Memorandum submitted by the Agricultural
Engineers Association (Z01)
The AEA represents manufacturers and sole
importers of agrochemical application equipment. Our members manufacture
and sell a wide range of machines using different application
techniques, designed for use in agriculture, horticulture, forestry,
professional turf and lawn and garden.
The AEA introduced a Sprayer Testing Scheme
in 1997 in response to the request from machine users for a simple
independent and consistent procedure that could be used across
the United Kingdom. The AEA Scheme was used as a model by several
European countries and is in line with the European Standard BS
EN 13790 that is currently progressing through formal protocols.
The AEA Testing Scheme was adopted by the VI
in 2002 and launched as the NSTS (National Sprayer Testing Scheme)
on 1 January 2003.
Initially targets were established on the basis
of the CSL survey and the first target of 5,000 machines tested
in the period 1 January 2003-31 March 2004 was exceeded (5,075
passed, seven failed and removed from service).
Manufacturers, distributors and dealers have
had to change their processes to accommodate NSTS. They have had
to invest in new manufacturing processes as well as testing and
collection equipment, training and promotion. There is a dramatic
change in awareness of the issues within the supply industry reflecting
the change of attitudes amongst their customers—the users.
All Terrain Vehicles
Balers and Wrappers
Broadcasters and Spreaders
Chainsaws
Chippers and Shredders
Cultivation
Driers
Drills and Planters
Engines
Fencing
| Forestry
Fork Lifts
Garden Equipment
Golf Courses and Parks
Hedge Maintenance
Horticulture
Irrigation
Lawn and Garden
Livestock
Mowers
| Ploughs
Pumps
Root Crops
Silage
Slurry
Sprayers
Stone Separators
Storage
Sugar Beet
Sweepers
| Tractors
Trailers
Trimmers
Turf Maintenance
Vacuums
Vegetables
Washers
Waste Water
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Sprayer testing was originally accepted quickly by a range
of users. Many were at the forefront of quality food production
and their equipment was normally in good condition with 30˜35O/o
requiring minor rectification or repair. As test numbers increased
the level rose to about 650/0. As we test an increasing number
of machines for the second, third or more times, the rate has
declined considerably as machine operators are more aware of the
potential problems with leaks, drips, worn hoses and inaccurate
gauges.
Anecdotally, we believed that another change resulting from
the VI was the reduction in machines in use as machine owners
became aware of the full impact of the Voluntary Initiative. In
February 2004, PSD commissioned a survey on sprayer numbers within
the Farm Practice Survey and this records that numbers have dropped
12% and that a target of 20,900 at 31 March 2006 is unachievable
from a machine park of 18,300 machines.
As machine numbers will continue to decline—farm integration,
rationalisation of sprayer practice, use of specialist spraying
contractors etc—we believe that targets based on machine
numbers are incorrect and we are recommending a change to a target
based on sprayed area (based on PSD figures).
October 2004
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