NFU launches 'Good Neighbour Initiative'‏

The NFU has launched the 'Good Neighbour Initiative' to minimise inconvenience to the general public when pesticides are being sprayed near residential areas.

It consists of a farmers' leaflet, 'Spraying Responsibly – best practice when spraying near to residential areas', that forms the centre section of December's issue of British Farmer and Grower and a Spray Operator Guide which is being distributed to around 14,000 spray operators as part of this year's 'Slug, Solids and Safety' training roadshows which were developed and supported by the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC).

The initiative has been undertaken by the NFU in conjunction with the AIC, Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA), Country Land and Business Association (CLA), Crop Protection Association (CPA) and the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NACC) with advice from the UK Pesticides campaign.

NFU Vice President Paul Temple said: "We believe this initiative shows how the voluntary approach, based on communication and agreed solutions, is an effective way of dealing with the small number of problems that arise from spraying alongside residential areas."