A testing way to save cash
A testing way to save cash
Sprayer testing may not only
help stave off the introduction
of a punitive pesticide tax, it
can save growers hard cash.
Peter Hill describes the
scheme and sets out where
sprayers can be given that
all-important inspection
IT seems bizarre that a machine charged with handling thousands of £s worth of pesticides each year will often undergo the most cursory of checks before it is put to use.
Which is reason enough to sign-up to the AEA Sprayer Test Scheme, a voluntary programme for farmers and growers wanting to ensure that pesticides are used both responsibly and economically.
Initially introduced with a two-year inspection cycle, the scheme has been stepped up a gear to include annual testing as part of a package of measures put forward by the Crop Protection Association on behalf of the farming industry to discourage introduction of the proposed pesticide tax.
The AEA target is to have 50% of an estimated 25,000 eligible sprayers being tested under the scheme by the end of 2004, with all sprayers covered within another two years. A tall order indeed given that just over 2000 sprayers have been tested since the scheme was introduced two years ago.
But Duncan Russell, services manager at AEA, the farm machinery industrys trade organisation, believes there are sound economic arguments for growers having their machines tested, quite apart from any environmental and crop assurance benefits that may result from using a sprayer fully tuned to the task.
"Some 35% of sprayers tested so far have needed some work doing to achieve the standard required and the most frequent reason for failure is worn – and therefore inaccurate – nozzles," he points out. "As that leads to over-application of pesticides, there are clearly savings to be made. I calculate that growers in this situation would recoup the typical £125 cost of the test over 25ha of wheat or just 7ha of potatoes.
"It is easy to under-estimate the effect on spraying performance and economics that an apparently minor maladjustment or faulty component can make." *
Having sprayers checked over and tested each year should ensure they are properly equipped and working correctly – the benefit of the environment and spraying economics.
AEA approved sprayer test centres
Tests are usually performed on-farm and, by agreement, can be followed by any rectification work or parts replacement needed to achieve a pass, as well as a general service.
Aberdeenshire
Robertson Crop Services, Cuminestown, Turriff. Tel: 01888-544666. Contact: John Forrest.
Angus
Wallace of Kelso, Glamis, Forfar. Tel: 01307-840681. Contact: Jim Pitkeathly.
Bedfordshire
L W Vass (Agricultural), Maulden. Tel: 01525-403041
Contact: Mark Stanbridge.
Cambridgeshire
* L Hutchinson, Wisbech. Tel: 01945-461181
Contact: Barry Shearman.*
Anglia Sprayers, Ely. Tel: 01353-666615
Contact: Geoff Miles.
Cornwall
Cornwall Farmers, Praze On The Beeble, Camborne. Tel: 01209-831404 Contact: Graham Denning.
Cornwall Farmers, St Austell. Tel: 01726-890666
Contact: Brian Tripcony.
Spraytest.co.uk, Newbridge, Truro. Tel: 01872-262850
Contact: John Sandys.**
Cumbria
Rickerby, Carlisle. Tel: 01228-527521 Contact: Allan Morris/Maurice Lamb
Rickerby, Penrith. Tel: 01768-863718
Contact: Allan Morris/Maurice Lamb.
Devon
Kings Farm Machinery, Bampton, Tiverton. Tel: 01398-331091
Contact: Graham Smith.
Masons of Chudleigh, Newton Abbot. Tel: 01626-852140
Contact: Mark Beer.
Durham
E A Clayton, Carlton, Stockton-on-Tees. Tel: 01740-630254.
Contact: George Jordan.
East Lothian
Crop Chemicals, Drem, North Berwick. Tel: 01620-842170
Contact: Graeme Foggo.
G Reekie Group, Tranent. Tel: 01875-615355.
Contact: Alan Ramsay.
Sprayer Care, Dunbar. Tel: 07801-189145
Contact: George Wilson.
Essex
Billericay Farm Services, Downham. Tel: 01268-710237
Contact: Simon Compton.
Coleman Engineering (Machinery), Barnston, Dunmow. Tel: 01371-876391
Contact: Simon Eggleton.
Ernest Doe, Ulting. Tel: 01245-380311
Contact: Chris Brown.
Framlingham Tractors, Horsley Cross, Manningtree. Tel: 01206-391651
Contact: Service manage.
Spraytec, Thaxted, Dunmow. Tel: 01279-812727
Contact: Robert Webb.*
Fife
G Reekie Group, Cupar. Tel: 01334-652445.
Contact: Brian Cristisan.
Gloucestershire
Kellands Agricultural Spraying Supplies, Birdlip. Tel: 01452-863900
Contact: Simon Levick.
Hampshire
B B Farm Services, Timsbury, Romsey. Tel: 01794-368364
Contact: Bill Baker.
Collyers Services, Hambledon. Tel: 023-9263 2202
Contact: John Davy.
Herefordshire
Technicrop, Phocle Green, Ross-on-Wye. Tel: 01989-780500
Contact: Richard Green.
Highland
Robertson Crop Services, Kildary, Invergordon. Tel: 01862-842552
Contact: Simon Jackson.
Kent
Agwood, Swingfield, Dover. Tel: 01303-844682
Contact: Dave Hearsey.
Willow Agricultural Engineers, Newchurch, Romney Marsh. Tel: 01303-874490
Contact: Simon Knott.
Lancashire
Chemical & Agricultural Services, Halsall, Ormskirk. Tel: 01704-840060
Contact: Chris Littler.
Lincolnshire
Boston Crop Sprayers, Frampton Fen, Boston. Tel: 01205-368500
Contact: Colin Buckley.
Cleanacres Northern Machinery, Crowle, Scunthorpe. Tel: 01724-711100
Contact: Terry Royston.*
Farmstar, Brigg. Tel: 01652-654944
Contact: Service manager.
L W Househam, Leadenham, Lincoln. Tel: 01400-272519
Contact: Nigel Greeves.
Maltby Group, Boston. Tel: 01205-722371
Contact: Mark Bespicht.
Maltby Group, Lincoln. Tel: 01522-790720 Contact: Mick Denton.
Parker Agricultural, Brigg. Tel: 01652-650600
Contact: John Watt.
Peacock & Binnington, Brigg. Tel: 01652 600200
Contact: Derek Blow.
Sands Agricultural Services, Holbeach. Tel: 01406-422606
Contact: Neal Sands.
Spraycare, Roughton Moor, Woodhall Spa. Tel: 01526-353671
Contact: Gary Avison.
Norfolk
Agrovista UK, Walsingham, Fakenham. Tel: 01328-820444
Contact: Trevor Johnson.*
Sands Agricultural Machinery, Brunstead, Stalham. Tel: 01692-580522
Contact: Neal Sands.
Sands Agricultural Services, Swaffham. Tel: 01760-722772
Contact: Neal Sands.
Northamptonshire
Farol, Byfield, Daventry. Tel: 01327-264900
Contact: Philip Jenkinson.
Tallwin Services, East Haddon. Tel: 01604-770807
Contact: Peter Wise.
Northumberland
Rickerby, Alnwick. Tel: 01665-603631
Contact: Trevor Crozier/Alan Morris/Maurice Lamb.
Rickerby, Cornhill On Tweed. Tel: 01890-883333
Contact: Allan Morris/Maurice Lamb.
Rickerby, Tyne Green, Hexham. Tel: 01434-604131
Contact: Allan Morris/Maurice Lamb.
Nottinghamshire
John Deere, Langar. Tel: 01949-860491 Contact: Chris Meacock.
Maltby Group, Newark. Tel: 01636-688688
Contact: Steve King.
Platts Harris Agricultural Group, Tuxford, Newark. Tel: 01777-870111
Contact: Dick Malone.
Oxfordshire
Farol, Milton Common, Oxford. Tel: 01844-278843
Contact: Nick Porat.
Lister Wilder, Crowmarsh, Wallingford. Tel: 01491-838388
Contact: Gary Hayden.
R Tincknell & Sons, Clanfield, Bampton. Tel: 01367-810466
Contact: David Harrison.
Perth & Kinross
G Reekie Group, Perth. Tel: 01738-622471.
Contact: Bryan Gregory.
Rutland
Knight Farm Machinery, South Luffenham, Oakham. Tel: 01780-722200
Contact: Steve Sissons.**
Scottish Borders
Crop Services (Scotland), Maxwellheugh, Kelso. Tel: 01573-224241
Contact: Douglas Stephen.
Wallace of Kelso, Kelso. Tel: 01573-224131
Contact: David Paul.
Shropshire
Central Crop Sprayer Services, Whitchurch. Tel: 01948-840187
Contact: Chris Boughey.
Spratec, Stirchley Park, Telford. Tel: 01952-405871
Contact: Simon Ward.
Stirling
G Reekie Group, Stirling. Tel: 01786-445577
Contact: Brian Sangster.
Suffolk
Agrispray, Bury St Edmunds. Tel: 01284-724455
Contact: Michael Monk.
Blyth & Pawsey, Burwell. Tel: 01638-743384
Contact: Nigel Barker.
Framlingham Tractors, Framlingham, Woodbridge. Tel: 01728-723963 Contact: Ian Snowden.
Framlingham Tractors, Swainsthorpe, Norwich. Tel: 01508-471234
Contact: Service manager.
Mitchell-Rowlands, Buxhall, Stowmarket. Tel: 01449-736300
Contact: Graham Mitchell-Rowlands.
Thurlow Nunn Standen, Elmswell, Bury St Edmunds. Tel: 01359-240725
Contact: Albert Hayward.
Sussex
Chichester Tractors, Runcton, Chichester. Tel: 01243-531298
Contact: Tim Butler.
Warwickshire
Chemiculture, Bishops Itchington, Leamington Spa. Tel: 01926-613889
Contact: Martin Shelton.
John Rhodes Agricultural Services, Barcheston, Shipston-on-Stour. Tel: 01608-663336
Contact: John Rhodes.
Wiltshire
Farol, Pewsey. Tel: 01672-562525.
Contact: Andy Dobson.
R Tincknell & Sons, Devizes. Tel: 01380-722191
Contact: Adrian Philpotts.
R Tincknell & Sons, Wilton, Salisbury. Tel:01722-743722
Contact: John Kitley.
Yorkshire
Benest Technologies, Swinefleet, Goole. Tel: 01724-798237
Contact: Graham Basil.*
Farmstar, Marr, Doncaster. Tel: 01302-786786
Contact: Ian Husler.
Farmstar, Market Weighton. Tel: 01430-875900
Contact: Service manager.
Fieldcare, Felixkirk, Thirsk. Tel: 01845-537555
Contact: S Bishop.
Kilnwick Sprayers, Thorpe-le-Street, York. Tel: 01430-871222
Contact: Mark Oglesby.
NDSM, Kirkbymoorside. Tel: 01751-431332
Contact: Nigel Metcalfe.*
Spray-Trac Systems, Marton-cum-Grafton, Boroughbridge. Tel: 01423-322377
Contact: Murray Allen.
Wilfred Scruton, Foxholes, Driffield. Tel: 01262-470221
Contact: Guy Scruton.
*Also equipped to test granule applicators.
**These operators provide a national service, often through local machinery dealers.
For latest information, phone Duncan Russell at the AEA on 01733-362925.