The Pesticides Forum recently published their report for 2006 on indicators reflecting the impacts of pesticide use. One of the key findings presented in the report shows that the level of pesticides found in water in 2005 was 7.98%, the highest level recorded since the introduction of indicators. Amongst the reasons given in the report for this increase was heavy rain in the west of the country during the autumn pesticide application period.

PAN UK believes that this should serve as an early warning to farmers, agronomists and the government that research needs to be undertaken to determine better spray regimes and avoid such peaks in the future. It seems clear that there are going to be future shifts in the British climate and it is crucial that modifications are made to pesticide spraying to take this into account.

The report also highlighted the fact that not all the pesticides found in water are as a result of agricultural use but that many result from use in the amenity sector. In fact in Wales, as a result of the type of farming predominant there, the majority of pesticides found in water are from amenity use.

Again this should be cause for concern and an indication that there is an urgent need for a reappraisal of the way in which pesticides are used in the amenity sector.

PAN UK will continue to push for decreased pesticide usage in both agriculture and the amenity sectors by providing accurate data and research to inform policy at all levels.