Farmers have one year in which to ensure that they or their sprayer operator holds a recognised certificate if they plan to apply a professional pesticide, The Voluntary Initiative (VI) has warned.

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One of the requirements of the UK’s Sustainable Use Regulations is that from 26 November 2015, anyone applying professional crop protection products must hold a Recognised Certificate, such as the PA1 and 2A or 6A. Those currently operating under 'Grandfather Rights' have two alternatives:

• To apply pesticides on their own land/property or that of their employer anyone born before 31 December 1964 can take the City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides Replacing Grandfather Rights.
• To apply professional products as a contractor or to land not owned by them or their employer, operators must take the existing Level 2 Safe Use of Pesticides qualification appropriate to the type of equipment used.

After November 26 2015, professional pesticides should not be purchased unless the operator holds an appropriate certificate. The alternative is to delegate the task to a spray contractor with appropriate training and equipment.

So far three hundred farmers have obtained the new Grandfather Certificate, and there has been a surge in interest with the Level 2 Award with an extra 2,700 taking the qualification in the last year.

Commenting on the impending rule change, NFU Vice President Guy Smith said, "This is a bit of training that farmers like myself will have to undertake this winter. Hopefully everyone will have reasonably easy access to training and licensing provision. The NFU has been working with City & Guilds to raise awareness and promote the uptake of crop spraying relevant qualifications to meet the needs of the changes. I would also suggest talking to neighbours who have done the training to ask them for advice as well as contacting your nearest agricultural college."