19 Jun 2019 June 2020 (by Simon Thorp (admin)) |
Further Asulam decision awaited
Asulam can be used for bracken control from a helicopter from 1st July, this year subject to an increased buffer zone of 90m to protect surface water bodies. See the BCG's Asulam webpage for full details.
The additional Emergency Authorisation application to cover the 2020 bracken control season has been reviewed by the Expert Committee on Pesticides. The committee's recommendations have been passed to Defra for discussion with, and final approval by, the Minister who covers pesticides. The application made a case for ground-based application of Asulam to be included in the 2020 approval and for the buffer zone for aerial spraying to be reduced back to 50m.
It is not known when details of the Minister's decision will be available, and it is clear that as the growth of bracken is now well advanced, this decision is now critical. As soon as any information is available, details will be circulated to all who have signed up to receive the Bracken Control Group's newsletter.