As the wheat bulb fly hatch is well underway, according to monitoring by crop consultancy ADAS,  industry campaigners behind the voluntary  'Say NO to DRIFT' campaign have urged growers using Chlorpyrifos to control hatching populations of Wheat Bulb fly in late drilled crops to use low drift nozzles to ensure compliance with vitally important stewardship measures.

 

Duncan Connabeer, of agronomy firm Hutchinsons, said that low drift nozzles are an absolute must for all applications of the pesticide. He stated "This is a key stewardship requirement, that every grower, adviser and operator using or recommending chlorpyrifos treatments needs to act upon"

 

"It appears that we have had a year's grace but there is still a lot to prove that the industry can steward products voluntarily and ensure chlorpyrifos applicators adhere to the measures."

 

He said such measures are especially important in the East of England, where the wheat bulb fly hatch is most severe and, as such, chemical application is highest. Industry campaigners maintain that low drift equipment is just as effective as older nozzles.