UK farmers use tech to cut pesticide use against slugs

Farmers in England are leveraging technology to combat slug infestations, aiming to reduce reliance on pesticides. A research project, dubbed 'Slimers' (strategies leading to improved management and enhanced resilience to slugs), has developed computer-generated slug prediction maps.

These maps, created by feeding data from farmer-set traps and soil samples into an algorithm, help growers pinpoint areas of infestation within fields. This targeted approach has reportedly allowed participating farmers to halve their use of slug pellets. The project, funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and led by the British On-Farm Innovation Network, involved 28 "slug sleuth" farmers.

Charles Paynter, a farmer from Bedfordshire involved in the project, stated that his threshold for applying control measures is now higher due to his improved ability to accurately assess slug activity risks. This development is particularly significant following the UK's 2022 ban on metaldehyde, which led to increased use of ferric phosphate pellets, and a general desire for pesticide alternatives.

Professor Keith Walters and his team at Harper Adams University, who developed the prediction model, are confident in its efficacy. They confirmed that slugs do not occur randomly but form distinct patches influenced by soil type and climate. The data gathered by the 'slug sleuths' further refined this understanding, confirming hypotheses about how these patches re-form after waterlogging and return to predictable areas once typical soil conditions resume.

Beyond prediction tools, the Slimers project is also exploring the development of slug-resistant wheat varieties. Scientists have identified three key areas in the wheat genome associated with resistance to the grey field slug, which could lead to new plant breeds less susceptible to this persistent pest.