Best practice saves pesticides

Since it was set up a decade ago, the Voluntary Initiative on pesticides has been the subject of close scrutiny – but it has weathered the storm, according to initiative and farm union leaders.

Set up to mitigate pesticide regulation and to avoid the threat of pesticide tax back in 2001, the VI on the self regulation of pesticide use, encouraged farmers to utilise best practice, and prove what can be delivered without regulation.

Now, with NFUS vice-president John Picken set to take over the helm as chairman of the VI in Scotland, initiative chiefs said the VI should be well positioned for the challenges still to come – particularly the increasing pressure of EU legislation.

Wiltshire dairy and arable farmer, Richard Butler, who became chairman of the VI south of the Border in July, heralded the training of more than 20,000 operators and the regular testing of spraying kit as a tangible success story of the VI’s work in recent years.