Report by Peter MacDonald on The Technical Update Workshop on The Sustainable Use Directive 27th Oct.2015
A Technical Update Workshop on The Sustainable Use Directive and approaches to pest and disease control was held in Scotland in the Autumn. Fourteen growers, college lecturers and professional gardeners met at SRUC – Oatridge Campus where John Adlam of Dove Associates led a session on new and revised Extensions of Authorisation for Minor Use (EAMU) and discussed how to incorporate ornamental EAMUs into an IPM plan. He also provided information on new products and label updates on existing products to help with updating spray programmes.
This was followed by Clive Pearson of XL Pro Bio who explained the principles of Compost Tea and how it can be used effectively as part of an IPM programme. This helped to clarify a product that can be quite controversial and not fully understood. Clive in particular, discussed why growers can have variable results with tea’s and how results can be improved. It certainly led to several of the delegates to follow up on the information provided and look into the use of compost tea further.
After lunch the workshop moved to Binny Plants Nursery close to Oatridge. Owned by Billy Caruthers, Binny Plants mainly produces herbaceous perennials, specialising in the Peony. Billy began the afternoon discussing the peat free media he has begun using and his experience of it. John then led the group on a crop walk and what to look out for and answered questions on specific aspects of pest and disease of concern to the group. It also enabled further individual discussion with Clive on the use of compost tea.
All the delegates present found the day valuable and greatly appreciated the expertise that the IPPS had been able to bring to the workshop. It is only regrettable that more growers did not take the opportunity to come along to the day.
Peter MacDonald