Tag Archives: crop protection

Bayer Crop Science sales show small growth

International chemicals giant Bayer has reported growth in all sections of its business in its first quarter results, including modest growth in its Crop Science division.

In a statement the company said, ‘Bayer got off to a successful start in the new fiscal year. In the first quarter of 2016, the Bayer Group improved sales by 3.2% to €11.9 billion and EBITDA before special items by 15.7% to €3.4 billion. All segments improved their operating performance. Crop Science outperformed the prior-year quarter despite a weak market environment.’

First-quarter sales of the agricultural business (Crop Science) moved ahead by 1.2% to €3,023 million. “We slightly expanded business at Crop Protection/Seeds despite an ongoing weak market environment,” explained CEO Dr. Marijn Dekkers. In regional terms, the Crop Science business developed positively in North America in particular whereas sales in Europe were level year on year.

The seed growth business grew by 5.4% and fungicides grew by 2.9%. However, sales of insecticides and herbicides declined by 12.2% and minus 3.8% respectively. Sales of Seeds grew by a substantial 11.9%.

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Aldi to review pesticide policy

Aldi UK is to review its policy towards crop protection products with a particular emphasis on the use of neonicotinoids. According to the company, ‘The aim of this review is to establish an Aldi UK position on pesticide usage that will take our approach beyond the status quo, particularly in relation to pollinators.’

Campaign group Friends of the Earth said that the company had been under pressure after its German parent Aldi Süd banned eight pesticides – including three bee-harming neonicotinoids – from their fruits and vegetables following a campaign by Greenpeace Europe. The eight products banned by Aldi Süd are: thiamethoxam, chlorpyrifos, clothianidin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fipronil, imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor.

In the past some unilateral decisions on crop protection by certain retailers have been criticised by those who say it should be left to regulators to decide such matters. However, Friends of the Earth Bees campaigner Dave Timms said, “This review is welcome but Aldi’s new policy must include a strong commitment to keep neonicotinoid pesticides out of the production of its fruit, vegetable and cereals including wheat and oilseed rape.”

Photo Caption: Aldi is reviewing the pesticides that can be used on its produce

Photo Credit: Aldi

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Potato growers warned over risk of rhizoctonia at emergence

An increasing incidence of nematodes in potato field soils risks rising levels of Rhizoctonia infection hitting emerging crops, and affecting plants right through to tuber quality at harvest, warns Spud Agronomy specialist, John Sarup.

Speaking at a Syngenta Potato Science Live event, Yorkshire-based agronomist, Mr Sarup, reported that nematode feeding damage on root stolons allows the soil-borne Rhizoctionia pathogen to get into plants more easily – with infection resulting in stem and stolon pruning that delays emergence.

“If growth is further delayed by wet or cold soils, the effects can be severe,” he advised. “However, Rhizoctonia is a relatively weak pathogen that we have seen can be effectively controlled in the soil.

“Delayed and patchy emergence has serious implications for crop management,” he added. ”Whilst the canopy appears to recover over the season, it inevitably has a consequence at harvest, with variable tuber size and maturity.” Tubers from Rhizoctonia affected plants are also typically more cracked, split and knobbly, as well as suffering Black Scurf affecting skin finish.

Syngenta trials last year, using Amistar in-furrow in a commercial potato crop, resulted in over 60% reduction in visible Rhizoctonia Black Scurf tuber infection, compared to untreated. Furthermore, there almost 40% reduction in Black Dot on tubers. Overall, there was an eight t/ha (16%) increase in yield, worth around £1120/ha, says Syngenta Technical Manager Douglas Dyas. “Control of Rhizoctonia is also paramount for crop quality and consistency for tubers destined for processing.”

Photo Credit: Syngenta

The post Potato growers warned over risk of rhizoctonia at emergence appeared first on Hort News on 11 March 2016.

Scientists implant slugs with trackers

Scientists at Harper Adams University are implanting slugs with tracking devices in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the important crop pests.

The researchers are hoping to prove a theory that, rather than being evenly distributed across fields, slug populations are focused in patches. Knowing this would help improve control strategies.

The slugs are anaesthetised before a small cut is made in the skin and the tracker, which is smaller than a grain of rice, is inserted. Once released, the slugs can be tracked, even underground, using a device which looks similar to a metal detector.

Funding for this study has come from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), which estimates that slugs can cause £100m of damage to UK crops if they aren’t properly controlled.

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

The post Scientists implant slugs with trackers appeared first on Hort News on 26 February 2016.

Nematicide Stewardship Programme announces new training

The Nematicide Stewardship Programme (NSP) used the BP2015 event in Harrogate on the 12th November to announce a new training partnership with ARTIS.

“We are excited about the training partnership with ARTIS,” said NSP Chair, Dr Sharon Hall. “The use of Nematicides remains critical to many growers in producing a quality product and maintaining current rotations and this new partnership will deliver high quality training on a sustainable basis to the industry.”

The NSP group is a joint initiative that brings together different industry organisations and companies to ensure these vital products remain available for future use on potatoes and other key root crops.

“It’s crucial for all operators to attend,” added Dr Hall. “Industry has requested that Red Tractor Assurance incorporates a requirement into its standards specifying that all staff applying nematicides must have completed the course by March 2017.”

The winter programme of operator training workshops takes place in throughout the country and will be provided for free of charge while funding is available. Places can be booked at www.artistraining.com.

Photo Credit: AHDB Potatoes. Andy Alexander (NFU); Neil Beadle (Dupont); Sharon Hall (Potato Processors’ Association); Alan Horgan (Certis); Mark Britton (Syngenta); Sue Cowgill (AHDB Potatoes); John Keer (Richard Austin Agriculture Ltd).

The post Nematicide Stewardship Programme announces new training appeared first on Hort News on 17 November 2015.

EFSA says no link between glyphosate and cancer

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published its peer review of glyphosate which is part of the EU renewal process for the chemical.

Crucially it concludes that, ‘Glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans and the evidence does not support classification with regard to its carcinogenic potential.’

Nick von Westenholz, CEO of the Crop Protection Association commented, “We are pleased to see that EFSA concurs with the numerous health assessments conducted by public authorities on glyphosate over the past 40 years which have all concluded that, when used correctly, it poses no meaningful risk to human health.”

However, the Soil Association slammed the report’s findings. “Given that this review of glyphosate relies almost entirely on industry funded, unpublished studies, it would be unthinkable for the EFSA to come to any conclusion other than that glyphosate is safe to use,” said SA Policy Director Peter Melchett.

Photo Credit: EFSA

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Bromoxynil not a direct replacement for Totril

With the loss of the herbicide Totril on 31 August 2016 many onion growers are considering using bromoxynil which has recently been approved for use in the crop. However Andy Richardson of Allium & Brassica Agronomy warned that it could not be used as a straight replacement.

Growers need to consider the different label recommendations of the two products containing bromoxynil (Butryflow SC and Buctril EC) he warned. One reason is that due to the higher risk of crop scorch compared to ioxynil (Totril) and its SC formulation, Butraflow cannot be applied to set crops. It also has a timing restriction and can only be used between 1 May and 30 September, so may be unsuitable for early crops. Buctril currently has no such restrictions.

“We’ve been looking at both products and we’ve been looking at Buctril since 2010. Based on our trials Buctril may be more useful to onion growers than Butryflow),” explained Andy.

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New diagnostic test for downy mildew

An AHDB Horticulture-funded study into reducing the cost of downy mildew control in onion crops has resulted in a new diagnostic test which will be available for growers to trial next year.

Dr Alison Wakeham of the University of Worcester explained the scientific work which has gone into developing the MILIONCAST (MILDEW on ONION FIRECAST) model which provides predictions of downy mildew sporulation based on environmental conditions.

However this cannot determine the disease is actually present, which is where the new hand held test comes in. An in-field air sampling device is collected and, “A five minute stick test shows if the disease is present in the [air]sample and at what level. As the level of the disease increases the strength of the line depletes,” explained Dr Wakeham.

In order to prevent different interpretations of the result due to differences in people’s eyesight a reader is used, although phone apps to read similar tests are becoming available. In trials using the test and the forecast model reduced the number of spays by half while maintaining control levels of the disease.

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Defra to fight for UK farmers in Europe

The UK is committed to scientific evidence in the face of potentially damaging European legislation. That was the message from Kathleen Kelliher of Defra when she addressed the UK Onion & Carrot Conference on Wednesday 4 October.

“Most of these decisions are made in Brussels and while Defra uses science-based decision making, sadly we cannot promise that decisions on future EU approvals will be based on sound science, because in some cases the current EU criteria are not scientific,” she said.

“The UK has arguably been the leading member state in pressing for science-based regulation of these chemicals. Our calls for an impact assessment have at last been heeded by the Commission.

“Defra supports regulation to protect people and the environment from adverse effects from pesticides; however it is right for all of use to be aware of the costs and benefits of regulation. We agree that the EU regime has features that carry very significant cost for limited benefits.

“We think [potential pesticides]should be assessed by a proper risk assessment,” she added.

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