Marts to show pesticide awareness video at sales

A video campaign commenced this week in 11 marts highlighting the issues created by pesticide exceedances in priority areas. The 30-second clip will play on mart days for the coming month reminding farmers to use best practice when applying pesticides to their lands.

The initiative has come as a result of a partnership between Irish Water and the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG). The selected marts are in Kilkenny, Athenry, Ballyjamesduff, Fermoy, Castlerea, Kilmallock, Bandon, Castleisland, Ballybay, Roscommon and Ballinasloe.

An appeal is being made to all users of pesticides including the farming community, sporting organisations and domestic users, to ensure that best practice measures to protect drinking waters are always followed.

MCPA, which is commonly used to kill rushes on wet land, is the main offender. However, other pesticides such as 2,4-D, fluroxypyr and MCPP are being detected more frequently than in previous years. Careless storage, handling or improper application of any pesticide product can easily result in traces ending up in drinking water, leading to breaches of the drinking water regulations.

The regulations are so stringent that a single drop of pesticide is enough to breach the drinking water limit in a small stream for up to 30km.

A video on the correct use of MCPA can be viewed here.

The shorter version with subtitles which will be played at marts:

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