Protecting water quality by preventing pesticides reaching water is the primary aim of the Voluntary Initiative's autumn message 'Burst one bubble and we're all in trouble.'
The 'bubble' message features on a fun and informative cartoon postcard for farmers and sprayer operators, as part of the VI's autumn H2OK? - Keep it Clean campaign.
"Each bubble highlights an issue that must be considered before spraying," says VI manager Patrick Goldsworthy. "We felt the cartoon was a simple way to get across a complex message. The bottom line is that if farmers focus on just one aspect, Murphy's Law is such that they'll be caught out by the one thing they forgot.
"For example, last autumn's weather meant there was a bigger problem from surface run-off and soil erosion than had been the case in the previous few years."
Advice on each bubble, on the back of the postcard, highlights best practices and the things farmers and operators need to consider when applying pesticides - all can be critical factors in reducing the risk of pesticide residues being detected in watercourses.
"In the past four years the VI has had tremendous support from the farming community and we need to maintain that momentum. The whole industry has invested too much to risk poor results this autumn and we don't want to re-open the debate over a pesticide tax. No one can afford to let their guard down this autumn," says Mr Goldsworthy.