This is a subscriber-only article
A Department of Agriculture spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal that “nearly 4,000 certification labels have been issued by DAFM to registered equipment inspectors”. This does not mean that each label has yet been affixed to a compliant sprayer, as testers usually buy them in packs of 10 and keep a reasonable supply ahead of them.
Since last Friday, all blast and orchard sprayers and all sprayers with a boom greater than 3m in width (older than five years) intended for immediate use must be tested and certified by a Department-registered inspector. This is in application of the EU’s sustainable use directive on pesticides.
The Department estimates that there are around 30,000 sprayers in the country, though no data is available on those older than five years. While this leaves thousands of sprayers to be tested, having them in a shed over the winter is not an offence.
A farmer would only be deemed to be non-compliant should they use an uncertified sprayer
“A farmer would only be deemed to be non-compliant should they use an uncertified sprayer, which is more than five years old, to apply professional-use products after 26 November 2016,” the Department spokesperson said.
“Once the sprayer has been tested and certified by the time it is used (post 26 November 2016), there is no breach of regulations.”
Farmers found to be using untested sprayers now face a €250 fine – broadly equivalent to the cost of the test itself.
“It is anticipated that a large number of sprayers will be tested over the winter period prior to spraying taking place on farms next spring,” the spokesperson said.
This was confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal by Michael Fitzpatrick, a registered inspector with McGee Farm Machinery in Dunleer, Co Louth.
“Some people had the sprayer finished off and anti-freezed for the winter, they didn’t want to have it filled with water again for testing,” he said.
However, Michael has noticed an increase in sprayer testing demand in recent weeks.
“When a deadline comes, it usually takes a month to sink in,” he said.
SHARING OPTIONS: