Water UK is pleased to announce that Metazachlor Matters will be featured on their stand at Cereals for the first time this year. They will be joined by the Metaldehyde Stewardship Group and representatives from seven of England’s water companies, as in previous years.
 
Pesticide stewardship is the main focus of the stand, promoting the role farmers can play in reducing instances of crop protection treatments reaching water. It’s in line with a trend that’s seeing water companies working increasingly closely with the agricultural sector, for the mutual benefit of protecting surface water and the availability of pesticides.
 
Metazachlor Matters is one of the more recent stewardship initiatives to be launched. With metazachlor containing products applied to two-thirds of winter oilseed rape crops in the UK, it highlights the importance of taking proactive measures to protect the herbicide armoury.
 
As well as getting the latest updates on the slug pellet stewardship front from the MSG (Metaldehyde Stewardship Group), a visit to the Water UK stand is a chance to speak direct to the water companies. They will be on hand to explain the specific issues they are facing, and how they are engaging with farmers in their specific water catchments.
 
Another reason to come onto the stand is the opportunity to gain a BASIS point and/or two NRoSO points by following this year’s ‘Slug Trail’ which will be running between the Water UK, Certis and De Sangosse stands, situated near the central thoroughfare, on Environment, Education and Research aisle. The trail requires participants to answer questions to update their knowledge of slug pellet stewardship practices.
 
Also on display are new informative graphs to illustrate when pesticides typically become a problem in watercourses; and there will be a high precision pelleter with GPS technology that is highlighting the impending regulations, requiring all pesticide application equipment – including spreaders – to be tested.
 
Water UK can be found at stand 338 at Cereals on June 15 and 16.