File | Crop protection

The glasswing leafhopper, or rather the diseases it transmits, cause great damage to German arable crops. The impact is greatest in sugar beets and potatoes, but damage also occurs in vegetables such as onions, carrots and beetroot. The situation is being closely monitored in the Netherlands.

The use of the natural sprout inhibitor Talent in the cultivation of seed potatoes is in jeopardy. At the authorisation holder Adama they are stunned. Officially, the Ctgb has not yet made a statement about the re-registration, but the chance that another crucial agent for seed potato growers will disappear is great.

The recent ruling by the Council of State on the use of crop protection products in lily cultivation has caused quite a stir. The judge ruled that provinces must investigate more thoroughly the possible negative effects of crop protection products in lily cultivation on Natura 2000 areas. Jan Verschoor, general director of the industry organisation CropLife NL, believes that provinces are being assigned too complex a responsibility that is practically impossible to implement.

Since the appointment of Minister Annie Genevard in France, the policy on crop protection products has been relaxed. Stricter rules are being abolished as much as possible nationally and farmers must always have access to protective equipment. This policy is widely supported by parliament and is in line with the desire to make French agriculture more competitive, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

It is not surprising to arable farmers in recent years that more and more crop protection products are disappearing. 2025 is no exception to this rule. Crops are coming under further pressure because fewer and fewer herbicides, insecticides and fungicides are available. We list the biggest changes and challenges for the coming season. 

Once again, the deadline for the mandatory use of a closed filling system for crop protection products is being postponed. That is the expectation of the sector itself. An official answer is pending, but it is unlikely that the Ministry of LVVN will have the legislation in order before 1 January.

The mood among (foreign) arable farmers has been better. Sales prices have dropped considerably compared to two years ago. The costs for inputs are also lower, but the margins for the grower are not improving on average. This has an impact on the supplying companies, including crop protection products. Whether or not it has anything to do with the mood in agriculture; two major German players in the field of chemistry both have a different approach. However, the differences are less than they seem at first glance and investors look at things through a completely different lens than farmers.

Researchers from the University of Dublin have developed a rapid antigen test that can detect the genotype of phytophthora in the field. Potato growers should be able to use the tests as early as next year. This is necessary to be able to know at an early stage which phytophthora strain you are dealing with and to adjust the crop protection strategy accordingly.