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News Releases Fertiliser spreading guide can improve on-farm practice and save money 18 February 2008 Poorly set up and badly operated fertiliser spreaders may be costing growers almost £50 per hectare at today’s nitrogen prices – a cost that could be reduced by reading the industry’s most up-to-date guide on fertiliser application and technology. Entitled ‘Spreading Fertilisers and Applying Slug Pellets’ the new book is the latest in the series of best selling ‘operator handbooks’ published by the British Crop Production Council (BCPC) and provides the answers to key questions on the subject. The higher cost of raw materials; more sophisticated application methods; Cross Compliance; NVZs; The Water Framework Directive and the new Code of Good Agricultural Practice are six good reasons, says the BCPC why it has produced the guide – to help growers to save money and keep on top of the latest environmental regulation when applying fertiliser and slug pellets. Written with operators in mind, the guide summarises the nuts and bolts of how spreaders and slug pellet applicators work and provides expert guidance on calibration, spreading mechanisms and control systems. It also outlines storage, environmental and safety issues as well as field routines, clean-up and safe disposal – with a final chapter on what actions to take in an emergency. “Many sectors of the industry have encouraged us to publish this key advice on fertiliser and slug pellet application,” says BCPC managing director Chris Todd. “It provides growers and their operators with an opportunity to really get to see if they are benefiting from the latest technology available as well as spreading their fertiliser effectively – an important factor at today’s prices.” Mr Todd says that the book also provides answers to key questions on slug pellet application. “There is the assumption that spreading slug pellets is a bit like applying fertiliser but slug pellets are pesticides and, like spraying, qualifications are required and restrictions apply,” he says. “Comprehensive guidance on the safe and effective use of slug pellets is provided in this new guide.” With introductions written by Dr Ian Richards, principal consultant of Ecopt and Professor David Glen of Styloma Research and Consulting, the 66-page guide has input from mechanisation expert, Bill Basford and over 17 organisations within the fertiliser industry. “We believe the new guide will be of benefit to many growers and operators in the arable and livestock industries, in addition to those in the horticultural, forestry and amenity sectors,” adds Mr Todd. Along with other guides in the BCPC’s series of operator handbooks, ‘Spreading Fertilisers and Applying Slug Pellets’ costs £10 per copy and is available now through secure online ordering at: www.bcpc.org/bookshop or call 01420 593200 |
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