Pesticide Bans Affecting UK and German Crops

Rapeseeed

Photo Credit-Flickr User Paraflyer

Two separate reports indicated that the European Union’s ban on neonicotinoids and other pesticides could have devastating impact on several crops and farmers’ profits.

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A report conducted by business consultants Andersons suggested bans could cause a drop in farming profits of £1.7bn ($2.74 billion), more imports and higher food prices.

Farmers are already seeing damage from a ban on neonicotinoids. Just four weeks after their planting German rapeseed crops are already seeing an “unusually high level of insect damage” due to the European Union ban, according to the German farming association DBV.

The Andersons report, commissioned by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), the Crop Protection Association (CPA) and the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), suggested the ban the use of 40 chemicals by 2020 could lead to a surge in pests, affecting production of apples, carrots and peas, among other crops.

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Though no direct link has been found, neonicotinoids have been blamed for a drop in bee populations. The DBV believes some farmers might see a drop in yields in the 2015 rapeseed harvest. Rapeseed planted this autumn is the first to be grown in recent years without neonicotinoids

According to the Andersons’ report the crops several crops could be affected:

  • Potatoes: Many fungicides controlling blight would be banned. Predicted yield loss – 12%
  • Wheat: Fungicides helping to control rust and mildew would be banned. Predicted yield loss – 12%
  • Onions: Mildew and a rotting disease called botrytis are currently held back by chemicals likely to be banned. Predicted yield loss – 50%
  • Apples: Main issue is “scab”. The chemical likely to be outlawed holds back skin browning and blemishes, and growers are worried consumers will not buy imperfect-looking fruit

Read about German rapeseed damage here.

Read about the UK crop concerns in Farmers Weekly, BBC News UK and Farming UK.

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