What are farmers doing to reduce the risk of environmental pollution from pesticides?
Pesticide use is falling: many farmers are adopting farming practices that reduce the need for pesticide applications – known as integrated crop management. This, in combination with more effective sprays, has meant that 23% less pesticide is used now than 10 years ago. Farmers are also using closed transfer systems to reduce the risk of point source pollution and using pesticides on a need only basis. Through the Voluntary Initiative farmers have met the promised long term trends of wider environmental improvements due to more sensitive farming practices and the influence of the VI. • The Environment Agency reported a 19% rduction in pesticide levels in rivers in 2004 compared with the mean for 1998-2002 (State of the Environment 2005). • The VI pilot catchment study has shown that it is possible in some seasons to reduce residues in surface water by more than 98%. he study also highlighted the significance of weather and local effects. • Defra’s farmland bird indicator confirms that
