
Voluntary Initiative Chairman Richard Butler said, “We have been testing our sprayers with NSTS for years - our self-propelled sprayer was tested back in May. Even though we do regular maintenance, the test itself is really useful and reassures us that we haven’t missed anything. A valid test certificate is now a legal requirement, so anyone who hasn’t had their machine tested needs to do so before they next spray or apply slug pellets.”
Sprayer testing centres have been expanding to ensure all equipment could be tested on time.
Jim Wright from the John Rhodes test centre in Pembrokeshire said, “We have taken on extra staff and have been travelling across the country testing sprayers and slug pellet applicators. Previously, assurance schemes have required crop sprayers to be tested but now the law has brought all sprayers into NSTS, including those used in the livestock sector on grassland, which has increased demand for our services.”
An alternative to using your own equipment is of course to choose to employ a professional contractor. As Jill Hewitt of the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) advises though, “Always check that your sprayer contractor holds the necessary certificates of competence, is properly insured and has a valid NSTS certificate for the equipment being used."
Reading around the subject, before the deadline passed at the weekend, there appeared to be fears of a backlog of units still to be tested. According to reports precise figures of how many sprayers which need to be tested in the amenity sector is unclear. It is however now a requirement to only use tested sprayers, so the advice is, if you haven't already, get your machines booked in.
If any of your pesticides application equipment is in fact yet to be tested, contact NSTS on 0845 644 8748 or visit www.nsts.org.uk to book your test and make sure it has a valid certificate before it is next used.
And in terms of keeping up with the latest regulations, there is always advice available from all the various trade bodies. BIGGA have BTME coming up for example in January. The comprehensive Continue to Learn programme in Harrogate has many sessions designed to keep greenkeepers informed on the latest regulatory developments.
Just quickly looking down the list of seminars on their website Understanding the Sustainable Use Directive; N, P, K and Fertilisers; and The Use of Biostimulants in Turf Management Programs jump out as potential must-attends.
Arming yourself with the most up-to-date knowledge is surely the most effective way to avoid any potential run-ins with the authorities down the line?
