slug pellets - metaldehyde best practice advice

Metaldehyde adviceMetaldehyde advice

Slug Pellets - Metaldehyde best Practice Advice

Metaldehyde Stewardship Group


Slug Pellets are pesticides – Keep pesticides out of water• Used responsibly, and in accordance with the product

label, pesticides present minimal risk to the environment

and the supply of clean water

• In 2007 metaldehyde was detected for the first time in

raw surface water supplies

• Everyone handling slug pellets should follow current

‘BEST PRACTICE’ advice


Only apply pellets in conditions that you would spray in

• If weather and ground conditions prevent spraying there is a temptation to go pelleting instead. DON’T DO IT. If you cannot spray don’t apply pellets

• Affix ‘Best Practice advice to your applicator


Anyone applying slug pellets must be trained• All users of slug pellets must, by law, have received

adequate training and guidance in correct use

• They must hold a certificate of competence (PA1 & PA4) if they:– Were born after 31 December 1964

– Are providing a commercial service

– Holders of PA1 and PA2 issued before 1 June 1994 are certificated to apply slug pellets

– Holders of PA1 and PA2 issued after 1 June 1994 need to complete a PA4


Calibrate your applicator

• Key factors:Pellet characteristics: density, size

and flowability

Spreader settings: flow rate, spread width, forwards speed, pellet type

• Slug pellets and applicators differ greatly. – Calibrate applicators every

time one or more of the above factors changes

• Slug pellets should be applied at the correct rate, ensuring uniform distribution


Know you applicator spread width

• What is the spread width of your applicator?

• Varies according to:

– Disc speed, product type, size of pellet, shape, density as well as

wind speed and direction and terrain

• Stop pellets being applied directly to ditches and other

surface water bodies

– Use deflector plates on headlands if available

– Turn applicator off when turning on headlands

– Use 2 or 3 bout headlands to avoid throwing pellets back into

watercourses when starting a field bout.


Test bait to assess slug pressure• Test bait (trapping) to assess whether treatment with

slug pellets is necessary– Place chicken layers mash under trap and count slug numbers

the following morning.

– DO NOT USE SLUG PELLETS UNDER THE TRAP

• Risk thresholds:– Winter wheat : 4 or more slugs

– Winter OSR: 4 or more slugs in previous

standing crop or >1 in stubble


Do not apply slug pellets if heavy rain is imminent

• Heavy rainfall may cause surface runoff

which could wash pellets off the soil

surface into the receiving watercourse

• Manage soil to reduce risk of runoff

– Establish crop and tramlines across the slope

• Follow VI advice


Fill hoppers in the field• Whenever possible fill the hopper in the field,

– Avoid field gateways and other areas where runoff is likely

• Avoid filling in the farmyard – Runoff is likely to drain directly to surface water

– The risk of spillage while travelling to the field also increases

• Ensure the shutter is closed and fill over a plastic sheet

• Seal up any part used bags

• Bags in use must remain on site or be locked away


Clear up spills immediately – no matter how small

• Take care while filling the applicator to avoid spillages

– Fill over a plastic sheet

• Spilt pellets should be cleaned up IMMEDIATELY

– Place into the hopper for spreading at the approved rate

• Ensure the risks to wildlife from spilt pellets are kept to a

minimum

• Use appropriate PPE when handling pellets


Clean applicator after each days use

• Check the equipment manufacturer’s

recommendations for cleaning

– Use a brush to remove pellets and dust, take care

if using pressure hoses

• The applicator should be cleaned in the field

– Avoids pellets, dust and soil contaminating

watercourses

• The hopper should be emptied and the remaining

pellets placed in a sealed bag


Do not contaminate drains or watercourses when cleaning applicator• Ensure all cleaning activities take place away from watercourses

(>10m) – Avoid areas of the field where runoff is more likely e.g. gateways

• If more thorough cleaning is required in the farmyard use a dedicated, impermeable pesticide handling area, with a sealed drainage system

• Treat contaminated runoff:– Biobed

– Licensed Specialist Waste Contractor

• Store pellet applicator undercover when not in use


Disposal of waste and packaging

• Any spilt pellets that cannot be spread to land MUST be

disposed of via Licensed Waste Contractor

• All packaging should be emptied thoroughly with all

residues spread as pellets

• Waste packaging and contaminated PPE should be

disposed of via Licensed Waste Contractor


• The Metaldehyde Stewardship Group (MSG) comprises of

Lonza (the principal manufacturer of the active ingredient) and

slug pellet formulators Barclay Crop Protection, Certis,

Chiltern Farm Chemicals, De Sangosse, Doff Portland and

Makhteshim Agan.

• The aim of the group is to promote and encourage best

practice use of metaldehyde slug pellets in agriculture,

minimise environmental impact and in particular protect water.

The Metaldehyde Stewardship Group (MSG)

slug pellets - metaldehyde best practice advice

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