News Sugar beets
Netherlands last neonics-free bastion
The United Kingdom announces Friday 8 January to allow the use of neonicotinoids-coated sugar beet seed in the coming growing year. This puts the Netherlands and the neonics policy on a European island. Almost all countries now have an exemption.
When things started to get messy in France to shove it was hard in Europe. This 'green pioneer' in the European Parliament saw many beet fields destroyed by the effects of insect damage last harvest year. The other great European beet country; Germany, followed in the fall. Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner leaves the decision to the individual federal states whether they want to grant an exemption. Where beet cultivation is suffering badly, there is already a neonics exemption announced.
Zero hearing in the Netherlands
Dutch agriculture minister Carola Schouten usually relies heavily on the policy of her German neighbour, but not this time. Royal Cosun beet cooperative tried again but was unsuccessful in December horen, to temporarily allow Cruiser SB in beet cultivation.
Another European country that has not yet received an exemption was the United Kingdom, until Friday 8 January. Agriculture Ministry Defra makes known authorize the use of the Neonicotinoids Seed Coating Cruiser SB for 1 year. In a statement, it says that this is being chosen because the yellowing virus has caused a lot of damage to British beet crops. The ministry assumes that temporary admission will also be required for the next 2 years. This has already been anticipated. An emergency permit of 120 days is issued per year.
No flowering crops
Defra sees little risk for the temporary authorization of the product because sugar beets do not bloom and therefore do not attract bees. The risks are classified as manageable. British farmers are not allowed to grow flowering crops in the 2 growing seasons after beet production. An additional exception of 32 months applies to the rapeseed crop. Belgium also has such requirements. How countries deal with the exemption, and what additional requirements are imposed, varies.
Beet processor British Sugar is also trying to help growers. For 3 years, growers are compensated for a lower yield. The company has released €13,3 million for this. Plots with a maximum yield loss of 35% are eligible. British Sugar will then reimburse 45% of the damage suffered. In practice, some plots yield only half a yield.
Usable or not
With this decision, the Netherlands remains the only remaining bastion in Europe that does not have a neonics exemption. This gives beet growers and the sugar sector in our country an unfavorable competitive position, while there is also a lot of damage here. Not only because the yields are lower, but also because more alternative crop protection products have been sprayed. It remains to be seen how useful the British waiver is. The traditional cultivation plan of grains, rapeseed and field beans is difficult to combine with the requirements. That is why relatively little use is made of the exemption in Belgium. Dutch growers are in trouble with such a solution because potatoes are not allowed to be grown for 2 years.
Niels van der Boom
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