Fruit sector: new extended buffer zone rules

16/01/12

The stewardship initiative; ‘Chlorpyrifos: Say NO to DRIFT’ has set a 50 metre no-spray buffer zone around watercourses and ponds for all top fruit chlorpyrifos insecticide applications  during 2012. The boom sprayer application buffer zone is 20 metres.

These additional no-spray buffer requirements expand upon the target set at the October launch of the campaign for 100% adoption of low-drift nozzles, in a bid to secure the future availability of chlorpyrifos products to UK growers. The low-drift nozzles plus buffer combination is needed to meet heightened regulatory criteria, introduced by the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) to further protect aquatic organisms.

New application guidelines – Fruit

The changes have been set by the UK’s three major chlorpyrifos product approval holders, Dow AgroSciences, Headland and MAUK. In addition to the buffer zone changes, they specifically require the use of Albuz TVI low-drift nozzles for treatments made with axial fan or tower sprayers; and LERAP three star rated nozzles for boom sprayer applications.

The consortium is advocating that orchard treatments – particularly where smaller trees dominate – are made using tower sprayers where possible, to allow for a greater targeting of the spray into the canopy, compared to an axial fan sprayer.

In situations where an axial fan is preferred to increase canopy penetration, operators are also being made aware that the air flow of the sprayer must be matched to the canopy size in order to minimise drift. 

The use of low-drift nozzles offer a cost effective, practical solution in the face of the regulatory challenge, says Steve Norman of consortium members Dow. “And when used in conjunction with the appropriate buffer zone adjacent to water, we are providing the optimum conditions for maintaining the availability of this valuable insecticide whilst providing the necessary level of protection for aquatic organisms,” he explains.

The stewardship campaign has already received strong support from fruit growers representing a staggering 5,700 hectares of land, accounting for over 70% of the total UK top fruit area (dessert and culinary).

Growers who have not yet signed up to support the campaign can still register for their chance to receive a set of FREE low-drift Albuz TVI nozzles by visiting www.saynotodrift.co.uk or contacting enquiries@saynotodrift.co.uk.

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