[DenisCooper]

Hi,
Looking for a bit of advice.

I've recently bought a small holding (about 15acres) and on one of the fields it is covered with nettles and thistles.

I've got a quad and sprayer and was looking at buying a bottle of Headland Polo pesticide to get rid of them. Im not really into using pesticides as prefer to do everything as organically as possible, but in this case the field is just in too much of a bad state.

It looks like i may need to get a certificate before i can legally use the spray - is this correct? If so does anyone know if i can do it as an online course?

Any advice welcome....thanks
Denis

[Foobar]

You need an NPTC qualification now I'm afraid, and you can't do it online.

You'll need the PA1 which covers handling and storage etc : https://www.nptc.org.uk/qualificationschemedetail.aspx?id=515
and then also another PAx certificate depending on how you are going to actually apply the pesticide...

i.e.
PA6 for knapsack sprayer: https://www.nptc.org.uk/qualificationschemedetail.aspx?id=520
or
PA2 for mounted sprayers: https://www.nptc.org.uk/qualificationschemedetail.aspx?id=516

And, AFAIK, it doesn't matter if you are doing it commercially or not.  Alas there doesn't seem to be a clause for us smallholders who need to spray our own land not necessarily for commercial gain.

On those links there is a Find a Centre button where you should be able to find the closest place to you where you can take the course.  3 days I think, practical.  It will often be your local college or somewhere that teaches agricultural stuff.

[Foobar]

Of course it is silly because you don't need the certificate to purchase the actual product (in most cases), which kinda negates the whole certificate thing!

[Foobar]

Then of course there is the question about who exactly will police this rule.  If you aren't spraying other peoples land or claiming subsidies or SPF on your own land then the only inspection you will ever get is from Animal Health (if you keep livestock), and they only come every 5 years or so.
I can only assume that it is the powers-that-be's intention to restrict the sale of these products to only those with certificates at some point in the future?

[Backinwellies]

Oh and it will cost upwards of £400

[juliem]

Was listening to R4 farming today and they said ECC are now considering banning that weedkiller in Pathclear!!!
Incidentally I recommend good fencing...sheep and pastor.You can still buy it...no licence required...but for how long ? A small bottle has lasted me 6 years with 12 acres. (Costs £35)

[DenisCooper]

ok, thanks for all the replies...

thats interesting - why do you not need a certificate to use Pastor Pro?

i've just seen, its a bit more expensive than the headland and (2l is about £35) but it looks like it will do the job i need and get rid of the thistles...

you're right - the course is £500 - thats just one of them....

[juliem]

Horsey people seem to use pastor.....I try and use it when sheep have been moved to another field...but you only need a window of a few days before livestock can go back on.I use it with a hand sprayer...use it in my garden as well on briars/nettles.
Thistles require persistent little and often...which is why blanket spraying is for me not appropiate..when the sheep will eat the rest.
I do get country stewardship grant but I am gambling on it being extremely unlikely that Environment Agency have got thè resources to visit me....they did visit last year but that was the only time in 16 years and when I added 2 acres to get past the 5 hectare qualification.

[Mickey]

For hand spraying you may find Grazon Pro better than Pastor which is afaik for vehicle borne sprayers.

[pharnorth]

http://uk.dowagro.com/grandfather-rights-and-grassland-sprays/

According to the Dow site you do need the certificate for Pastor Pro and Grazon.  I guess it makes sense but I can see a lot more small patches of ground developing a ragwort and thistle problem.......

[juliem]

"glyphosate was what they were talking about banning on the R4 farming today ....or was IT A HORRIBLE DREAM.
At 6 am I am only half awake!!!
Remember sodium chlorate which is no longer available..use to be ideal for paths in gardens,
This weedkiller thing is making my life as a smallholder very difficult.I would seriously consider going organic if it weren't for all the paperwork.
Am I right in thinking people with horses don't need a licence if they spray their paddocks?

[Buttermilk]

People with horses DO need a licence just like everyone else.

[DenisCooper]

thanks for all the advice...

luckily i was speaking to one of my neighbours yesterday (they own one of the adjacent fields) and she has a spray certificate so she can be around to supervise when i need to do it....

i'll consider the course in due time, but since i really don't want to me using to many chemicals i'm hoping it will be a one off, and then i can keep on top of it.

[twizzel]

thanks for all the advice...

luckily i was speaking to one of my neighbours yesterday (they own one of the adjacent fields) and she has a spray certificate so she can be around to supervise when i need to do it....

i'll consider the course in due time, but since i really don't want to me using to many chemicals i'm hoping it will be a one off, and then i can keep on top of it.

Your neighbour can spray it for you, but she can't supervise you spraying under her certificate- it's the person spraying that must hold the correct certificate as far as I'm aware.

[cloddopper]

It's these well meaning EU edicts that are hurting not just the smallholder .farmer & market gardener but the doestic gardener as well .

 I'm having a heck of a time finding effective  controls for all manner of creepie crawlyin my veg beds .
I'm now almost out of liquid Derris which was a very good all round pest control and reasonably safe when stored or applied as per the instructions .

 The EU work on the precautionary principle of if it might have some sort of remote effect known or unknown they want to  " Ban it " , License it out of production or only allow certified trained  " EXPERTS "  to do it .