Crop spraying

If you use pesticides on your farm or holding then this will apply to you.

Pesticides include fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, and plant growth regulators.

The ‘Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Pesticides on Farms and Holdings’ (the Green Code) is published by DEFRA. It aims to provide practical advice on how to meet the requirements of the Food and Environmental Protection Act 1985. You can download a copy of the Green Code using the ‘Green Code’ external link below.

• Green Code

Special provisions apply where aerial application is to be used. You must give prior notification to several different authorities and organisations and keep details of the application for at least 3 years. You can read more about the requirements for aerial spraying in the Green Code.

For certain pesticides which are applied via a ground crop sprayer or a broadcast air-assisted sprayer there is a legal obligation to carry out and record the results of a Local Environmental Risk Assessment for Pesticides (LERAP). You can see detailed guidance on when a LERAP is required and how to carry one out by using the LERAP external link below.  Even if you maintain the 5 metre buffer strip you will still need to record that you have done this.

• LERAP