Farmers offered environmentally-friendly slug pellets at 50% discount

United Utilities is offering farmers 50% off more environmentally-friendly ferric phosphate slug pellets
United Utilities is offering farmers 50% off more environmentally-friendly ferric phosphate slug pellets

Farmers in Cheshire and North Wales are being offered the chance to switch to more environmentally-friendly slug pellets to help improve raw water quality.

Slug pellets are seen as important for farmers to have an effective way of protecting their crops from slugs.

However, traditional pellets contain the chemical metaldehyde which can be harmful to wildlife and difficult to remove from raw water.

There are strict guidelines to follow when using metaldehyde which include no pellets being allowed to fall within a minimum of 10 metres of any field boundary or watercourse.

Farmers are also not allowed to use them when drains are flowing or heavy rain is forecast.

The Metaldehyde Stewardship Group’s ‘Get Pelletwise’ campaign aims to help farmers minimise environmental impacts.

However, United Utilities is taking a different approach by attempting to encourage farmers.

In three of its surface water safeguard zones, the River Dee, River Dane and the Llangollen Canal, farmers are now being offered an alternative type of pellet.

'Fifty percent off'

The North West water company is offering farmers money-off ferric phosphate slug pellets. Making the switch also simplifies slug pellet applications with just one product being used.

Dr Kate Snow, from United Utilities, explained: “We support the Metaldehyde Stewardship Group’s efforts to minimise the environmental impacts of metaldehyde slug pellets but we’re hoping to encourage more farmers to switch to ferric phosphate slug pellets which are just as effective as metaldehyde, and easier to treat.

“We’re offering farmers fifty per cent off the price of ferric phosphate pellets and, if they’ve already bought metaldehyde, we can help them make the switch at no extra cost.

“By controlling the amount of pesticides flowing into raw water we can reduce the need for costly treatment processes which is better for the environment and better value for our customers,” she added.

James Huxley, of DJ Huxley (Farms) Ltd, has used the pellets, and insists they minimise risk to water quality.

“I’ve used ferric phosphate slug pellets exclusively over the last two seasons. Last year was particularly challenging being so wet. I’m very pleased with the slug control ferric phosphate provides,” he said.

“Switching to ferric phosphate means I still control slug numbers, only have to calibrate the spreader for one product and minimise risk to water quality.”