Poster warning over sheep dip

A NEW POSTER campaign, backed by the two Welsh farming unions, is set to highlight the risks of deliberately or accidentally using the wrong sheep dip chemical.

The warning follows the discovery last year that some west-Wales farmers were cutting costs by putting an arable spray in their dip baths that was not approved for animal use.

Now the brightly coloured posters are warning flockmasters that product misuse can lead to prosecution, reduce incomes and harm the environment.

It could also lead to a producer‘s expulsion from farm assurance schemes.

“Correct farming practice is vital to protect the livelihoods of farmers and to safeguard public health, animal welfare and the environment,” said Carwyn Jones, Welsh Assembly rural affairs minister.

At the launch of the campaign, the chances of being caught were spelled out by Bob Merriman, policy adviser for Environment Agency Wales.

He warned that traces of prohibited chemicals could be found many months after they were used.