“ OUR ongoing commitment to promoting the responsible use of agrochemicals and reducing the threat of key active ingredients being lost means we ’ re asking growers to think carefully about how and when they apply slug pellets ,” explains Andy Bailey , Adama ’ s Fungicide and Molluscicide Technical Specialist . “ That means ensuring all spreading equipment is properly maintained and calibrated before pellets are applied .”

To enable accurate spreader calibration without the use of live slug baiting pellets , Adama is

giving away a limited number of 5kg bags of placebo pellets which are a perfect copy of the company ’ s own metaldehyde based slug pellets .

“ Whilst these dummy pellets perfectly replicate the ballistic characteristics of products such as Gusto 3 , Carakol and Enzo , they don ’ t contain any active ingredient ,” Andy continues . “ Since we launched this year ’ s pellet giveaway a month ago we ’ ve had

such an overwhelmingly positive response that we ’ ve decided to order a second batch which growers can apply for by visiting the www . adama . com / uk website .”

Being precise in terms of slug pellet applications also comes down to pellet quality , as Andy explains . “ The key to effective and sustainable slug control is to use a bait which not only offers high mortality rates , but which is also highly palatable , and which retains its integrity over a long period of time , even in persistently wet conditions .”

Gusto 3 , Enzo and Carakol pellets meet all these requirements thanks

to their 3 % metaldehyde content and a unique pellet design : the pellets are made from high-grade Durum wheat flour which is wet mixed , extruded and then dried using Desidro ® technology – a twostage process that microwaves the pellet to dry the inside before using a standard heating system to dry the exterior .

The third element to ensuring that the right pellet is applied at the right time and right dose is to ensure the latest best-practice stewardship guidelines , such as those outlined on the www . getpelletwise . co . uk website , are adhered to .

Two of the regions ’ most prominent rural Chartered Surveyors , Adam Barrass and David Coulson have joined forces under the banner of Vickers & Barrass to provide comprehensive professional services throughout the North East and Cumbria .

THE merger brings 45 years of land agency experience from David Coulson , previously with Sidney Addison , Broadley and Coulson and Addisons , and also the Crook offices under the auspices of Vickers & Barrass Chartered Surveyors . This is a wholly owned subsidiary of Darlington Farmers Auction Mart and which will continue to be managed by Adam Barrass .

Adam and David are both experienced and successful in their own fields in the North East with David also practicing in Cumbria . The growth of Vickers and Barrass will witness the expansion of an already comprehensive range of professional services including commercial and residential estate agency . Adam Barrass commented

“ by merging with David Coulson we are able to extend our professional services , particularly into the commercial and estate agency sectors throughout the northern counties .

The merger follows the success of Vickers and Barrass since its formation in 2012 with the business having increased turnover and profit year on year .

Vickers and Barrass is a progressive firm of independent agricultural property consultants and rural surveyors . Harry Vickers and his family have maintained a presence in Tow Law for 140 years which is set to continue .

The expansion also comes at a time when the parent company Darlington Farmers Auction Mart is proceeding with the development of Humbleton Park into a new

auction mart and associated facilities . The new market is fronted by the main A68 road just off the A1 . A permanent land agency office is to be incorporated in the new complex with further expansion of services envisaged .

Andrew Armstrong Company Director and Auction Market Manager commented “ these are exciting times ahead for the company as a whole and the growth of Vickers & Barrass over the last few years has been a

successful addition to the DFAM brand . The addition of David Coulson and his team can only strengthen the position of Vickers and Barrass as land agents and rural chartered surveyors . This merger points us in the direction where we can provide a one stop shop for new and existing customers ”

Vickers and Barrass Chartered Surveyors offer a full range of property and land agency services . These include : estate agency , surveys ( including building surveys ) and valuations , property management , planning and development matters , insurance agency , farm business consultants and land agency .

www . vickersandbarrass . co . uk