Disclaimer
 © Copyright
 Site by 101 		 
Crop Protection Management Plans
   
What is a Crop Protection Management Plan?
One of the key elements of the Voluntary Initiative is a commitment from farmers and growers to consider the environmental impact of their activities and take steps to reduce it. This is encapsulated in the process of drawing up a crop protection management plan (CPMP).

A CPMP should address the farm’s crop protection policy, detail water protection measures taken, indicate a commitment to improve standards and consider how the direct and indirect impact of plant protection products on non-target species can be mitigated.

Why
The purpose of the CPMP is to put the environment at the heart of crop protection. At an individual farm level, the planning process identifies the environmental risks to water, insects, plants and animals, and biodiversity on the farm, and seeks to relate subsequent crop protection practices to minimising these risks.

A current CPMP is required or recommended by many Farm Assurance schemes is an option in the Entry Level Scheme worth 2 points /Ha.
Who
All farms are encouraged to participate, including mixed or livestock farms that occasionally spray grassland or grow a small acreage of cereals for stock feed to grow maize for silage.

Those farmers who took part in a pilot on CPMPs felt it helped them manage the use of pesticides on their farm better; apply the product s more sensitively and avoid waste. 75% felt that filling out a formal plan was more helpful, allowing them to focus their thoughts on how they could improve operations while helping the environment.

How
There are three currently recognised ways of completing a CPMP.

1. Complete a LEAF audit www.leafuk.org
2. Complete an EMA audit www.herts.ac.uk/aeru/ema
3. The farming union’s VI Crop Protection Management Plan

Other versions may be available from farm software companies or commercial consultants. Whichever method you use you must keep it up-to-date - reviewed annually - to be of real value.

The VI CPMP
To assist farmers and growers, the farming unions have devised an easy to complete proforma for a VI CPMP. It is divided into 4 sections – general crop protection; biodiversity; water; and action plans.
Capture two years data
on the same form
to help year to year comparison.
This simple format helps you assess your current practices and provides you with best practice guidelines for improving both the way you store, handle and apply pesticides for the benefit of both wildlife and water. After a good first set up session, it only needs short annual reviews.
Completed your CPMP?
The completed CPMP is first and foremost for you to use and implement on your farm; however you should be share your conclusions with your agronomist(s)as it will help them to understand your priorities and they may be able to help you make any improvements In order to demonstrate the uptake of CPMPs by farmers, the Farming Unions would like you to supply them with a copy of the summary information this can be done either by:
All information supplied will be treated in the strictest confidence and no individual farmer will be identified.

Where
To get a copy of the proforma, down load it here
It is available as
CPMP portrait - 13 pages 182Kb (upto 45 secs @56KBPS)
CPMP landscape - 21 pages 246Kb (upto 1 min @56KBPS)
Excel spreadsheet - 488Kb (upto 2 mins @56KBPS)

Printed copies can be obtained from:
   the NFU's Orderline Service ( No. 655) on 0870 845 8458