News

News from the Voluntary Initiative, our members and supporters. And anything else we think you might like to know about.

28 January 2019
VI Annual Report 2018
Our Steering Group reports our progress and the success of our schemes annually.

24 January 2019
Are you a good neighbour? Good neighbour initiative
The NFU has produced a new guide as part of the Good Neighbour Initiative to help sprayer operators meet legal requirements and build good relationships with neighbours when using pesticides.

15 August 2018
Crop Protection In Southern Britain: 12-13 November 2018
The conference, in association with BCPC and AHDB, is the sixth in this series and will provide a major platform for recent developments in crop protection, with a focus on dissemination to advisers a...

08 August 2018
OSR Herbicides? Think Water update
The OSR herbicides? Think Water initiative has launched a new set of guidelines to provide farmers and spray operators with practical advice to prevent OSR herbicides entering water.

27 March 2018
Launch of ‘What’s In Your Back Yard’ (WIYBY) new version
A new version of the popular ‘What’s In Your Backyard’ (WIYBY) online tool was launched on 26 March 2018. The updated version includes maps that are easier to use than the original version.

26 February 2018
Dispose of your unwanted pesticides for free
Severn Trent Water has launched a pesticide amnesty scheme in selected catchments enabling farmers and growers to safely dispose of unwanted chemicals, pesticides and biocides free of charge.

05 September 2017
Voluntary Initiative announces a new Chairman
Yorkshire farmer Paul Temple has been appointed as the new Chairman of The Voluntary Initiative (VI).

04 September 2017
Voluntary Initiative Annual Report 2016-17
The Annual Report summarises the work of the Voluntary Initiative for 2016-17

27 July 2017
Red Tractor standards updated to reflect enhanced metaldehyde stewardship
Ahead of metaldehyde slug pellet treatments, growers should familiarise themselves with the new Red Tractor Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet and Fresh Produce standards which have been updated to refle...

23 June 2017
VI OSR Herbicides? Think Water Mimmshall Brook (Hertfordshire) catchment breakfa...

23 June 2017
OSR Herbicides? Think Water - Instead Brook (North Suffolk) catchment breakfast ...

05 June 2017
Arable Production, Science and Compliance; Preparing for an Uncertain Future
The Voluntary Initiative is teeming up with BCPC to bring this timely seminar to The Farmers Club on 10th July.

29 May 2017
Get Pelletwise - Enhanced Stewardship
The Metaldehyde Stewardship Group has launched an enhanced stewardship campaign for 2017.

16 May 2017
The Voluntary Initiative Seeks New Chair
The Voluntary Initiative (VI) is seeking a new independent chair to lead the organisation which promotes the responsible use of pesticides in agriculture and horticulture.

01 March 2017
The Voluntary Initiative and Catchment Sensitive Farming Agronomy Meeting
The Voluntary Initiative in partnership with Catchment Sensitive Farming is holding an agronomy meeting in Ludlow on 28th March. The meeting for tailored to local agronomists, farmers, Catchment Sens...

23 February 2017
Farmers reminded of last OSR Herbicide application date
Farmers and sprayer operators need to ensure that applications of carbetamide are applied by the latest application date of 28 February advises The Voluntary Initiative (VI).