The new regulations for farmers and growers using pesticides come into force this November when everyone purchasing chemical products and spraying weeds on their farm, must undergo training in the safe use of pesticides and achieve nationally recognised Certificates of Competence.

There are three training courses and three associated City and Guilds Certificates in relation to spraying weeds on farmland; PA1 Foundation Training required for the purchase of chemical sprays PA2 Tractor Training for spraying with a tractor and sprayer and PA6 Knapsack Training for spot spraying. These courses are provided by CAFRE and are booked up into October but more courses are expected to be launched in the autumn.

The courses could cost up to £200 but the Vaughan Trust has launched a grant to assist farmers in the county. The Vaughan Trust has made funding available for Fermanagh farmers to support their compliance with the new Pesticides Regulations. Financial support of £150 will be paid to farmers who successfully complete two of the three certificates needed to purchase weed control products and spray weeds on their farm. Contact Andrew Dillon, Clerk to the Trustees, on 028 66 344802 for further details and a claim form.

To qualify for the Vaughan Trust assistance, the training and tests do not have to be undertaken in Co Fermanagh as to encourage competition in the provider training market. Farmers will be funded for the successful completion of two of the three training courses with a grant of £150 subject to completion of the claim form VT-SS2. Receipts of training costs and a copy of the successfully achieved Certificates of Competence will be required to accompany the claim.

To ensure that the young farmer is resident in Co Fermanagh there will be a requirement to provide a farm business number which must be verified by the local DARD office. The onus is on the applicant to call in to the DARD Direct Office at Inishkeen House, Enniskillen to request verification.

If there are more than 100 claims in any one financial year the Vaughan Trust reserves the right to pay additional verified claims in date order and limit funding subject to funds available.

Grandfather Rights applies to someone before on or before December 31 1964 and they are currently permitted to apply pesticides to land without the need for a certificate of competence. However from November 26 2015, anyone who applies pesticides and does not hold a certificate of competence will be breaking the law.

The Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations 2012 allows operators eligible under Grandfather Rights to continue using pesticides until November 26. After this date everyone who uses PPPs for professional use must hold a Certificate of Competence. DARD says it will also be an offence for anyone to purchase any pesticides from this date, if they do not hold the appropriate certification.

The Code of Practice for using Plant Protection Products states, “By law everyone who uses pesticides professionally must have received adequate training in using pesticides safely.” There are two options available to operators to become suitably qualified to spray using a boom sprayer. They are either the current route i.e. the PA1 and PA2 and/or PA6 or the new Grandfather Rights route. CAFRE will offer assessment and training for both options. The training will be provided free of charge to farmers but there will be a charge for registration and certification with City and Guilds and for the assessment. Courses are held at either Greenmount or Loughry.

One option is the current route of PA1 & PA2/PA6; Undertake an assessment in PA1 which is the Safe use and Handling of Pesticides and then an assessment in PA2 which is for using a Boom Sprayer. There is also an assessment available in PA6 which is for Hand Held Applicators.

The second option is for the New Grandfather Rights route; Only persons born before December 31 1964 will be allowed to undertake this option, which involves an assessment in Unit 051 (similar content as PA1) and Unit 052 (similar to PA6) and/or Unit 053 (similar to PA2).

The course content includes; legislation,interpreting product label information, personal safety and contamination, pesticide and container storage, disposals, record keeping and environmental factors.