The Voluntary Initiative on pesticides has stepped up its campaign on good practice with its H2OK? - Keep it Clean slogan and a new year-planner to highlight key steps to take and when they should be taken.

The wall-planner continues the campaign’s theme - Burst One Bubble, We’re All in Trouble.

“During the spraying season most growers and operators are aware of the need to fill, spray and clean down with care,” said VI manager at the Crop Protection Association Patrick Goldsworthy. “However, there is something to do every month of the year. Whether it is checking the chemical store, completing crop protection management plans or preparing the sprayer, everything is important to ensure that as an industry we do our best to protect and improve water quality.”

Latest figures from the Environment Agency show that instances of excess pesticide in water are declining, but VI, which groups the NFU, the Crop Protection Association and other stakeholders, warns this can only being maintained if the industry remains focused.

Car stickers and two other publications are scheduled for issue later in the year to keep up the H2OK? - Keep It Clean momentum.