The sprayers must comply with the EN standards for application and safety. Sprayers which do not meet this requirement will have to be repaired or decommissioned from use on the farm. This essentially means that all of the estimated 30,000 to 40,000 tractor-mounted or trailed sprayers in the country will have to be tested, as well as the small number of self-propelled machines.

This test certificate will remain with the sprayer even if it leaves the farm. It is envisaged that pre-owned sprayers sold will have the option of testing the sprayer which should add to the value of the sprayer. Every sprayer will have to be tested once every five years until 2020 and every three years after that year.

Watch our video below to find out what is involved in sprayer testing:

The question now facing the farmer is whether the sprayer operating at the moment is capable of passing the test in its current condition. Or is it a case of sending it off to the repair workshop for some minor repairs, and if major surgery is required, is it time for a contractor or an investment in a new sprayer? This decision will ultimately be driven by the workload of the sprayer on the farm, and the value of timely pesticide application to valuable crops.

Advice

The window for application is small so if it is a new or an old sprayer, it has to be capable of performing on the day. The advice for farmers considering buying a new sprayer is to examine the specification required by the Department of Agriculture for a new sprayer to satisfy the test requirements.

What’s involved in sprayer testing?

Watch: All sprayers to be tested by November

In application of the Sustainable Use Directive, all boom sprayers greater than 3m in width and orchard/blast sprayers have to be tested and certified by 26 November.