A new “H2OK? Water Protection Advice” booklet giving guidelines for farmers and advisers on protecting water from crop protection products has been published by The Voluntary Initiative (VI) with support from the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECSFDI), CPA and AIC. Today, much farming depends on a range of effective crop protection products, which are declining. More products may be at risk as the Water Framework Directive start to bite. If using any sort of pesticide or herbicide anyone should take precautions to avoid water pollution - even if in small scale farming. “This booklet brings together practical advice for farmers on how to prevent pesticides causing diffuse water pollution, which can cause ecological harm and affect drinking water quality,” said Philippa Mansfield of ECSFDI, “with clear guidance on use of the pesticides that are being detected in water.”

In recent years, the VI has been working to identify ways to minimise pesticide movement to water either from filling and handling areas, through field drainage or from surface run-off. The booklet provides a list of priority catchments where extra vigilance is needed, sets out best practice guidelines for all pesticides and highlights extra measures that apply in priority catchments. A new checklist format, developed from pesticide decision trees used in previous years, has been designed for chlorotoluron, mecoprop-p and the four oilseed rape herbicides. Each checklist identifies up to nine steps that can help reduce the risk of that pesticide reaching water.

“A key part of the new advice is to establish grass buffers beside any watercourse,” explained VI Manager Patrick Goldsworthy. Evidence to date, from both the UK and elsewhere in Europe, suggests that grass buffer strips – at least 6m wide – will reduce surface run-off by at least half.

“In addition, herbicides should not be applied when soil is saturated and drains are flowing and applications should be made at least 48 hours before any heavy rain is expected.

“As oilseed rape has been identified as a key crop where winter applied herbicides are being found in surface run-off we suggest that growers establish buffer strips. These strips should be established in the year before oilseed rape is sown. However, it is better to establish these strips this autumn rather than do nothing.”

To support the establishment of grass buffer strips, the Crop Protection Association and the VI are also publishing a new Best Practice Guide on Grass Buffer Strips. This gives further information and advice on Grass Buffer Strips for growers and agronomists.

“We now have sufficient experience built up over six years to provide guidance that can be used by farmers across the UK,” said Mr Goldsworthy. “The guidance will also help farmers prepare for the requirements of the Water Framework Directive.”

The new guidance on grass buffer strips, along with the pre-application checklists can be obtained from the library section of the Voluntary Initiative website www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk