‘Slug sleuth’ farmers in England help develop prediction tool to cut back on pesticide use
Summary
Farmers in England are using new slug prediction maps to better control slugs that damage crops. This tool helps farmers reduce pesticide use, saving money and protecting the environment.Key Facts
- Slugs cause nearly £44 million in crop damage in the UK each year, especially to wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, and vegetables.
- The "Slimers" project, funded with £2.6 million, started in 2023 and ends in August 2026.
- Twenty-eight farmers set up slug traps on their land to collect data for scientists.
- Researchers created computer models and an algorithm to predict where slugs gather in fields.
- Sixteen farmers tested the slug prediction maps and cut their pesticide use by half.
- The chemical metaldehyde was banned in 2022, increasing the use of alternative slug pellets like ferric phosphate.
- Scientists found parts of the wheat genome linked to slug resistance, possibly helping breed slug-proof wheat in the future.
- The project is led by the British On-Farm Innovation Network and Harper Adams University.
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