An Invitation to attend a Slug Pelleting Seminar
You will probably be aware, from articles in the farming press etc that unacceptable levels of metaldehyde (the active ingredient in many slug pellets) have been found in surface waters destined for drinking water supplies. CRD (the new name for the Pesticides Safety Directorate) will undoubtedly withdraw these products unless those levels reduce rapidly.
It has become obvious that many operators are applying slug pellets without sufficient knowledge of the issues, without adequate training in pellet application and worse still, without the currently appropriate PA4 qualification. Those who took PA2A between 1987 and 1994 were automatically given a PA4 qualification, but may never have received even the most basic training in pelleting. Also those who are operating on ‘Grandfather Rights’ may never have received formal training.
CRD has agreed that a new PA4S unit which will be a slightly modified PA4 to only cover slug pellet application will be available as from 01 January 2010. If someone attends the SPS seminar that already holds PA2 (post June 1994) and passes the short exam paper at the end they will be issued with a PA4S certificate, as requested by CRD, to permanently upgrade their certification to cover slug pellet application. If people attend and pass who are already qualified (i.e. PA4 or PA2 pre June 1994) they will also receive a PA4S certificate as proof that they have been updated and now hold this unit officially. People who do not hold anything, i.e. unqualified, must achieve PA1 and then they will receive a letter from City & Guilds NPTC to confirm they have attended and passed the SPS seminar and exam and that this will then allow them to apply slug pellets until July 2011. If they want to apply slug pellets after July 2011 they will have to take the new PA4S unit (which is a practical assessment).
Delegates will receive:
The official SPS Course Manual
Multiple choice (25 questions) exam at the end of the seminar
Certificate or letter (as outlined above)
Programme
1. Slug biology
2. Products available
3. Test baiting
4. Slug pellets and water
5. Product labels
6. Delivery, handling & storage of pellets
7. Appropriate PPE
8. Physical and Environmental Risk Assessment
9. Weather conditions & soil type
10. Calibration of the applicator
11. Field procedures and checking uniformity of spread
12. Applicator cleaning and storage
These Seminars will be presented by Jon Sarsfield on behalf of City & Guilds NPTC
Dates - 13th January, 27th January & 2nd February 2010
Time - 9.00am until 1pm, finishing with a light lunch
Venue – Staffordshire Young Farmers Centre, County Showground, Weston Road, Stafford ST16 0BD
Booking Instructions – Please contact Jon on 01785/713983 or 07957/585780 (answer machines on both)
or via e-mail to j.sarsfield43@btinternet.com
Cost: £50.00 inc. VAT (£40.00 for paid up members of Staffs Young Farmers)
“It’s all about saving Slug Pellets”
This seminar will attract 6 CPD points and is eligible for both the National Register of Sprayer Operators (NRoSO) and the BASIS Professional Register.
