Outlook of the inspection of sprayers in Province of Trento

Mountain landscape is the environment of agriculture in Trentino. Most of the hectarage is of high quality products like apples (11,500 hectares), grapes (10,000 hectares) and lesser extent small fruits and vegetables. There is a strong co-operative spirit, and many activities are conducted in partnership form. APOT (Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producers in Trentino) is a second degree Producers’ Organization of about 10,000 farms. Average size of farms is 1.5 hectares and, as a form of income integration, part-time model characterizes about 50% of them. Many housing districts are placed in sparsely among apple orchards and vineyards. Due to this condition the rural population has become more and more sensitive to issues related to spray drift. About 8,000 sprayers are in use on orchards and vineyards. To achieve a better efficacy of treatments and rationalize use of chemicals, APOT in accordance with the local Government has decided to start the inspection activity since 1997. In addition a calibration of sprayer is made on the basis of farm orchards characteristics. Using two mobile test stations until now nearly 10,000 checks have been carried out (many sprayers have been checked twice or more). In compliance with Directive 2009/128/CE will also be organized activities for the control of sprayers used for weed control on localized application and for those in minor crops. ENAMA Guidelines have recently been made available and inspection activity is going on in close harmony with recommendations of ENAMA Working Group for national coordination on inspection activity.