Congratulations to all the people who recently achieved the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection (Mushrooms). BASIS (Registration) Ltd is an independent standards setting and auditing organization playing a key role in the training and certification of people working in agriculture and horticulture.

Representatives from the English and Irish Industry attended the specific training programme for people involved in the mushroom supply chain to achieve BASIS Certification in Crop Protection (Mushrooms) at Northway Mushroom Producer Organisation Office, Blackwatertown, Co. Armagh.

Greenmount Campus, CAFRE and AFBI facilitated the delivery of a specific training programme comprised of two days intensive training, completion of a course workbook and gaining a successful pass mark in an examination to receive the award.

Modules delivered included Integrated Crop Management, producing mushrooms to meet market requirements and environmental standards by Brendan Burns, Sylvan Ireland. Recognition, biology and control of mushroom diseases and pests were delivered by Mairead Kilpatrick and Stephen Jess from AFBI.

Graeme Cross, CAFRE delivered modules on application of crop protection chemicals used in the production of mushrooms and composition, activity and persistence of crop protection chemicals and biological agents. The training programme concluded with a session on the safe use, handling, transport and storage of crop protection chemicals used in the production of mushrooms by Robin Bolton, CAFRE.

Feedback from the Industry participants in the training programme highlighted the value of the small group size that enabled them to discuss specific issues in detail from a practical industry view point and commenting on the course said:

‘That it covered a wide range of specific relevant topics relating to mushrooms that isn’t always readily available’  

‘It was refreshing, made you think about how ICM can improve the business.’

‘Would recommend to others’