Methods to reduce risk of spills

Drip trays (manufactured from recycled plastics) have been handed out to all farmers around our main reservoirs and those who would like one as a way to reduce / eliminate the risk of any drips and spills of pesticides entering the yard drainage system/nearby watercourses whilst filling the sprayer.

Farmer feedback has been positive with farmers often being very happy to replace their make-shift drip trays with a purpose built, lightweight one, and also commented on the usefulness of the spout to be able to pour captured pesticides back into the pesticide bottle to be re-used or away onto suitable untreated, undrained land.

Chemical spill kits designed to soak up any chemical spills have also been handed out to interested farmers or raffled off at local events.

Cab stickers have been produced for farmers to stick onto the windows of their machinery which have the emergency contact number for the Environment Agency and Anglian Water. The idea behind this is that if there has been an accident e.g. a pesticide spill in the yard, the contact numbers are to hand in the hope the risks and damage is limited. 

It is reported a high percentage of pesticide losses are potentially from farm yards, with spills and drips getting into the farm drainage system and out into the wider catchment. One idea that came from talking to farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural industry was that knowing where farm drains run to is really important, but not known by all in the industry.

Having a up to date map of where farm drains run to is a measure of compliance with the Red Tractor Crop Assurance scheme, and also helps in the event of a chemical spill accident in that if the location and direction of farm drains are known, quick remedial action can be taken to block up that drain to stop the chemical getting out into the wider catchment.

With this in mind, drain dye kits were provided to farmers at local events throughout the East Anglian region to further discussion and also to facilitate working with farmers to install mitigation measures to .minimise / eliminate drips and spills in yards to ensure no pollution of water courses e.g. drip trays, spill kits and designated filling areas with bunded areas.