Confused about potato pesticide training? UK Rural Skills can help.
The potato pesticide situation is becoming quite confused as the potato planter may have 3 different pesticide applicators attached to it, i.e. amistar applied as a spray into the furrow, monceren powder applied onto the potato as they are planted and granule nematicides are sometimes applied into the furrow. Where any or all of these applicators are fitted the most suitable training and qualification would appear to be PASC. This qualification covers a range of 6 different pesticide application processes of which the ones outlined above is just one, it is titled in the PASC; City & Guilds assessment schedule as 'Operation of Pesticide Applicators attached to Cultivation or Planting Equipment'.
Where granules are applied in other ways then the qualification that would be most appropriate would be the City & Guilds PA4G this certificate would also cover the use of pneumatic boom granule applicators, microband applicators fitted to drills applying granules to rows near the seed or applying granules overall a bed and then incorporated by a bed tiller or stone separator.
The Metaldehyde Stewardship for slug pellets has been around for several years and is part of a PA4S training course. The newly-formed Nematicide Stewardship Programme (NSP) was launched mid-January by the leading chemical manufacturers and includes cross industry support geared to ensure these vital products remain available for future use on potatoes and other key root crops. The stewardship group plans to work alongside farmers and operators to ensure best practice for all granular nematicide applications this spring and into the future.
Operators must be qualified to apply granular nematicides (C&G PA4 or PA4G certification) and by March 2017 operators applying nematicides must have completed the Industry Stewardship Training module. Therefore operators will need evidence of this training to satisfy some of the crop assurance protocols (Red Tractor being the first on uptake). This Stewardship half day training is being offered free of charge by the companies involved to satisfy the above, however this will not be the full PA4G training or assessment, but a way of showing CPD on original qualifications.
The Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products states ''By Law everyone who uses pesticides professionally must have received adequate training in using pesticides safely''. UK Rural Skills offer underpinning training to support the achievement of pesticides assessments including the PA4G. The rule of thumb is if your job involves applying pesticides in a commercial role then you are legally required to be adequately trained and to take a recognised qualification.
Sprayer operators who achieve relevant qualifications can maintain their Continuing Professional Development by joining National Register of Sprayer Operators (NRoSO) or BASIS Amenity Training Register.
Potato growers training and qualification options also include, Boom Spraying PA2; Slug pellets PA4S; Nematicides PA4G; Amistar on planter PASC. If both Monceren and Amistar are applied at the same time they could both be taken as PASC to cover the whole planter. PA9 could be applicable if the farm is to do its own fogging in store. PA6 could be applicable if any hand held application was to become involved. If PA2 was gained before June 1994, PA4 was a granted qualification which still stands. If a PA4 was gained before it was split to 4S and 4G the operator is still covered for both.
In all cases above the operator must keep up to date with any changes so should have attended relevant training courses of which UK Rural Skills can help.
