Precision farming ’can benefit the environment’

Velcourt Farm Manager Jason Turnbull believes precision farming techniques in oilseed rape can help meet metaldehyde stewardship objectives by placing slug pellets accurately within crop rows.

Speaking at a trials day, organised by Velcourt and Openfield at Deeping St Nicholas, Mr Turnbull said he was looking to reduce metaldehyde use by only applying slug pellets sparingly when drilling oilseed rape crops.

Mr Turnbull described how slug pellets were only placed along the rows as seed was drilled. As a result application rates had fallen from 5kg/ha to just 1kg.

’Naturally, there is a significant cost saving,’ said Mr Turnbull. ’However, we are also making a significant contribution to the aims of the Pelletwise Campaign and reducing the potential environmental impact of metaldehyde.’

Around 150 farmers and agronomists from the Midlands and eastern England attended the event, which also saw representatives speaking from the John Innes Centre, Growhow UK and Agrovista.