Like you and many others around country, I know only too well the impact the ongoing loss of plant protection products and the increasing level of pesticide resistance has on a farming business.
That鈥檚 why now, more than ever, we need to explore every tool in the box to ensure farming businesses can be resilient in the months and years ahead. One of those core tools is optimising our use of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) to maintain effective control of pests, weeds and diseases.
Under the SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive), one of the future standards will focus on supporting the uptake of IPM. This is due to be rolled out in 2023.
At the NFU, we want all pest, weed and disease control decisions to be made as part of an IPM approach, and we want to see future SFI measures that match this aim, engage farmers and support the increased uptake of IPM.
How you can shape the SFI standard
To support the development of the IPM standard, a project is underway to create an online IPM decision making tool to assist farmers and growers in producing detailed plans specific to their farm and cropping system.
We need farmers and growers, like you, to help us and take part in this Defra-funded Test and Trial. You will help provide the evidence that feeds in to a future standard that is relevant, useful and works for farming in the long term.
How to register your interest
. Participants involved in the project will be reimbursed for their time.
Ultimately, this project aims to provide more of the evidence to help Defra to build SFI options that support farmers and growers in delivering more IPM.
This is a unique opportunity to ensure that farming is heard when it comes to developing policies and I hope you will consider joining the project.
