On the road again

Bayer's stewardship team are on the road again in the run up to 2007 plantings bringing best practice training to all potato growing areas.

This year's training programme includes modules for pre-planting treatment of seed potatoes, in-furrow spraying and application of nematicides and slug pellets. Attendance qualifies for 7 NRoSO points and provides full preparation to take the NPTC PA12 and PA4 tests.

NPTC examiner David Turner, who is leading the programme for Bayer CropScience, says the main objective is to equip operators for the increasingly demanding job of potato planting. "On top of the core task of planting the seed, operators increasingly have to deal with up to three planter mounted applications; nematicide, tuber treatment and in-furrow spraying."

"Training is essential to ensure operations are carried out safely and there's a strong financial incentive too. Together these three inputs add up to £400 to £500/ha and it's vital they're put on right to get the full return from this investment in the crop, so calibration is a key theme."

Bayer's environmental stewardship manager Steve Higginbotham urges growers to take advantage of this free training. "It covers the application of all tuber fungicides, nematicides and slug pellets, not just Bayer products like Monceren, Mocap and methiocarb pellets - it's a 'one stop shop' for operators' training."

Last year 157 growers and operators representing around 13,000ha attended and the aim is to reach a similar number this year with the programme of 14 events. Early planting areas of Cornwall were covered before Christmas and this week two events were held in Herefordshire.

Later in February the road show goes to Lancashire and Cheshire on the 27th and Yorkshire on the 28th. In March it moves up to Scotland with the following dates planned: Borders 13th, Perthshire 14th and Angus 15th. Then it is down to the Eastern counties for: Norfolk 20th, Cambridgeshire 21st and Lincolnshire 22nd. Further dates can also be arranged to meet demand and operators who cannot attend can always access the e-learning tool on-line.

For more information or to book a place contact Steve Higginbotham on 01223 226609 or steve.higginbotham@bayercropscience.com or visit the website: www.bayercropscience.co.uk