Metaldehyde alternative ‘costs more but can be just as effective’

While hopes of any extension to the upcoming ban on the use of metaldehyde pellets to control slugs in c r o p s w e r e s c u p p e r e d earlier this week, farmers were yesterday told that t h e a l t e r n a t i ve p r o d u c t could b e just as effective when properly utilised.

It was confirmed earlier this week that despite i n d u s t r y l o b by i n g t h e r e would be no change to the proposed timescale of the ban – and the sale and distribution of metaldehyde slug pellets would end on 30 June 2019 and the disposal, storage and use up of existing stocks would be required by 30 June 2020.

H o w e v e r s p e a k i n g a t an event organised by the S o i l A s s o c i a t i o n , S R U C pest expert Dr Andy Evans warned that the available a l t e r n a t ive , f e r r i c p h o s - phate, was more exp en - sive – so farmers wouldn’t want to waste it:

“R e s e a r c h h a s s h ow n it’s as effective as metaldehyde,” said Evans, “but only if it’s used in the right way.”

He said it wasn’t simply a matter of making a straight swap:

“Timing is really important – you nee d to use it when slugs are likely to be coming out – when it rains, basically. S o you need to watch the weather fore - cast,” warned the consultant.

“There are different timings for different plants, so with potatoes, for examp l e , yo u n e e d t o p u t t h e p ellets down just b ef ore t h e c r o p c a n o p i e s me e t across the rows, so the pellets get to the base of the plant instead of bouncing off. With ferric phosphate at around £15 per hectare you don’t want to be scattering it like confetti, to no effect.”